Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Head to the Mauna Kea Observatory, nestled high in the mountains of the Big Island, and experience an intriguing and provocative journey through space and time. Discover Hawaii from the top of the island's tallest peak, Mauna Kea, also known as 'White Mountain,' located 13,796 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level. This small-group star-watching tour ensures a personalized and unique experience at the enchanting Mauna Kea summit.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 13 years - No children under 13.
Due to the high altitude, this tour is not suitable for those with respiratory, circulatory or heart conditions, pregnancy, or poor health.
Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers. If you plan to scuba dive, do not plan to go to the summit within 24 hours after you dive due to the altitude.
Guests are required to wear closed-toed shoe and long pants. We recommend bringing a sweatshirt or sweater for layering.
Guests must bring their own water bottles. Tour operator will provide filtered water refills.
Please provide your parka size (small, medium, large, x-large or xx-large) and meal choice at the time of booking. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will need to contact the tour operator directly.
There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards. Please note we are unable to accommodate any guests with a collapsible wheelchair. All guests must be able to enter and exit our vehicles on their own, and walk comfortably on uneven terrain with limited lighting on their own.
The access road to Mauna Kea is four-wheel drive only, so it can be bumpy. The custom off-road transit vans will get you to the top and back in safety and comfort. The transit vans can carry a maximum of 12 passengers
Snow is seasonal at Maunakea, with the heaviest snowfall occurring during the winter months
Please note your scheduled pick-up time may differ from the tour start time displayed online. Contact us to confirm your meeting time & location.
Weather changes can occur quickly, and the access road to the summit can close without warning; therefore we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable conditions.
No scuba diving within 24 hours
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Travelers staying in Kailua Kona will meet the guide here. Your guide will meet you at the benches closest to the hotel's parking lot entrance at the curbside. **There may be additional meeting location stops along the way to Maunakea.**
Maunakea Visitor Information Station
Enjoy a warm picnic dinner while you acclimate to a higher elevation and learn about Hawaiian star navigation before you head to the summit.
What‘s Included
Private star show with telescope
Hooded parkas and gloves
Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
Hot cocoa and cookies
A warm picnic dinner is provided with a choice of Southwest Stew or Vegetarian Chili (gluten-free).
Local taxes
Guide
Pick-up & Dropoff from Central Meeting Locations
Gratuities
Options
Departure Time
Reviews
1,580 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour!
Jennifer W,May 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a great tour to watch the sunset and do some star gazing. Great service too! We decided to go see the volcano erupting and were able to change our pickup point to the Mauna Kea Visitors Center. They knew we were in Volcanoes and called us to inform us of an accident that closed the road. They then sent a text telling us when the road reopened. That was above and beyond in my book. We had a beautiful sunset and super clear skies for star gazing. Only thing I would add is some red lights in the lot where we did the star gazing. The ground was uneven and it was really dark. Red lights would have preserved our night vision but still allowed us to see.
Hawaiian Firest & Trails Starry Night Tour
Joseph L,May 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Eugene was a great driver - and amazingly knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, geology/vulcanology, astronomy. His 2 telescopes gave us super views of stars & planets. Enjoyed the SW stew, hot chocolate, delicious cookies. A great experience.
Awe Inspiring!
Trvloften123,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took our first tour with Hawaii Forest and Trail in 2010 and have taken several tours with them since. This visit we returned to Mauna Kea to repeat the Summit and Stars Tour. Jason was our amazing guide. He was very knowledgeable and well prepared for the long day. A delicious soup dinner was provided while we stopped at the Visitor Information Station to acclimate before continuing our ascent. Coats and mittens were provided (and necessary) for the cold summit. The timing of the day is well planned to be at the summit for sunset. It’s other-worldly to be above the clouds as the sun goes down. On our trip back down, Jason set up telescopes for participants to view the night sky. We would highly recommend this tour and look forward to other tours with Hawaii Forest and Trail.
Once in a life time especially with our tour guide Jeff. 100% a must
Andy T,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was beyond. Our expectations are to Jeff was amazing. You drove through all four seasons of the year to get to the top. The sunset was fabulous. The stargazing was even better. Who knew you could see so many stars see planets see the rings around Jupiter, all four moons of Jupiter we even got to see the globe of the active volcano from where we were at once again our Tour guy Jeff could not have been any better. He made the entire trip.
Mind Blowing Adventure
Susan H,May 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It is incredible. The guides have infinite knowledge and are extremely helpful. Everything was well planned and executed. Enough time was spent at each location and we were not rushed. The ties to early Hawaiians and how they explored this area, utilized its resources and brought their ancestors remains here was the most interesting part to me.
Sunset and Stars at the top of Hawaii.
158greggb,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the very start of the day our guide Jeff was very welcoming and friendly. Throughput the day he provided a commentary with lots of interesting information. The drive up the mountain was pretty rough but a lot of fun and with some spectacular views. The sunset was amazing, looking between the observatories on the summit. After sunset we had the stargazing. We got see numerous interesting objects in the night sky (photos provided afterwards) Great day and night out and Jeff was a star!
An EXCELLENT tour
pearlm250,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jeff was an EXCELLENT tour guide. He was so knowledgeable and really took his time to explain so much to for the duration of the trip. What struck me was that Jeff has a respect and reverence for the local culture, the land, the earth, the galaxy... He took his time to explain the constellations and showed us the galaxies. What a wonderful experience. Thank you, Jeff! -- Pearl, AZ
The guide was good, though.
gatechnihonjin30350,Apr 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00I really wanted to see the perfect starry sky and joined. I've been to the city of North Georgia a few times in the past to see the starry sky, and it's always been rainy and cloudy, so this time it was expensive, so I was hoping I'd come. It was about $40 more expensive than other tour companies because it came with dinner. Dinner wasn't like $40, and I was really disappointed to see almost no stars in the moonlight. The four stars in the rating were because our guide Jeff was good. If the guide wasn't good, it was two stars.
Great Stargazing!
Anna E,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommend Mauna Kea Summit Adventures! We did their stargazing tour and it was one of the highlights of our entire Hawaii trip. They handled the 4x4 transport up the mountain, fed us soup, got us there safely for an amazing sunset, and then let us look through their awesome telescope at the craziest night sky I’ve ever seen with some cookies and hot chocolate. The guide (Jason) was super knowledgeable and friendly, and they even sent us beautiful pictures afterward. If you’re thinking about going up Mauna Kea, book with these guys — they’ve been doing it since 1983 for a reason. Worth every penny! Thank you Mauna Kea Summit Adventures! 🙌
Exploring Mauna Kea
Navigate32646649514,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed this tour as it allowed us to learn more about this volcano. The landscape, and climate, the cultural division with science and exploration all gave a more in depth understanding of this important place.
From US$329.84
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Operated by Hawaii Forest &Trail