The 13,803-foot (4,207.3-meter) peak of Mauna Kea is Hawaii's highest point, and a popular spot for star-gazing. With this tour, travel up to the summit with your guide, stop for dinner at the Onizuka Astronomy Complex, then arrive at the summit in time to watch the sunset. As dark sets in, enjoy a guided stargazing experience and marvel at the stars and planets using a refractor telescope and razor pointer.

Stay warm with included winter clothes, hot drinks and a light dinner
Pose for group sunset and star-gazing photos included with the tour
Choose from three different pickup and drop-off locations
Intimate small-group experience with a maximum of twelve people

What's Included

Dinner
Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
Admission Fee for Mauna Kea
4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
Expert tour guide
Free DSLR camera photo of sunset and stars with you in it!
An astronomical telescope

An optional TIP per person for good service is customary in Hawaii.
Guest under 16 years old or older than 70 cannot participate

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting points

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Kailua-Kona

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Onizuka Astronomy Complex

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Mauna Kea Summit

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Onizuka Astronomy Complex

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Kailua-Kona (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

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 we do not take any responsibility or liability for any damage or loss caused through the parking
Operated by Hawaiian Eyes Tour
Not recommended for person weight more than 300lb
Not recommended for person having respiratory problem such as asthma
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Leah_E

Stephen make our tour guide experience! He answered all of our questions and is extremely knowledgeable about the telescopes, Mountain, and constellations. We were so impressed and had the best time on our guided tour!

Reviews

5.0

652 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 652 reviews

Memorable Evening

Mark_K, Sep 2023

A couple in our group got engaged as we watched the sunset from the sunset. Our guide, Stefan, was friendly, extremely knowledgeble, and friendly.

An Amazing & Memorable Experience

Marjorie_W, Sep 2023

Wes was an amazing guide. He definitely made the trip memorable. He took the time to make sure everyone got the full experience of the trip. These pictures are his. He likes to get creative with his sunset pictures. Unfortunately the high altitude actually made me lightheaded. Wes explained that could happen and what to do if it does. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the views and taking pictures. We also got to see Saturn through the telescope he provided. It was an awesome experience and well worth every penny.

This was a fabulous...

CATHY_S, Sep 2023

This was a fabulous experience. Joseph was very personable and very knowledgeable. He took the time to make certain that the tour was a good experience for everyone.

Kei Summit

Kyndall_B, Sep 2023

Being able to experience something so pretty at such a high altitude was amazing. It does get very cold up there so if I were to do anything differently I would layer up once you get up there. And bring something warm to drink.

Spectacular. Breathtaking

Debbie_W, Sep 2023

Words can hardly describe how spectacular this tour is. Astronomy geeks, stargazers, and anyone in general individuals will be blown away at how many stars you see. It’s a patch quilt of a million points of light. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Incredible!

Lindsay_S, Sep 2023

This was an incredible experience! Wes was such a kind and informative guide. We are so grateful that we did this tour. Not only was it incredible to watch the sun dip below the horizon, but the star gazing was wonderful! We were incredibly lucky and had perfect conditions, but also we could see the lava glow from volcano national park. Again, even Wes said we had excellent conditions and this isn't common. With the road conditions and travel up to the summit, I wouldn't recommend doing this alone, pay the money and take the guide. It's so worth it! Mahalo!

Amazing!

Tenalyn_F, Sep 2023

We saw a few shooting stars as well as a gorgeous sunset and the wonders of the night sky. The hot chocolate was great and the close-up of Saturn through the telescope was really cool.

A little enjoyable

Deborah_G, Sep 2023

The tour was pretty good but even with the jackets and leggings you are supplied with it is still extremely cold. It was a nice sunset, The star gazing was good and you got a lot of information about the stars. The main problem was that where you are dropped off is a 45 min walk back to the hotel, the company really needs to rethink where they pick up and drop off especially when being from a foreign country you don’t have any internet and cell phone access. All the shops are closed and it is 10pm at night.

Nice way to see the Summit

coraliesm, Sep 2023

Stefan was an amazing tour guide and photographer. Hot chocolate was great! Enjoy letting them do the driving and bring the warm coats.

Amazing view funny driver

Larissa_O, Sep 2023

The view is amazing, very nice driver who took extra pictures of us (very nice), good jackets, the telescope could have been better and maybe more than 1 sandwich per person or a fruit or something like that with it.

Wes was a great guide!!!

Jacob_F, Sep 2023

Wes was a great guide so much information! Speaks 3 languages so he was very inclusive, unfortunately my and my husband could not go to the summit as I was pregnant and not aware that was not recommended. But was a great experience from what we did see

Fun times on Mauna Kea

Eric_K, Sep 2023

Mauna Kea is just magical and Hawaiian Eyes does a fantastic job to showcase why it is such an astronomical hotspot. Our guide, Joeseph, made our trip super comfortable, safe, and fun. This trip is a must do while visiting the Big Isle. The veggie sandwiches were even top notch!

Great Sunset and Stargazing Tour atop Mauna Kea

Kevin_W, Aug 2023

I was keen to get to the top of Mauna Kea to see the observatories. Our guide Wes was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and the controversial nature of the telescopes on the mountain, yet was balanced in representing the scientific benefits against the sacred nature of the site. It's a difficult subject about which there is much passion. Our tour took us up to the visitors center at 9,000ft where we had BLT sandwiches for dinner and time to acclimatized to the altitude. After a brief delay due to weather, and waiting for the park rangers to re-open the road, we enjoyed a comfortable if bumpy ride to the 13,750ft summit. The view is spectacular, and the observatories are majestic. We arrived about 40 minutes before sunset, which was lovely. It's quite cold at the top and the tour provide parkas, ski-pants, and gloves if you need them. After sunset you descend to about 11,000ft for about an hour of stargazing, a few quick peeks at the moon through a telescope they provide, and some hot cocoa. The only downside to the tour is you operate on their schedule. It's really a sunset tour, more than an astronomy tour. Subaru and Keck telescopes allow visitors during the day, and this tour arrives near sunset well after they've closed to the public. But if you're not up for renting the 4x4 required to ascend on your own, this tour is an excellent choice.

So glad we booked this excursion!

Steve_C, Aug 2023

Seeing the Blue Moon rising at the top of Mauna Kea was Spectacular! It was shining on the Clouds below so beautifully! The constellations were pointed out by Todd and they were a sight to see! Todd was kind, and have us the island's volcano history, and took good care of us! Very enjoyable!

Great tour and tour guide

Linda_D, Aug 2023

Great tour. Loved that we had Wesley! He was great! Soooo knowledgeable. He made sure everyone got great pictures - he is quite the photographer and a hard worker! You won't be disappointed with this tour!

Experience of a lifetime

James_S, Aug 2023

The view was awesome. The narration was superb and informative. Experience of a lifetime. Only thing that could have been better was the BLT sandwich.

Great tour

cjccfamily, Aug 2023

Great tour. Really friendly guide and a beautiful experience. I would recommend this tour. Just be careful of the altitude. Can make you sick

Lifetime experience

Melvin_H, Aug 2023

Our guide was West he is amazing. The whole experience was great driving up to the submit. West was very informative and took really good care of all of us. The sunset was amazing wished we could have a better stargazing but over all it was great. The sandwich was great however the hot chocolate was ok.

Best Sunset Ever!!!!

Tom_G, Aug 2023

Stefan and Wes were amazing. Some much information, this trip is a must. The pictures they took were breathtaking. Mahalo.

Beautiful strargaxing experience!

Monica_R, Aug 2023

Service was exceptional and locations selected could haven’t been more perfect!! Love it! The view were magnificent!

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