Page 2) Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Summit Sunset Adventure reviews, Big Island tours & activities, fun things to do in Big Island | HawaiiActivities.com

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Summit Sunset Adventure

Overall Rating

4.83 4.83 / 5

Reviews

120 reviews
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Gazing at Stars

Reviewed by: Moma Jen, 2022/06/06

We really enjoyed our adventure with Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour. Our guide, Maka, was excellent: entertaining, polite, knowledgeable, etc. He was extremely quick and calm when responding to a high altitude emergency when we reached our high altitudes. I was impressed with the Veltra company with their constant updates, emails reminders, and phone call reminder. I gave "Good" review because it was very cloudy and the star gazing was limited. I would book through this company again and I would do this tour again too.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/05/10
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Amazing!

Reviewed by: Linda, 2022/04/27

This tour was magical. We highly recommend using Mauna Kea stargazing Tour and Sunset Adventure. The entire experience was incredible from start to finish. Our tour guide, Gage, was excellent, very knowledgable and had great energy. We learned all about Hawaii's history, landscape, and culture, this was much more than just watching an amazing sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea and stargazing. This tour should definitely make your list of things to do while visiting the Big Island!

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/04/25
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Excellent night. Excellent view.

Reviewed by: Sarah, 2022/03/23

This activity is a must do!
The day seemed like it might not be good. Rainy and windy. But once we were i. The tour bus, our guide Gauge, was informative about the island and the areas we were driving through. He assured us it would be a great night for a sunset and stargazing. Like the mountain heard him, she did not disappoint! The sunset was spectacular, with every picture trumped by the next. Is 40 pictures of a sunset too many? Haha.
And when we got to our stargazing spot, the diamonds in the sky sparkled and gave us a show.
Dress warmly so you can enjoy. They provide gloves, but maybe invest a little bit in some good ones.
A++

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/03/21
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Unreal

Reviewed by: Kara, 2022/03/21

The guides have so much knowledge! I recommend this.

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2022/03/21
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Absolutely Brilliant!! A must do on the Big Island.

Reviewed by: Jarrod Blaker, 2022/03/12

Our Tour guide Travis was extremely knowledgeable on all things Hawaii (also quite humorous). He was super informative on the history, culture, geology and botany, and that was just on the ride to the summit. It is cold at the top, minus 2 deg Celsius when we were there. However warm jackets and gloves are provided. We took a beanie too which was a good idea.
The sunset is amazing on top of the clouds. We then drove down to 12,000 ft for the stargazing, which was incredible. Travis explained everything very well, and never rushed you. It was probably the best 8 hrs we have spent in Hawaii. Can’t recommend this tour any more highly. Thank you.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/03/10
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Incredible experience

Reviewed by: Deneen , 2022/02/28

Our tour guide Gage was both informative and very pleasant. The entire tour was amazing, with incredibly gorgeous views of both the sunset above the clouds and the star filled sky. Gage was very knowledgeable and pointed out many stars and constellations as well as providing many interesting facts. Please heed the advice about bringing layers of clothing. They provide the parka but I also recommend bringing a hat and gloves if possible. The food was also good but make sure to bring water.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/26
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Perfect

Reviewed by: Rocky, 2022/02/20

I was not sure about spending so much time in the van. Travis was educational and fun. We had clouds, rain, sun and stars. It really was a wonderful experience. The food was fine. I appreciated the larger telescope and good star viewing.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/18
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Great trip to the top of the world

Reviewed by: Doug/Sherri Elinson, 2022/02/12

Maka was a great guide. Extremely knowledgeable about geology, vulcanology, astronomy and Hawaiian history. The views were spectacular.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/02/08
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Knowledgeable and exciting

Reviewed by: Teresa, 2022/01/22

We loved this tour - being on the summit was amazing. You can always tell when your guide is excellent and passionate about what they are speaking about. Maka was amazing and knowledgeable not only of Mauna Kea and the surrounding areas but you could tell he loved astronomy. Highly recommend this and I’d we come back again we will try to time it in the summer on a new moon to see even more.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/01/18
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A perfect evening

Reviewed by: Flora, 2022/01/11

Our guide was warm, informative and great with the telescope. We experienced a magnificent sunset at 14000 feet. We saw the rings of Saturn and moons of Jupiter, several high points. It was a perfect evening.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/01/09
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Great guide, but weather didn’t cooperate

Reviewed by: SarahB, 2022/01/03

Our guide was informative and personable, and made the best of a bad situation as we arrived to the visitor station to find the road closed due to bad weather, then had to wait for an accident to be cleared on our way back down.

We are being refunded, no complaints!

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2022/01/01
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We had a fabulous time!

Reviewed by: Linda Sioux, 2022/01/01

We loved this excursion. We came prepared and had plenty of clothes, hats and gloves. The dinner was yummy. The snow was hysterical- we live in CO and had to go to HI for snow- our guide was over the edge with enthusiasm and knowledge - loved our stargazing- don't delay-book today! This was not an easy one to book!!!

  • The Shadow!

  • The snow!

  • The Sky!

  • The moon!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/12/09
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Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour (with Dinner)

Reviewed by: Kevin S, 2021/12/21

Nicely done and very interesting. The scenery was fantastic. The guides were knowledgeable and accommodating. The veggie lasagna dinner was better than expected. It was a memorable lifetime experience. The snow that had fallen recently was an added bonus.

  • Mauna Kea at Sunset

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/12/11
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Don’t miss this adventure

Reviewed by: Mark, Audrey & Jarod, 2021/12/18

Travis was fantastic during our trip up Mauna Kea. His knowledge and presentation made it interesting and insightful. He personally took the extra time to make sure the adventure was complete. We even had snow, something unexpected for travelers to Hawaii.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2021/12/16
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“STAR”gazing!

Reviewed by: Adventure Grandma, 2021/12/11

This tour was Amazing! We have traveled to many fabulous places around the globe with lots of adventure & this tour was right up there with the best! Our guide, Gage, was fun, informative, patient, and an all-round delightful young man! Having to reschedule due to the Kona Low & Mauna Kea blizzard was easy & ultimately a better tour due to lots of beautiful snow at the summit! Our guide prepared us well for the seriously high altitude and checked on everyone frequently! Be sure to pack hats & gloves and the tour provided parkas were plenty warm. A couple e of things to keep in mind before going: bring a refillable water bottle, remember to nose in & slow pursed lip breathing out, bring your camera or cell phone for pictures, visit the restroom at the visitor center so you won’t have to go at very high elevation, and eat before the tour begins (the provided dinner is pretty simple). Just pack a smile and enjoy the “high”! The stargazing with the telescope was extra special! Who knows, we saw a Jedi, a snowman, & a crazy snowboarder so maybe you will too! Thanks for a great memory!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/12/09
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Lovely experience.

Reviewed by: Sanidhya, 2021/11/09

Very unique. Views of a lifetime!
The host was amazing. Very informative and helpful. Really enjoyed my time on this tour. Will definitely recommend!

  • Gorgeous sunset from the summit!

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2021/11/07
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One of the best tours ever

Reviewed by: Jacqueline Lorah, 2021/10/06

Ok, this is honestly one of the best tours I have ever taken. The van was super comfy, and our guide Arthur was informative, friendly, and honestly just plain fun! Obvious he LOVES this tour.

Words just cannot describe the beauty of this tour. From the drive up, to the spectacular sunset, to the jaw dropping star gazing......endless beauty. Plus, Arthur made sure we stayed safe, and kept us informed about what we should do and what to expect. I felt comfortable and at ease.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing experience. If you do one thing on the Big Island......do this.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/10/04
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Amazing experience!

Reviewed by: Gabriella, 2021/10/02

This was such an awesome experience! The sunset was beautiful being that high up and the stargazing was amazing. It was our favorite experience on the island. Our guide Gage was so great! He was so knowledgeable on the island, the history there and the stargazing. He also helped us feel comfortable and safe on the drive up and back down. We highly recommend this experience!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/09/24
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Very Very Entertaining.

Reviewed by: H. Shoenfield, 2021/09/30

Tour Guide was an enthusiast, patient, native who shared culture, history, science, jokes and Hawaiian myths and songs. You can't ask for more from a guide. Try to book for a moonless night for best view of stars. They use an automated 11 inch telescope. The food was surprisingly very good (vegetable lasagna), the brownie decadent and the hot chocolate and biscotti at the end a nice touch. Had an issue finding the pick up spot, but a phone call resolved this since we were close. If you miss the sign for the international market (if that's your pick up spot), look for the 76 gas station, enter there and drive to the back. Dress warmly and bring a refillable drink. Cold (but not terribly) even with the given parka and gloves. A very enjoyable 8 hour afternoon & evening l

  • Sunsetting over mountain

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/09/28
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A wonderful experience!

Reviewed by: Heather, 2021/08/06

We had a great time viewing the sunset with our amazing guides Kekoa and Travis. There are a lot of companies that run these tours, but our guides made this one the best of them all. They were both very knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. Most of all, however, Kekoa and Travis have big smiles and even bigger hearts. They brought the spirit of Mauna Kea and o'hana into this experience. The sunset from the summit was miraculous, the lasagna and brownie absolutely delicious and the star gazing was out of this world!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/08/04
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Sunset and Stargazing Tour

Reviewed by: ElizD318, 2021/07/13

My husband and I, our 4 adult children, and their significant others had a wonderful time on the Mauna Kea Stargazing and Summit Tour. Everyone even liked the dinner.
Maka was a great guide. He picked us up promptly and was very friendly on the ride to Mauna Kea. We learned a lot about the surrounding area and volcanoes.
The best part was the sunset. It was like being on another planet and the colors were vivid and amazing.
Unfortunately, the amazing sunset was due to the clouds and it made for poor stargazing.
We were able to see the craters of the moon through the telescope and hear about the local names for some of the stars, in spite of the clouds. And I was glad we did not have to drive that windy road ourselves.
I would suggest checking on the cycle of the moon before booking and do not go during a full moon.
We still had a wonderful time and will never forget the Sunset on the summit.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2021/06/21
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Amazing!

Reviewed by: Shalini Banerjee, 2021/07/08

This was the perfect ending to our Hawaii trip. It was awesome and the trip exceeded all our expectations. New even got to see Saturn and the entire thing was on time and perfect.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2021/07/04
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Great way to see the sunset atop Mauna Kea and stargaze next to the welcome center!

Reviewed by: Nicole W, 2021/06/13

Gabe, our tour guide, was funny, patient and very knowledgeable! It’s a long drive there picking up all attendees and up the mountain. He did a great job sharing interesting facts and keeping us engaged throughout the tour! Plus he was a very safe driver given the rough terrain (4-wheel drive required to get to the top). At the very top Mauna Kea looks like Mars since no life can survive and was a surreal experience for this reason. Plus viewing the sunset over the clouds at the very top was breathtaking! Note we did not stargaze at the very top, since the altitude is too high and actually prohibits ideal stargazing because of prolonged altitude sickness and the fact it’s insanely cold after sundown (FYI it’s windy and cold up there, so wear layers - you’ll thank me!!). Instead we stargazed near the welcome center enjoying hot coco or hot coffee! We learned about the different constellations, etc. Overall it was a great tour and we’re glad to we did it!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/05/19
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Unique and wonderful experience!!

Reviewed by: Debbie, 2021/05/24

The Mauna Kea summit tour was a definite highlight of our trip to Hawaii. The ride up the mountain in the van was beautiful and rugged. Our guide was very thorough and attentive to the needs of the group. He was exceptionally knowledgeable of the history and cultural significance of this mountain. The view from the summit was amazing. The telescopes look like something out of Star wars. It is a most unique and unusual place. The star gazing was just phenomenal. We had a beautiful clear night with an awesome view of the moon from the telescope, as well as many other unique stars and constellations and night sky features. We were able to see the Southern Cross which I am told is very rare. On a negative note I was very unimpressed with the lasagna meal. Mine was not very hot, and the noodles were slightly dry and crusty on the bottom. However the hot chocolate and snack during the stargazing was a very nice touch. All in all the entire experience will stay with us forever. It is one of those things you will talk about for years to come.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2021/05/17
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Honeymoon Highlight!

Reviewed by: MsTravelGal, 2020/02/11

I wouldn't give this tour five stars...I give it as many stars as there are in the Mauna Kea sky! This tour was easily the highlight of our trip on the Big Island! We enjoyed every minute of it. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous, and to see it from such a high elevation was quite remarkable. I was glad that we had plenty of time before and after the sunset to walk around, take in the view, and get some good pictures.

The dinner was very good but if you don't like lasagna there's a microwave at VIS if you want to bring your own food.

The road to the summit is a bit bumpy, but that's to be expected since it's a volcano. So take motion sickness meds if you're prone to carsickness. And if you get cold easily, definitely bring layers! They provide parkas and gloves but you might also want to bring a hat or scarf and thick socks.

Throughout the tour, the guide provided a very entertaining and educational narrative. It's obvious that he's passionate about Mauna Kea and Hawaii. He's basically a walking encyclopedia of Hawaii and provided all kinds of interesting information about Mauna Kea's geology and history, and also talked about Hawaiian culture and why Mauna Kea is a sacred place. He also did an excellent job of guiding the stargazing and pointing out constellations, star clusters, and planets, most of which we got to see through a telescope. I think my favorite part of the stargazing was getting to see the Andromeda galaxy through the telescope.

If you're going to the Big Island, this tour is a must!

  • View from the Visitor Information Station, 9k feet elevation.

  • The snow capped summit

  • Some of the Mauna Kea telescopes

  • Watching the sunset from above the clouds was surreal

  • This picture is nothing compared to the real thing!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
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Highlight of my Big Island trip. Must do!

Reviewed by: Michael, 2020/02/11

This Mauana Kea summit and stargazing tour was phenomenal. The first stop is at the visitor center around 9k feet elevation. Here you can look through a couple telescopes, walk through the museum, and you will be served your hot dinner (we had veggie lasagna and it was good). While you are here it is good to eat and drink alot of water so your body can acclimate to the higher altitudes ahead. Next stop is the summit up to almost 14k feet! The Vans they take up are heavy duty and they need to be because of the rocky road leading up the mountain. I would not reccomend taking a rental/personal vehicle up this mountain. The road is rocky, thin, and windy. The guides for this tour have been doing it for years and know the road well. On the way up the guides will give you some commentary about the mountain which is a cool little history lesson. At the top it is cold and the oxygen is thin, so be ready! They provide you with a winter coat and gloves but I recommend bringing your own hat. The views from the summit are outstanding. Watching the sun set from up there is really remarkable, and you can walk around to the 12 massive telescopes up there to take pictures. After the summit you will descend a couple thousand feet to the star gazing location. With no light pollution and at the high altitude it provides for the star gazing experience of a lifetime. I have never seen the sky lit up so brightly with constellations. The guides will break out a couple of heavy duty telescopes from the vans so you can get an even closer look. They will educate you about the constellations and give alot of really good information. Overall this is an impeccable tour and a must do if you are going to the Big Island!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
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Gratitude and respect! Blessed to have been able to experience sunset on Mauna Kea and the beauty of our night sky!

Reviewed by: Hoomaikaiana, 2020/01/01

This was truly a ‘bucket list’ experience.
Our guide Travis shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the mountain and the importance to the Hawai’ian people. The history of the observatories and their research potential was enlightening. Our other guide, Jim knew more about constellations and the night sky than many astronomers. His ability to discuss the constellations from both a euro-centric and Polynesian perspective was novel!

A truly magnificent (although really really cold) adventure.

The hooded jackets and gloves are great - but bring two layers for your both your lower body and upper body as well as warm socks/shoes.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2019/12/29
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Mauna Kea Tour was the best highlight of my 10-day Hawaii vacation

Reviewed by: Vadim, 2019/06/07

The tour to Mauna Kea summit was majestic, and we have to thank our tour guide/driver for that. Besides holding an astronomy degree and being very knowledgeable in answering our questions, he kept us amused about the stars we were watching through a telescope. Great company, very comfortable vehicles, knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides, five star trip!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2019/05/22
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Amazing

Reviewed by: H Harrington , 2019/06/05

We saw the north star in the same sky with the southern cross. Had never seen the southern cross before. That was worth the trip. The great professional authoritative guides, wonderful telescopes and celestial education were all icing on the cake.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2019/06/01
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One of the best

Reviewed by: dolls, 2019/05/24

Guide was informative and friendly. On time performance and tour went well beyond what I thought was included in the days activities. Great to look at the stars through the telescope and have explanation of the skies (for a novice like me). Ride up and back to the summit of Mauna Kea was bumpy at times and a little daunting but not nearly as difficult as some made it out to be. Elevation did not bother me.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2019/05/20
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