Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
We will take you to the summit of Mauna Kea to see the sunset and we will do stargazing afterward (not at the summit). Our most unique part is that our guides will take the photo of the sunset and stars for you using their DSLR camera.
All photos are free of charge and you will get it to your smartphone at the end of the tour.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please check the message on Viator. We will send a message about pick up time and location after the confirmation of your booking.
Please note that pick up location has a free parking lot but we do not take any responsibility or liability for any damage or loss caused through the parking
Please note that in times of bad weather sunset or stargazing are not 100% guaranteed and moonphase will affect the visibility of the stars.
Please note that, depending on any guests get altitude sickness or other conditions, the time spent at the summit and the stargazing location may be adjusted.
Guest under 16 years old or older than 75 cannot participate
Not recommended for person weight more than 300lb
Not recommended for person having respiratory problem such as asthma
Guest under 16 years old or older than 75 cannot participate
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kailua-Kona
Pick up guests from each pick up location starting from Target in Kona. (pick up time varies depending on the season) 14:00-15:00pm Target's parking lot meet in front of the Mcdonald’s that is in the Target parking area (74-5453 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona) 14:45-15:45pm/ Queens’ Market Place Please meet up at the shuttle bus stop in backside of the shopping mall, a LARGE parking lot near the NOT Starbucks (69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr #201, Waikoloa) 15:30-16:30pm/ Gilbert Kahele Recreation Park (44-5400 Daniel K. Inouye Hwy, Waimea)
Onizuka Astronomy Complex
Onizuka Visitor Information Station We will take a break at the Onizuka Visitor Center at an altitude of 2,800m or 9,000ft for early dinner and altitude acclimatization. We also change clothes for winter clothes here depending on the weather. Also gift shop is open for guests to purchase the items. (No food or drink sale)
What‘s Included
An astronomical telescope
Mauna Kea Summit Tour
Admission Fee for Mauna Kea
Free DSLR camera photo of stars with you in it! (weather and moon phase permitting))
BLT or Vegan sandwich (Please let us know by day before the tour or it will be automatically a BLT)
Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
Gratuities
Options
Queens Market place Pick up
Starting point:
Queens' Marketplace, 69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
Target Parking Lot by McDonald
Starting point:
Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Reviews
1,447 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best way to see Mauna Kea Summit
Hannah M,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What an AMAZING time from start to finish! So happy I went with this tour. Our guide, Chris, was so knowledgeable and friendly and gave us great tips for not getting altitude sickness. The sunset and stargazing were absolutely breathtaking. Even though it was freezing at the summit, they provided jackets, pants, and gloves which made a world of difference. Plus, they provide free photos—unlike any of the other tours—that I’ll treasure forever. Thank you, Chris and Hawaiian Eyes Tours!
Vegan friends book through Hawaiian eyes.
Lindsay H,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Be prepared for hour+ drive time to the mountain, some bumpy roads and cold winds. Gloves are provided although it didn’t state that in the description which I was grateful for. Check the weather and try to plan for a clear night with low possibility of rainfall to get the best sunset and stargazing. The vegan sandwich was EXCELLENT! The hot cocoa was a nice treat after being in the cold. The pictures taken by the guide was a nice addition, making the cost of the experience more worth it. Shop around but this was the best deal I found, our tour was through Hawaiian Eyes and the guide spoke fluent Japanese.
Big Stars
Walker T,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It’s a phenomenal experience. Wes, our guide, was very knowledgeable and fun. The experience is nothing short of once in a lifetime.
It was very well...
Melissa P,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was very well organized, and appreciated all the tips and history the Wes offered our group as we took the trek up to the top! The BLTs were quite scrumptious, and then got to top it all off with learning so much about constellations that I never knew. Such a beautiful view and experience!
Mauna Kea Summit Tour
Alex L,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Chris was informative, flexible, and did a great job handling the bumpy roads! Had great advice to minimize altitude sickness, and provided solid sandwiches! Not vegetarian, but the veggie burger was delicious.
Great tour
Jim K,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour. Sunset was beautiful and star gazing was really cool. James is the best. He was very friendly and helpful. I will remember this tour for a very long time.
A great experience
Yuxuan N,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Such a good trip! The tour is very fun, took a lot of great photos, guide is super helpful and friendly, will recommend!
Quite a bit of time to...
Tim D,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Quite a bit of time to drive there and back to the tour, but it was comfortable, and Chris our tour guide gave us a lot of good information, modern and historical info
Fantastic Bucket List Experience
BernadetteR252,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo is a must do experience! Our guide Wes was so knowledgeable and friendly and he made the trip that much more enjoyable. We were picked up from the Target car park in Kona, which was great as it was easy to get to, in a four wheel drive van that seated 12 passengers. Seeing Mauna Kea was amazing, from its Lunar Looking landscape to the Observatory’s situated on the peaks with patches of snow and ice. Watching the sunset from above the clouds is a must see thing to do. Luckily we packed thermals as it was freezing with the below zero temperature and the icy wind. Neither of which was a problem as Wes supplied us with warm jackets, pants and gloves to keep us warm. The supplied BLT sandwiches looked great, I didn’t have one as I’m a coeliac with other allergies and it’s easier for me to take my own food. The hot chocolate was delicious after the tour which was cut a bit short as it was a cloudy night so we didn’t get to see the stars, although we were compensated for this by a partial refund, which was very generous. I highly recommend this tour.
James was our guide & he...
Rebecca H,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00James was our guide & he was amazing & very informative. Would definitely book with him again. Very cold & windy at the top but SO worth it
From US$280.00
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Operated by Hawaiian Eyes Tour