All Reviews for Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

It was a wonderful sunset. I was also able to see Japan's Subaru. However, there was too much moonlight, and the starlight was a bit lacking. But later, I received photos via email, which became a wonderful keepsake. Mahalo! I recommend it.

素晴らしいｓｕｎｓｅｔでした。日本のスバルも見ることができました。ただ月の明かりが多くて、星の明かりが今ひとつでした。けど、あとからメールで写真を送っていただき、素晴らしい記念になりました。マハロ！おすすめします。　

On the day I participated, we were divided into a group of only Japanese participants and another group from other countries, so I was able to have a guide in Japanese. Even as a woman participating alone, I had a great time. Our driver and guide, Stefan, was fluent in Japanese and provided an enjoyable tour while also taking wonderful photos. Thank you, Sue.

The temperature, weather, and wind were all perfect that day, but since this is all dependent on nature, it's just luck. However, I've heard that there can be differences in weather stability depending on the season, so it would be good to research that before planning. Stargazing is not suitable when the moon is bright, so if you can choose your dates, I recommend planning around the moon phase.

We only observed a few stars through the telescope (just Venus on that day), so you might want to consider that as a bonus. However, there were plenty of explanations using a pointer, and I believe the beauty of the stars here is something you can't see anywhere else. It felt like a dream to be able to go up to 4,205 meters by car without experiencing altitude sickness. I'm glad I participated!

私が参加した日は、ちょうど日本人だけの車とその他の国の方の車に分かれたので、日本語でガイドをしていただけて、女性1人での参加でも、充分楽しめました。
ドライバー兼ガイドのステファンさんは、日本語ペラペラで楽しくガイドしてくださったり、素敵な写真を撮ってくださったりしました。
スーさん、ありがとうございました。

気温や天候や風も、この日はすべて良かったけれど、こればかりは自然相手なので運。ただ、季節によって、天気の安定、不安定に差があるそうなので、その辺は計画前に調べられると良いと思います。
星空観測は月が明るいと不向きなので、日程を選べる場合は、月齢を見て計画されると良いと思います。
望遠鏡で星を観るのは、ほんの一部（この日は金星のみ）でした。なので、これは おまけと考えた方がいいかも知れません。
でも、ポインターを使っての説明は沢山してくださるし、ここの星の美しさは他では見られないものだと思います。
こんな風に高山病になることなく、車で4205メートルまで行けることが夢のようでした。
参加して良かったです！

I participated in the tour with my parents in their 60s, so I was a bit anxious, but the guide was very attentive, taking care of everything from altitude sickness to restroom breaks.

Although the tour was primarily in English, the guide provided support in Japanese at key points, which made it very enjoyable! (Every time we got off the bus, he would casually explain things in Japanese, including information about restrooms, safety tips at the summit, and even jokes! ✨)

During the sunset, he took many wonderful family photos against the backdrop of the sea of clouds and the sunset, as well as some funny solo shots! He used a professional camera, so the starry sky looked incredibly beautiful (there was even a bonus of the faint red crater from the volcano that erupted a few days ago!). The photos were shared instantly via AirDrop!

Thanks to the stunning scenery and our guide Shotaro, I made some truly wonderful memories! Thank you so much! ✨

60代の父母を連れてのツアー参加でしたので、少し不安でしたが、ガイドさんが高山病のことはもちろんお手洗いのことも、こまめに気遣ってくださり、ケアしてくれました。
また英語ガイドのみとの事でしたが、要所で日本語でのフォローを入れてくださり、とても楽しめました！（車を降りるたびに日本語でドライブ中の説明のフォローやお手洗い情報、山頂での注意事項、ジョークまで気さくに日本語で話しかけて下さいます✨）

サンセットでは雲海と夕陽をバックに素敵な家族写真から面白いソロショットまでたくさん写真を撮ってくれます！
一眼のカメラで撮ってくれますので、星空がめちゃくちゃ綺麗に写ります（数日前に噴火したボルケーノの赤い火口もうっすら映るボーナス付きでした！）
写真はAirDropですぐに共有してくれます！

見たことのない景色はもちろん、ガイドのショウタロウさんのおかげでとても楽しい思い出が出来ました！本当にありがとうございました✨

When we went to pick up, our names weren't on the list, but there just happened to be two seats available, so we were able to get on. They said something like, "Lucky you, there were seats available!" which shows they have no management at all. Plus, there weren't enough meals, so we couldn't eat. (laughs)
By the way, there’s no telescope rental. You just quickly look at the stars, take a quick photo, and that’s it. It feels like, where did the photos go? I wish I could get a refund.

ピックアップの際、私達の名前がなく、たまたま2席空いていたから乗れることに。たまたま空いててラッキーだね！みたいな事言われて、管理全くできてません。しかもご飯の数も足りず、食べれませんでした。笑
ちなみに望遠鏡の貸し出しなんてありません。さくっと星見て、さくっと写真とっておわり。
写真どこいったの？って感じです。返金してほしいくらいです。

Fortunately, all the participants were Japanese, so the Japanese guide provided detailed explanations and took beautiful photos. I was able to enjoy Mauna Kea, which I had wanted to visit once in a lifetime. The weather was bad on the ground, and I was worried, but as the guide said, once we got above the clouds, the new moon allowed us to see the stars clearly, and the wind was gentle, making for a comfortable tour without needing to wear pants.

The only disappointing thing was that I was told the snacks for a member who couldn't participate due to health issues were lost somewhere, so we couldn't hand them out.

幸運にも全員日本人参加者だった為、日本語ガイドさんが、詳しく説明してくれ、写真も綺麗に撮ってくれた。一生に一度行きたかった、マウナ・ケアを堪能できました。地上は天気が悪く、心配してましたがガイドさんのいう通り、雲の上に出れば新月で星も良く見えて、風も弱かったので、ズボンを履かないで快適なツアーでした。
一つだけ残念だったのは、体調不良で参加できなかったメンバーの軽食がどこかで無くなったのでお渡し出来ないと言われたのが残念です。

OMG not even sure how to translate to words the experience on this tour

everything went smooth since the pick up, the tour guide assigned to us has so much knowledge about the culture, and the places.

you get a meal which is delicious to start the day, the the views from the sunset never in my life had experience something like that

then the cherry on top the stars, this was a life experience like never before you can see even the space station crusing the skies.

do not hesitate on talking this tour you wont regret it

Great experience. Amazing stars and view of the sunset.

In late May, I participated in a sunset and stargazing tour at the summit of Mauna Kea, which was an incredibly valuable experience. Since there were many Japanese participants, our perfect bilingual guide, Sue, navigated in Japanese.

The local information that isn't found in guidebooks, the mysterious and magnificent scenery along the way, the unexpected cold despite being in a tropical location (and the warmth of the borrowed jackets), the delicious sandwiches we had at the summit, the breathtaking sunset, the ever-changing colors of the sky and clouds, the opening of the observatory and the start of the observations, and the view of the star-filled sky and constellations—all of these were truly wonderful and exceeded my expectations, providing a surprising and moving experience.

During the stargazing, when Sue pointed out the constellations and we were all gazing at them, a huge shooting star passed by, and everyone cheered together. That became an unforgettable memory.

Thank you so much, Sue (Stephan). The photos you took with professional skill are a wonderful record, and I am grateful.

５月下旬、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加し、大変貴重な体験をさせてもらいました。
日本人参加者が多い回だったので、完璧なバイリンガルガイドのスーさんが、日本語でナビゲートしてくださいました。
ガイドブックにはないローカルの情報、道中の不思議で雄大な景色、南国にもかかわらず体験する歯も噛み合わない寒さ（と貸してくださった防寒ジャケットの暖かさ⁠)、山頂で食べた美味しいサンドイッチ、息を飲むようなサンセット、刻々と変わる空と雲の色、天文台が開き観測を開始する様、満天の星と星座の見方、どれもこれも本当に素晴らしく、想像を遥かに上回る、驚きと感動体験でした。
星空観測中に、スーさんが指し示した星座を皆で眺めている時、大きな大きな星が流れ、参加者全員で歓声を上げたこと。忘れられない思い出になりました。
スーさんことステファンさん、本当にありがとうございました。
プロ並みの腕前で撮って頂いた写真は、素晴らしい記録になり感謝です。

The sunset above the clouds at the summit of Mauna Kea was truly magical. It was an unforgettable beauty. And the starry sky. At first, I told my son, "There aren't as many stars as I thought," but as it got completely dark, the sky was filled with stars! The guide's explanations were enjoyable, and I truly felt that it was a tour worth taking. Thank you very much.

マウナケア山頂雲の上のサンセットは、本当に幻想的でした。忘れられない美しさでした。
そして星空。最初「思ったほど星の量ないね」と
息子に言っていたのですが、完全に暗くなってくると
空が星で埋め尽くされていました！ガイドさんの説明も楽しく、行ってよかったなぁとこころからそう思えるツアーでした。ありがとうございました。

This was amazing! From our pick up point in Kona, our guide Kailikea (hope I spelled this right) was fantastic. He was so passionate about the trip and his home town it was so engaging. He's such a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable chap. I didn't expect to learn so much, but it was just the right level. 'Kea was clear about what to expect from the altitude and how to best manage it. We were lucky enough to see the Silversword plants by the visitor centre and then enjoyed our meal, included in the tour; veggie lasagne and chocolate brownie. It was a mixed journey up to the summit with some paved and some very bumpy roads but so worth the trip. We learned all about the different dishes and observatories and watched the beautiful sunset from the summit. We had to head lower for stargazing to avoid polluting the light by the observatories. We were awestruck by how many stars you could see, it was stunning. The powerful telescopes were set up and we were shown the visible planets and constellations/asterisms. Viewing the Edna carina nebula through the telescope was an incredible experience. I would 100% recommend this tour!

Standing at the summit of Mauna Kea at an altitude of 4,200 meters, I was able to wait for the sunset without any discomfort thanks to proper altitude acclimatization. The sight of the sun setting between the various observatories from around the world was magnificent. During the stargazing, the explanations about the seasons and constellations were very clear and refreshing. The sandwiches for dinner and the hot chocolate were also very delicious.

標高4200ｍのマウナケア山頂に立ちますが、高度順応が適切にされ違和感なくサンセットを待つことができました。
世界中の天文台が立ち並ぶ隙間に太陽が沈んでいく様子は素晴らしいです。
星空観測では、季節や星座についての説明がとても分かりやすく新鮮でした。
夕食のサンドウィッチもホットチョコレートもとてもおいしかったです。

This was an absolutely amazing experience. We booked this fantastic tour short notice and I'm so grateful there were a few time slots still available that worked with out schedule for us.

Our guide, James, is truly an expert astronomer and has a fantastic personality. To see first hand some of the astronomical wonders we've heard about and seen in books or online was breathtaking.

I would absolutely recommend the Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience as a must do when on the Big Island. In fact, I would do it again because what you see one night will be different on another night!

On the day of my visit, the weather unexpectedly worsened, and I couldn't go beyond the Onizuka Visitor Center. I was disappointed that I couldn't fulfill my dream of coming to the Big Island, but I was happy to see the "Silversword" (Argyroxiphium sandwicense) near the visitor center, thanks to the staff's guidance. I hope to have the opportunity to visit the summit of Mauna Kea again.

当日、まさかの天候悪化で、オニヅカビジターセンターから先に行けませんでした。
ハワイ島に来た夢が果たせずがっかりでしたが、スタッフに教えてもらって、ビジターセンターの近くにある「シルバーソード（銀剣草）」を見ることができて、それは嬉しかったです。
また機会があれば、マウナケア山頂に行きたいと思います。

We had a great time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was excellent! He was friendly and informative the entire time. Even though we took the tour on an overcast night, there was so much to see and the views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!!

I joined the tour with my wife, and we were a bit nervous as we worried about altitude sickness before we joined. However, we did not need to worry too much. The guide was so professional, and he made us relax in the large van of Mercedes-Benz. In addition, the distributed dinner, hot lasagna and chocolate cake helped us get adjusted in the rest area before we were elevated to the summit. In astronomical observation, I was able to see two shooting stars. I strongly recommend this amazing tour if you come to the big island.

This tour was worth every penny. We loved the ride to the summit, the star gazing, and the wealth of knowledge provided by our tour guide, Maka.

The tour guide was inviting and very knowledgeable. The food was actually quite decent. The views of the sunset from the top were sensational, and it was near seeing all the giant telescopes.

But the highlight for me by far was the stargazing after sunset. It was only 80% visibility and the moon was quite bright but I've never seen so many stars so clearly in my life. It was really a sight to behold. Maka (the tour guide) brought a telescope with him and we saw a number of cool things close up, such as a globular cluster, a star in portions
Orions belt, Venus, and the Moon.

Fernando was a great guide for our tour! We really enjoyed his commentaries and learned a lot from this trip. The sunset was amazing. The night sky was impressive, but cold. Bring winter clothes and layers if you can! They do provide a very warm parka. The dinner was yummy. Highly recommended!

We had a blast! A very unique experience, especially if you enjoy sunsets, heights, and amazing views.

This was my first tour on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the reservation process and pickup location on the day were very clear. Although I couldn't speak English, there were staff members who assisted in Japanese, and I was very satisfied with the service. Above all, I was deeply moved by the magnificent view and sunset from the summit. I didn't experience any altitude sickness, and I was able to have a wonderful time. During the stargazing, I enjoyed lying on the ground, amazed by the closeness and size of the countless stars. (laughs) I'm really glad I participated in this tour. When I come back to the Big Island, I would like to join other tours as well. Thank you very much.

初めてハワイ島で参加したツアーでしたが、予約や当日の送迎場所も分かりやすく、英語が話せなかったのですが、日本語で対応してくれるスタッフもいて、対応にはとても満足でした。そして何より山頂から見た壮大な景色とサンセットに大感動。心配していた高山病もなく、良いひとときを過ごすことが出来ました。星空観測では満天の星たちの近さと大きさに、道に寝転んで楽しみました。(笑)このツアーに参加して本当に良かったです。またハワイ島に来たときには他のツアーにも参加したいと思いました。ありがとうございました。

Amazing guide! Super knowledgable and passionate! He knew places to go to have absolute privacy. It was a bit cloudy when I went so he offered for me to come again for free, and both times were stunning. I learned a lot and the pics are unlike anything else you'll ever get in your life.

We rented a car so it was great to have a tour where you just show up for the stargazing time, instead of spending hours driving around picking up other tourists.

James was awesome! Our family had a summit tour booked with another company that canceled stated that road was closed, not sure that was true, as I’m scrambling to find an alternative other company said they were still going. Anyway, God‘s got a plan and I came upon epic tours. Even though this wasn’t a “summit” tour my son has a AAS in astronomy and was focused on star gazing and James delivered! James provided chairs to jackets if needed. And gave us a tour of the night sky! And we have a great picture to remember it!

Our guide, Stephan, was wonderful. Out of the 10 tour participants, 8 were Americans, but he provided a lot of explanations and support in Japanese. Stephan is also a photographer, and he took beautiful photos that looked like wedding pictures under a perfect starry sky! Thank you very much!

ガイドのステファンさんが素晴らしかったです。ツアー客10人中、8人はアメリカ人の方でしたが、日本語でたくさん説明&フォローしていただけました。ステファンさんは、さらに写真家で、
満点の星空のもとウェディングフォトのような素敵な写真を撮っていただきました！
ありがとうございました！

This was one the best experiences ever! The guide was fantastic! (Gauge/Gage? My apologies if misspelling your name - he was super knowledgeable about the island and easy to talk to, he was also well organized and thought of everything. The entire journey was super easy to follow and we all got to see some amazing things. Hot chocolate and biscotti? Snow? Wild turkeys and sheep? Binary star system anyone? Gage will make it happen. We also had a great GREAT experience just chatting with you about the Big Island. Thank you Thank you!

The van that arrived at the meeting place was labeled Hawaiian Eyes Tour, with no mention of the operating company, Masashi Nature School, which was confusing. There was no such information provided by VELTRA, but upon checking the Masashi Nature School's website, it clearly stated that the operating company is Hawaiian Eyes Tour. (I wish this had been communicated through VELTRA as well.)

On the day of the tour, there were ten guests, six of whom were Japanese. According to the guide, the number of Japanese customers has decreased due to the pandemic, so there are no longer Japanese language tours. The guide could speak some Japanese, but not enough to provide a full tour in that language, so the entire ride was in English.

That said, the sunset from the mountain top and stargazing were great experiences, and the guide made an effort to explain things in Japanese, which I personally appreciated. Additionally, I was grateful to receive the photos the guide took via AirDrop.

We were staying at a hotel in Waikoloa, so it was helpful that we were dropped off there on the way back. However, there were two Japanese guests from a hotel outside the Kona area who mistakenly thought they would be dropped off at their hotel and ended up getting off at the pickup location, Queens Marketplace. Considering that it's difficult to catch a taxi in that area and the return time was before 10 PM, I think it would be beneficial to offer a paid option for hotel drop-off.

　集合場所に来たバンが、催行社のマサシネイチャースクールとはどこにも書いてなくHawaiian Eyes Tourとなっていて戸惑った。
　VELTRAではそのような案内は全くなかったが、マサシネイチャースクールのHPを確認すると、しっかり催行会社がHawaiian Eyes Tourであると記載されていた。（VELTA経由でもしっかりそこは案内して欲しかった。）
　当日は、１０人の客で、うち日本人は６人いたが、ガイドさんによると、コロナ禍で日本人客が減ったから日本語ツアーは無くなったとのこと。
　ガイドさんも日本語はできるが案内するほどの語学力がない、ということで、行き帰りの車中はずっと英語だった。
　とはいえ、山頂の夕陽や星空観測等、ガイドさんが、日本語でも頑張って案内してくれて、個人的には非常に良かった。
　また、ガイドさんが撮ってくれた写真もAirDropでもらえたのもありがたかった。
　私たちは、ワイコロアのホテルに泊まっていたので帰りはホテルまで送ってもらって助かった。
　ただ、コナ地区外のホテルから参加していた日本人の親子２人組が、帰りホテルまで送ってもらえると勘違いしていて、結局ピックアップ場所のクイーンズマーケットプレイスで降りることになった。
　タクシーもなかなか捕まらない土地柄で、帰着時間が22時前になるということを考えると、有償でのホテルまでの送ってくれるオプションがあると良いのではないかと思った。

I know, I know, everyone likes to use the words “best” “amazing” “trip of a lifetime” THIS excursion IS absolutely THE best trip you will book! It may seem a little pricey, but the time, care, and knowledge that our tour guide Travis invested in our group was top of the line!

First of all, do not underestimate the “cold” warnings. It was frigid, cold to the bone so, dress appropriately! If you have a beanie, bring it for this trip.

Secondly, be prepared for the potential that the actual road up to the summit may be closed. Our group (along with 15 others) was told the road was closed and we would not be able to drive to the summit. Travis was able to talk with another tour operator (friends are good) and together they got the rangers to open the road for us last minute!! Yay!

Okay, so let’s talk dinner for a second. They served a vegetarian lasagna that was to die for most of my family are hard core meat eaters, so i was surprised at how quickly they snarfed it all down and EVERYONE commented on how “great” it was Make sure to bring your own water bottle (there is fresh water at the first stop) or whatever you want to drink.

Once we hit the road to climb the summit, the road was definitely an “off road” experience. Lots of major bumps but totally fun . The drive up was spectacular, so have your camera ready. The view from the top will blow your mind. Take a lot of pics and enjoy!

Then on to stargazing. Totally over the top and way exceeded my expectations! Travis had his own telescope that was a high end piece of equipment to say the least! He has so much knowledge that he was eager to share. We even got to see the once in a lifetime “green” comet he spent at least an extra hour with us up there when all the other tour operators were leaving. It was truly the most memorable experiences of my life! Mahalo to the entire team that i know has to work hard behind the scenes for this…my entire family is so grateful for the experience

It was the best experience of my life.
The stunning sunset and the starry sky!
There was only one other group of Japanese participants with us, but they followed up in Japanese, which made me so happy I could cry.
I also got to take a lot of wonderful photos.
If I have the chance again, I would definitely like to participate.
Thank you very much.

人生で最高の体験でした。
圧巻のサンセットと満点の天空！
日本人参加者は私たちともう一組だけでしたが、キチンと日本語でフォローしてくれて涙が出るほど嬉しかったです。
また素敵な写真を沢山撮ってもらいました。
また機会があったら是非参加したいです。
本当にありがとうございました。

My family included two children and two seniors; thus reserved this trip as it was less strenuous (lower altitude, shorter time). Thought we'd see some stars and hear some stories, and was worried whether my family members would find it interesting.
Actual experience threw my expectations out the window. We usually see stars in pictures, in a way that makes them feel abstract and unreal. The way James showed us the stars made them feel so real and close. And it was totally awesome not just for me, but for everyone! We did quite a few activities on the island, and this was easily the most memorable.
One piece of advice; it is very very cold up there. I wore my pajamas under my pants and the thick down jacket James gave me, but was still shivering after about an hour. Dress very warmly, cuz this is worth it!

There were about 20 participants on the day of the tour, but we were the only two Japanese people. Naturally, the guide spoke in English, but the guide, Syoyo, took the time to explain various things to us in Japanese, allowing us to have a very enjoyable time. We were also told about a popular hamburger place, and we went there right away to try it. It was as delicious as they said! Thank you so much for a wonderful time.

ツアー当日の参加者は20名ほどでしたが、日本人は私たち２人だけでした。
当然ガイドは英語になるのですが、それでもガイドのsyoyoさんは私たちだけに日本語で個別に色々説明してくれて、とても楽しい時間を過ごす事が出来ました。
評判のハンバーガー屋さんも教えてもらい、早速行って食べてみました。
評判通り、とても美味しかった！
素敵な時間を本当にありがとうございました。

We were blessed with wonderful sunsets and starry skies thanks to the weather and moon phase. The tour was primarily in English, but our guide Shoyo kindly explained everything in Japanese as well. Taking commemorative photos under the starry sky can be challenging for amateurs, but the guide took amazing pictures with his mirrorless camera. The sandwiches and warm drinks provided along the way were also very delicious.

We received information about nighttime Kilauea sightseeing, and we were able to enjoy the tour without any issues. We made the best memories on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you very much!

天候と月齢に恵まれて素晴らしいサンセットと星空を見ることができました。ツアーは英語主体でしたが、ガイドのShoyoさんが日本語でも丁寧に説明してくださいました。星空での記念撮影は素人には難しいですが、ガイドさんご自身のミラーレス一眼で素晴らしい写真を撮っていただきました。途中に提供していただける軽食のサンドイッチや温かい飲み物もとてもおいしかったです。

夜のキラウエア観光の情報も教えていただき、無事に観光することができました。ハワイ島で最高の思い出ができました。本当にありがとうございました。