Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail
Overall Rating
4.74
Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Adventure
Reviewed by: Lon/Betsy Emelander, 2016/04/03Well worth the long ride from Hawaii to the mountain. The guide was excellent and gave every one a look through the telescope multiple times. A once in a life time experience!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/09 |
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Great tour
Reviewed by: Dave S., 2016/03/29Great tour and great guide in Brett....very knowledgeable and entertaining...one comment is tour could be shorter by eliminating the dinner
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2016/03/24 |
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Great Experience
Reviewed by: Annette & Mike, 2015/06/19Nate our tour guide was great! And extremely knowledgeable! Would recommend to all to experience not only the beautiful sunset but also the amazing stargazing!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/06/16 |
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Overjoyed!
Reviewed by: Marzia (Roma-Italy), 2015/04/15Hawaii Forest and Trail stands for competence, professionalism, passion and respect for the environment they allow to see and for travelers. They really think and manage everything with great knowledge and kindness. I felt cared for in every way, even the chocolate cake! The lesson on the stars was fantastic and we all got to use the telescope. Every wish was realized. The only thing we had to do was to be overwhelmed by the mystical magic Mauna Kea!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/25 |
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Great Tour
Reviewed by: DanV, 2015/03/28This tour was great including the tour guide Greg
The only part that was not good was the food. The food was terrible. There must be a place closer that make much better food.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/03/17 |
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Mauna Kea Summit - Excellent
Reviewed by: KSD2014, 2014/10/12Jason was our guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Amazing views from the peak, wonderful sunset and star gazing, even got to see the rings of Saturn. Dinner at deserted sheep farm was OK. Hotel pickup would have been nice.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Sunset and stars
Reviewed by: Anne, 2014/08/17Amazing sunset from the summit and a very informative evening all round. The meal en route was pretty average but the pause in the journey for the meal made the transition
to 14000 feet more manageable. The views are out of this world and it was a relief not to have to drive ourselves to and from the summit, even though on our trip the minibus broke down and it took an hour to get the replacement bus up to us. It was handled well though and overall was a very worthwhile trip.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2014/08/10 |
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summit
Reviewed by: Floyd Wilson, 2014/04/19Trip was the best. Food was wonderful. Nate was super. Very knowledgeable. Learned so much. Thank you and we will tell all our friends.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2014/04/16 |
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Expected too Much
Reviewed by: JMC, 2014/01/31Good organization but a rather long ride to the top. Stargazing was only so-so. I expected that we would see the stars through one of the observatories located at that top but instead, about 20 of us took turns looking through a kids reflective telescope. Not very exciting. Air is rare up there so be prepared for the possibility of altitude sickness.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Great Trip on New Year's Eve
Reviewed by: Steve Frey, 2013/01/19Our guide provided a trip filled with interesting history, fun facts, and a great stargazing discussion! Probably the best activity we did on our Big Island vacation.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Travel Agent
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2012/11/18We had Nate as our tour guide, he did a wonderful job. We learned
about about the Hawaii, Observatories, and stars. He enjoys his job and it shows. Would recommend this tour to those in good health with no lung issues. It was amazing to be at 13,700+ feet.
Star gazing was fun with all the information presented.
Dinner was good. Would recommend this tour.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Good trip that could have perfect
Reviewed by: Larry, 2012/09/19The food was not very good this time. I didn't get the choice I requested on their website (beef) and instead got cold/dry chicken. I went with Forest and Trails since I used them for this tour the last time I was on the Big Island. The last time we stopped near the Ranger station and were allowed to go in and look at the exhibits, this time we parked in a remote corner and were too far away. The views were amazing and well worth the little issues that came up.
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| Attended as: | Families |
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Great evening under the stars
Reviewed by: Lindsay, 2012/08/06My husband and I enjoyed our afternoon/evening learning all about Mauna Kea and the journey up the mountain. Our tour guide was wonderful and knowledgeable.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Expensive-drive if you can
Reviewed by: MEFDenver, 2012/07/23My husband and I have driven in the mountains for 40 plus years but booked this because we were led to believe it was difficult to get a permit to go up to Mauna Kea Summit in a private vehicle. If you are used to altitude and drive in the mountains, don't pay for this. The meal was only so-so though I realize if you are not used to living at altitude you don't want a heavy meal when you do the ascent as you do not have the extra red blood cells most of us who live at 6,000+ feet carry. The guide was okay but on the highway he drove way too slow. It really was not worth the price to us. It would be great if it was the only way you would be at the summit as seeing the sunset there was awesome. Our driver led us to believe that rental car companies would not allow you to drive a rental car up it. But, when we returned our car to the airport to leave we found out that was not the case (at least with our company). There is part of the road that is unpaved but it was graded and r
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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It's amazing sky!!!
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2012/04/04Nearly 14000 fts above sea level. You will able to see very beautiful sky!!! The tour guide has wonderful knowledge about stars positions. It's worth it.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Saw the Most Stars Ever
Reviewed by: Tanya W, 2011/11/04Overall, this was fun.The main guide was knowledgeable and really knew his constellations. One negative was they should have had the single guy sit by the guide and let my husband & I sit together.They both ended up yelling to each other across the aisle over me on the drive back.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Unbelievable!
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2010/01/15The trip was just amazing! Our guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. Would go back and do this again! Can't believe the view! This is one of the few trips we will never forget!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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I'll never look at the sky the same
Reviewed by: Brad, 2008/04/11What a wonderful tour and an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide. We will never look at the stars in the same way. Don't miss this while on the Big Island, it's an awesome trip!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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1 people find this helpful!
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I love this trip!
Reviewed by: SFBayArea, 2008/03/18This was a wonderful, amazing tour! The sunset view from the summit of Mauna Kea is incomparable. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. The stargazing was also wonderful. I never saw the stars so clearly before. My tour guide was Buck, who gave us a great astronomy beginner's lesson. He also was very professional, and knowledgeable about other aspects such as the culture, history, and environmental ecology of the island. I highly recommend this trip to everyone. Bring gloves and a knitted cap--you will use them. The tour company will provide parkas. Cookies and hot chocolate before stargazing was a nice touch!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Just do it.
Reviewed by: Merla Salongcong, 2007/10/19Alltogether it was a great experience. Everything was so well organized. Our guide, Anne, is AWESOME! She's very knowledgeable about everything we saw that evening and her enthusiasm is very much appreciated and infectious. She made the whole experience even better! Thanks guys!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Simply Amazing!
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2007/07/27Having grown up in Hawaii, I have grown very fond of Mauna Kea and it is definitely my favorite place to be. This trip, though pricey, is well worth the expense. When will you ever see both the North Star and Southern Cross in one place? And when will you ever feel like you can just reach out and touch the stars. The staff is very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions and concerns. This is by far the best tour I have ever taken on the Hawaiian islands. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique adventure or anyone interested in the stars!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Mona Kea trip is wild.
Reviewed by: Dale Spady, 2007/07/06The drive up the volcano is "trip" in itself. The steep, winding, narrow road with a shear dropoff on the side is a pulse pounder. Be ready for the thin atmosphere at the top. Overall, it was an exciting and very unique experience that I would recommend to all adults.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Trip to Top of Mona Kea
Reviewed by: Carolyn S. Nelson, 2007/04/26Over many years of taking tours, I have seen many tour guides. However Buck Pelley ranks at the top of the stack. He is incredibly knowledgeable on such topics as geology, astronomy, plant life, and the history of the area. I hope that Buck remains as a tour guide. I would take another tour with him anytime anywhere.
The only thing that I would improve on the tour is the dinner. Although I understand the challenge of bringing food to the top of Mona Kea, the fish could have been hotter with a lot less salt. While the soup was good it was barely warm. Cookies were excellent
Best wishes,
Carolyn Nelson
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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