Mauna Kea Evening Stargazing & Daytime Solar Viewing Tour with Dinner

Amazing time!!

Reviewed by: Giselle + Saul

Rich was the best guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable about everything we saw, and even when it was cloudy on Mauna Kea, he told us ancient Hawaiian stories until the clouds cleared and we could see everything we came out to see. A++++ would go again in a heartbeat. Thanks Rich!!!

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Mauna Kea Evening Stargazing & Daytime Solar Viewing Tour with Dinner

Stargazing

Reviewed by: MS & AG

Marcus our tour guide was Amazing! Really knowledgeable about the stars and facts regarding them. He was very friendly and patient with the kids! The only reason this doesn’t have a 5 star rating is because the food was blah.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Magical!

Reviewed by: Spencer

This experience was unforgettable! Being on top of Mauna Kea above the clouds was the best sunset I’ve ever seen. The photos the crew took were very professional and the star gazing was great!

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Amazing once in a lifetime experience!

Reviewed by: Jenn HM

From the time we were picked up to when we were dropped off at our resort, we had a fantastic time on our tour with a awesome tour guide Shoyo. He was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot, and not just about Mauna Kea, the Observatories and stargazing but also about the Big Island and the area we drove through. This was a bucket list item for me and it did not disappoint in any way.
We went up to the visitors center for a half hour to acclimatize, then up summit (13,800 feet) and got our first taste of elevation. It is definitely a different experience! And it was surprisingly cold but they have cozy warm jackets to keep you comfy. The sunset is amazing as you are above the cloud line, which also makes for awesome photos!
Speaking of photos, our guide took some great ones of us, both on the summit during the sunset and of the stars, as well as amazing photos of the stars themselves. We were super lucky and got perfect weather and viewing conditions, not even any moon light to deal with.
The only thing that might surprise some is the amount of time you spend in the van driving back and forth and especially up to the summit. Totally worth it of course, and there was great commentary to make the time fly.

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

A wonderful experience!

Reviewed by: Heather

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!

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience with Free Professional Photos - Epic Tours

An astrophotographer's dream

Reviewed by: Margaret and Gary

An awe inspiring experience, even for my amateur astrophotographer husband. Beautiful photos worthy of placing on our walls.

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

I recommend it. おすすめです

Reviewed by: Ami

The Japanese guide was friendly and kind, making for a great tour. It was a cloudy day, but they did their best to help us take photos with the best views possible. I highly recommend it!

日本人ガイドさんが気さくで親切で良いツアーでした。雲が厚い日でしたが、なるべく良い景色で写真が撮れるように頑張ってくださいました。
おすすめです！

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Must go

Reviewed by: uuu

Originally the reason for us to book a tour instead of driving ourselves to Mauna Kea was because we didn't rent a 4WD car, but now I'm sooooo glad we made such a decision.
The view of sunset and milky way was breathtaking without saying. What I really want to mention is that our tour guide/driver/photographer Shoyo was amazing. He knew EVERYTHING about Hawaii, during the tour we learned a lot about Hawaiian history, the plants and animals, good restaurants to go, etc.. He also took great photos of us.

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Sunset and Stargazing Tour

Reviewed by: ElizD318

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.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

A bit of a let down

Reviewed by: Paula

Steph and Gin picked us up and they were even a little early!! They were great host and very friendly. Beyond that it was a little disappointing. We were suppose to get "dinner", we got a BLT, no chips, no cookie, only water and later a "hot beverage". The pictures our hosts took were great and they sent to us at no charge. We have taken this trip before with another company and we had a very nice sit down dinner, no fancy, but you felt like you had something to eat when you were done. After going to the summit, they set up a telescope and we look at many, many stars and it was explained to us all about that star. The guide was very knowledgeable and we spent close to an hour doing just that, it was fantastic. With this tour we only saw one star and I right now could not tell you what it was. The other tour showed us the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, etc. But this trip was so not that. I am sorry to say if we do this again it won't be with this tour. We really enjoyed our hosts, but that was not the purpose of the trip

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience with Free Professional Photos - Epic Tours

Amazing night!

Reviewed by: Monica

This was by far one of the best things I’ve ever done. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I was given the chance.

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Amazing!

Reviewed by: Shalini Banerjee

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.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Amazing experience

Reviewed by: Vipin

Stephen and Jin did a great job in explaining things, showing places and clicking pictures.

And the sandwich was amazing

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Mauna Kea Tour

Reviewed by: Anh

Our tour guide West is a really knowledgable fellow. He is very considerate and thoughtful. I highly recommend this tour to everyone.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Great experience!

Reviewed by: Michelle

The van was in great condition and the guide was amazing! defiantly would recommend this to anyone who wants to go up the Mauna Kea summit.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Once in a lifetime trip!

Reviewed by: Shalini

This tour was UNBELIEVABLE! Totally worth it. The sunset and star-gazing was out-of-this-world!

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Great way to see the sunset atop Mauna Kea and stargaze next to the welcome center!

Reviewed by: Nicole W

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!

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience with Free Professional Photos - Epic Tours

Kids Loved It and Adults Too!

Reviewed by: Tom P.

This was such an awe-inspiring tour! My kids ages 10,12, 15, and 17 were super excited after seeing this and after our entire Hawaii trip thought this was the best event we did. The guide, James, was so knowledgeable and clearly has a passion for astronomy and photography that makes this very enjoyable. Great photos and great experience. It was also the 2nd star gazing tour we booked when the first tour told us our younger kids could not go to the top of Mauna Kea summit because of altitude sickness. But this tour was very accommodating and it takes place at a lower altitude (more kid friendly) but don't worry the star gazing from this location is top notch! I didn't feel like anything was missing. We had so much fun!

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Meal, Transportation & Guide

Amazing Experience!

Reviewed by: Dani

I highly recommend this tour! They picked us up right by our hotel. The tour guide was very informative on the drive up the mountain. He also took a lot of really cool photos for us and airdropped them before the end of the night. The sunset view and stargazing can not be beat. We really wanted to go to the summit and Hawaiian Eyes made the whole experience very easy and fun. Would definitely do it again.

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Sunset & Stargazing Guided Tour with Transportation

Unique and wonderful experience!!

Reviewed by: Debbie

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.

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Mauna Kea Evening Stargazing & Daytime Solar Viewing Tour with Dinner

Amazing experience and knowledgable guide

Reviewed by: Wade

Our family had a ton of fun gazing at the stars. Our guide Krystal was amazing. Her background in astronomy provided a unique experience. She provided so much information about Hawaii, the importance of the stars for Hawaiian navagation, and any other science questions our family had.

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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner - Hawaii Forest & Trail

Totally worth it!

Reviewed by: JC1

Awesome experience. Our tour guide Justin was the best!!

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Mauna Kea Evening Stargazing & Daytime Solar Viewing Tour with Dinner

Mauna kea star gazing

Reviewed by: Carol

It was a unique experience. Rich, our tour guide was very informative. We learned a lot about the history of the island of Hawaii as he drove us to different must see locations like the cave, water falls, historic sites. We also learned about plants, volcanoes, fissures, and stars in a day! We saw nebula, galaxies, a couple of satellites, shooting stars and learned about so many other stars in our constellation! It was very educational! Really appreciated it a lot!

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

The best starry sky☆ 最高の星空☆

Reviewed by: まゆう

I participated in a sunset and stargazing tour. I had always wanted to see the stars at Mauna Kea, and I was moved by the sky, which was even more beautiful than I had imagined. The service was also wonderful, as they stopped along the way for photo opportunities and took pictures with the guide's camera. I would love to join this tour again when I visit the Big Island.

サンセットと星空のツアーに参加しました。
ずっとマウナケアの星空を見たいと思っていましたが、想像以上の星空に感動しました。
途中でも写真撮影のために止まってくださったり、ガイドさんのカメラで写真を撮ってくださったり、サービスも素晴らしかったです。
また、ハワイ島に訪れる際は、ここのツアーに参加したいです。

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

It feels like I can reach the starry sky! ❣ 星空に手が届きそう❣

Reviewed by: だだだ

It was a tour affected by the weather, so I was worried until the day of the event, but I was able to enjoy the wonderful sunset at Mauna Kea, which I couldn't have reached on foot, as well as the starry sky and the Milky Way. With the guide's explanations, I was able to clearly identify the constellations, and I found the stories very interesting.

We participated as a family of four, and my daughters were so moved that they almost cried. The temperature at the summit was low, so I couldn't take photos with my own camera or smartphone after a certain point, but the guide assisted with photography, and I was able to download the photos taken by the guide later (they responded quickly to my request), leaving me with many wonderful memories. Thank you very much.

天候に左右されるツアーなので当日まで心配でしたが、自分では歩いて登頂できないマウナケア山の素晴らしいサンセット、そして満天の星空、ミルキーウェイも堪能。ガイドさんの解説でしっかりと星座も確認でき　お話も興味深く拝聴しました。
家族4人で参加しましたが、娘たちは感動で涙がでそうだったとのこと。
山頂は　温度が低く自分のカメラやスマホでは途中から撮影できなかったですが、ガイドさんの撮影補助と後日のガイドさんの撮影写真のダウンロード（リクエストにもすぐに対応され）もさせていただき　たくさんの思い出が手元に残りました。ありがとうございました。

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

A moving phrase. 感動の一言

Reviewed by: チップ

I participated in the tour on February 26 after learning that the summit of Mauna Kea had reopened. The weather was perfect, and it was an incredible experience watching the sunset from the summit and observing the starry sky. The lunch and miso we had at the Onizuka Center were delicious, and I can't thank our guide enough for taking so many photos against the backdrop of the stunning nature! Their lively talk was also very enjoyable. Thanks to this, I have the best memories of my time on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thank you, I am very satisfied!

マウナケア山頂まで再開したことを知り2/26のツアーに参加しました。天候にも恵まれそれはそれは素晴らしい山頂からのサンセット鑑賞、そして満天の星空観測など感動の連続でした。途中オニヅカセンターで頂いたお弁当やお味噌も美味しかったですし、あといろんな大自然をバックに写真をたくさん撮って頂いたガイドさんには感謝しかありません！軽快なトークもとても楽しかったです。おかげさまでハワイ島での最高な思い出になりました。ありがとうございました大満足です！

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour Experience with Free Professional Photos - Epic Tours

Highlight of our entire Hawaii Trip

Reviewed by: Adam

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, and clearly had the same passion for astronomy we did. He took fantastic romantic photos with the galaxy in the background, while explaining what it is we were looking at. It felt like being on another planet up on Mauna Kea! Would definitely recommend, it’s an unforgettable experience.

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

The starry sky was amazing. 星空が最高でした。

Reviewed by: たによん

The sunset from Mauna Kea was amazing. Seeing a snow-capped mountain on the Big Island was an unprecedented experience, and I was truly moved.

As the elevation increased, the air became thinner, and it gradually became more challenging, but our guide, Jin, provided excellent advice on deep breathing and staying hydrated. His light-hearted banter made the journey enjoyable, and I never got bored, even on the bumpy roads.

I also got to see a breathtaking starry sky like I had never seen before, along with moving lights from satellites.

However, please be prepared for the cold. I bundled up quite a bit and brought a hat and gloves. I even brought hand warmers. Even so, it was still cold. I think it's best to bring as much gear as possible. Others who participated in lighter clothing seemed to struggle a bit.

マウナケアからの夕陽は最高でした。
ハワイ島で雪山を見れたことが、今までにない体験で、感動しました。

標高が高くなるにつれ、空気も薄くなり、徐徐にしんどくなってきますが、ガイドのジンさんが、深呼吸と水を飲むことを適格にアドバイスしてくれました。軽妙なトークも楽しく、凸凹道でも、車内でも飽きることなく、楽しかったです。

今までに見たことのない満天の星空と人工衛星が動いている灯も、バッチリ見れました。

但し、かなり寒いのは覚悟してご参加ください。僕も相当着込んで参加しましたし、帽子も手袋も持っていきました。カイロも持っていきました。それでも、寒かったです。装備は、出来る限り持っていったほうがいいと思います。軽装で参加された他の方は、少しくたばってました。

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

It was my second time participating after 10 years. Since it had been a decade since the last time, it was even more beautiful and deeply moving than the faint memories I had. This was the event I was looking forward to the most during my trip to Hawaii, a 10年ぶり、2度目の参加でした。 前回より10年経っている事もあり、微かに覚えていた記憶よりも、もっと綺麗でとても感慨深かったです。 ハワイ旅行で1番楽しみにしていたイベントだったので、期待通り…いや、それ以上に本当に綺麗でとても幸せな気持ちになりました。

Reviewed by: あかり

We were picked up at the hotel, and there were about 12-3 people in two vans. There was one guide per van. During the ride, we received a paper with instructions and information about downloading photos. Later, they will upload the photos to Google Photos, so it's a good idea to save the barcode from this time.

There was one restroom break at Onizuka, and there was also a restroom at the summit where we could see the sunset. For a light meal or dinner at Onizuka Station, we were served a bento box. They also provided warm miso soup, hot coffee, and hot cocoa, which was very comforting.

At Onizuka Station, we were able to see the silver sword plant. They lent us warm over-pants to wear over our trousers. Since we weren't allowed to sleep from here on, they played upbeat Western music in the van, which was a nice touch.

When we arrived at the Subaru Observatory, I was shocked to see snow in Hawaii. The scenery we could see from the car on the way up was already beautiful. Once we reached the summit, they lent us jackets, which had gloves in the pockets. At the top, the view was stunning in every direction, and although it was extremely cold, it was a place you must visit. We took a lot of photos here.

Since there wouldn't be any restroom breaks on the way back for a while, I recommend using the restroom at the summit before heading down. We participated as a family of four, and since the kids have grown, we don't often get to take pictures together, so these photos became very precious. The guide was enthusiastic and took various types of photos, making it a wonderful memory.

We then went to a place to see the stars. At first, it was dim, and we could only see bright stars, but as it got darker, more stars became visible. The guide explained the stars with a red laser, and while he provided various explanations, those who wanted to take photos could do so freely. By the way, I was so focused on taking pictures that I hardly listened to the explanations, sorry!

I brought my camera, and they kindly taught me the manual settings. We were able to see Jupiter through the telescope. We could also take photos in front of the starry sky, which were so beautiful that I thought they might be edited. They asked us to stay still for about 20 seconds.

On the way back, we were told it was okay to sleep, and most people did. There was one restroom break during the trip back, at which time we returned the pants and jackets we had borrowed. They also took us back to the hotel.

I truly believe that everyone should go at least once in their lifetime. I highly recommend it. I think the choice of tour destination can make a big difference. I’m really glad we went with Masashi this time. It was a wonderful memory, one that will last a lifetime. Thank you for your hospitality!

ホテルまでお迎えが来てくれて、バンで12-3人×2台位の人数でした。ガイドの方は1台のバンに1名でした。
車の中で写真のダウンロードの説明や注意事項を書いた紙などがまわってきます。後ほど、Googleフォトにて写真をアップロードしてくださるのでこの時のバーコードは保存しておいた方がよいです。
トイレは1回あり、鬼塚にあり、sunsetを見る頂上にもありました。
鬼塚ステーションでの軽食?夕食?は幕の内お弁当出ました。
暖かいお味噌汁やホットコーヒー、ホットココアなども出して頂き、とても暖まりました。
鬼塚ステーションでは銀剣草を見る事が出来ました。
こちらでズボンの上に履く温かいオーバーパンツのようなものを貸して頂きました。
ここからは寝てはいけないため、車内も軽快な洋楽を流すという気遣いがあり、良かったです。
スバルの展望台へ行き、ハワイなのに雪があることに衝撃でした。
頂上につくまでの道のりで既に車の中から見える景色がとても綺麗でした。
頂上についたら上着も貸して頂きました。上着のポケットには手袋が入っていました。頂上では、360度どこを見渡しても綺麗で、とてつもなく寒かったけれどそんな事はどうでもよくなるくらい、行くべき場所だと思いました。
こちらでは沢山写真を撮って頂きました。
ここから帰り道しばらくはトイレ休憩がないので頂上で最後に行った方がいいと思います。
家族4人で参加したのですが子どもも大きくなり、皆で写る事もあまりないのでとても貴重な写真となりました。ガイドの方が盛り上げて下さり、色々なパターンの写真も撮って下さったのですごく良い思い出になりました。
少し下って星を見る場所に行きます。薄暗くて、明るい星しか最初は見えませんでしたが段々と暗くなりどんどんと星が見えてきました。
赤いレーザーで星の説明をしてくださり、色々と説明して頂けるのですが写真を撮りたい方は自由に撮れます。ちなみに私は写真を撮るのに夢中でほとんど説明を聞いていませんでした、笑 すみません。笑
カメラを持参したのですが、マニュアルの設定も丁寧に教えて頂き、ありがとうございました。
望遠鏡のセッティングをしていて木星も見ることが出来ました。また、星空の前で写真を撮って頂けるのですがこれが本当に凄くて合成なんじゃないかと思うくらい綺麗です。20秒くらい動かないでくださいと言われますが。笑
帰りは寝ても大丈夫と言われ、ほとんどの方は寝ていました。途中で1回トイレ休憩があります。その際に着ていたズボンと上着は返却です。帰りもホテルまで送って頂けます。
一生で一度は絶対に行った方が良いと私は思います。本当にオススメです。どこのツアー先で行くかもだいぶ変わってくるのじゃないかと思います。今回マサシの方でやって本当によかったと思いました。すごく素敵な思い出ですし、一生に残る思い出だと思いました。お世話になり、ありがとうございました！

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マウナケア山頂夕陽と星空観測ツアー ガイド撮影の一眼カメラ写真を無料ご提供！＜夕食付き／英語ガイド＞by マサシネイチャースクール

The breathtaking views that go beyond imagination and the starry sky☆ The warm fried mackerel bento I had at Mauna Kea was delicious! 想像の斜め上を行く絶景と満天の星空☆マウナケアで食べる温かいアジフライ弁当は美味しかった！

Reviewed by: CHIFFON♡

On February 16, 2020, my spouse and I participated in this tour. We chose to join this tour after comparing several options for our 20th wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii, where we got married on Maui 20 years ago. The deciding factors were the photography service and the summit attack on Mauna Kea. In conclusion, we were blessed with everything and were extremely satisfied with the tour \(^o^)/. Our guide for the day was Ichi-san, who had an intellectual vibe and was very likable. Honestly, I had a negative impression of local tour guides I had met before, as they often seemed flashy or arrogant, but he was a pleasant surprise.

Many others have written about the wonderful aspects of the tour, so I will focus on providing advice in chronological order. First, as preparation before departure, it's important to get plenty of sleep! On the way, to help with altitude acclimatization, we were told in the vehicle, "Don't sleep, or you'll die! (just kidding)" so it was hard to sleep during the ride.

Next, regarding the shuttle vehicle. Compared to other companies, the vehicle type was slightly inferior, making the ride a bit uncomfortable. As we approached the summit, the road became rough, so those with back pain should be cautious! The van was full with 13 people, and the windows didn't open, nor could we recline the seats, so if you're prone to motion sickness, it's advisable to take anti-nausea medication beforehand. Fortunately, Ichi-san drove carefully, so I was fine.

As for altitude sickness, if you listen to the guide's warnings and follow them, you should be just fine. In fact, there were some minor headaches, but no emergencies occurred, so you can rest assured. Older participants were also in good spirits.

For meals, we stopped at the Onizuka Visitor Center to enjoy warm bento and miso soup to help with altitude acclimatization. Eating warm Japanese food in nature was comforting. However, since dinner was at 4 PM, it felt like an early dinner, so it's better to have an early lunch. At Onizuka, there is an information board with today's stargazing details, and you can stroll around to see the silversword plant, a high-altitude plant! We had about an hour and a half, so take your time to walk and acclimatize your body for the summit attack.

Next, the restroom situation. The Onizuka restrooms are clean with running water and toilet paper, but the restrooms at the Mauna Kea summit for watching the sunset are cramped, shared, and lack toilet paper, running water, and handwashing facilities. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination m(_ _)m. Despite this unfortunate situation, we were told we must use the restroom at the summit due to the itinerary. The rental cold-weather gear can restrict movement, so it's better to at least remove the bottom layer. Especially for women, bring tissues! There are few stalls, and you may have to wait in line. Since we depart right after sunset, if you're not careful, you might miss the sunset while waiting for the restroom. So, as soon as you arrive at the summit, head to the restroom!

After sunset, we descended to the stargazing location, but there are no restrooms there. You'll have to hold it until we descend. After enjoying a delightful time with star lectures and photo opportunities, we headed back down. The restrooms on the way back were bright and clean. You can sleep on the way back, so take advantage of that time to rest.

As additional advice, since we participated on a weekend, there were many local families, and car headlights frequently passed by, disrupting the otherwise peaceful darkness. If you can choose your schedule and want to make this tour a highlight of your trip, I recommend going on a weekday, preferably near a new moon.

Lastly, a few thoughts on the tour. One of the highlights of Masashi-san's tour is the photography service, which is completely free if you just fill out a survey. You can download the photos online later, and the pictures taken with a backdrop o

2020.2.16(日)夫婦で参加。20年前にマウイ島にて挙式した私達の結婚20周年記念のハワイ旅行で、何か記念に残る事を、と思い数社比較してコチラに参加。決め手は写真のサービスとマウナケア山頂アタックです。結論から言うと、全てに恵まれ大満足のツアーでした\(^o^)/当日のガイドサンは、いっちーサン。終始知的な感じで好感が持てました。正直今まで出会った現地在住のツアーガイド等はだいたいチャラかったり偉そうなので良いイメージが有りませんでしたが、彼は個人的には当たり。素晴らしいツアーの様子は他の方々が沢山書き込んでらっしゃるのでそちらにお任せして...私は時系列的にアドバイス等をメインに書きます。まず、出発前の下準備として...しっかり睡眠を取っておくのが重要！行きは高度順応の為に途中から「寝るな〜、寝たら死ぬぞ~！ (←冗談笑)」的な事を車内で寝ない様に言われます。なので車内は途中からほぼ寝れません。次に送迎車について。他社に較べたら車種が若干劣るので乗り心地は微妙。山頂に近付くにつれ悪路なので腰痛持ちはご用心！13人乗りのバンで満員でしたが、窓開かないしリクライニング出来ないし車酔い心配な方は事前に酔い止めの薬の服用を。幸い、いっちーサンは運転も丁寧で私は大丈夫でした。高山病、コレもガイドサンの注意をしっかり聞いて守れば全然大丈夫。実際、多少の頭痛等は有れども緊急事態になったりした事は無いと言ってましたのでご安心を。高齢の方々も実際お元気でした。食事ですが、山頂に登る途中高度順応する為に立ち寄るオニヅカ・ビジターセンターで温かいお弁当とお味噌汁を頂きました。大自然の中で頂く温かい和食のお弁当にはホッコリ。但し、食事が16時で早い夕食みたくなるので早目のランチを。オニヅカには本日の星空情報のインフォボードが有り、周辺は散策も出来、銀剣草という高山植物も見れます！1時間半位時間が有るのでゆっくり歩いてカラダを慣らして山頂アタックに備えましょう。次にトイレ問題。オニヅカは水洗で紙も有り綺麗ですが、サンセットを見るマウナケア山頂のトイレは男女共用の仮設で狭いし、紙は無いし、水は流れないし、手も洗えないし、それ以上は...ご想像にお任せしますm(_ _)mそんな惨状ですがその後の行程上必ず山頂で必ず用を足す様に言われます。レンタルの防寒着、上下着ると身動き取れなくなるのでせめて下だけでも脱いで行った方が良いですね。特に女性の方、ティッシュ持参の事！個室少なくて結構並びます。日没後にすぐ出発なのでウッカリしてるとトイレ並びでサンセット見逃しかねません。まずは、山頂着いたらすぐトイレ！日没後すぐに星空観測の場所迄下りますがそこにはトイレは無し。下山する迄我慢。楽しい星のレクチャーや写真撮影タイムで至福の時間を過ごした後は一路下山。途中のトイレは明るくて綺麗でした。帰りの車内は寝てOK。休憩場所迄、帰りは寝ても良いので寝て過ごしましょう。その他のアドバイスとしては、参加したのが週末だったせいか地元の家族連れがワンサカ来ていて車のヘッドライト等が頻繁に通過し、真っ暗闇の静寂がしばしば台無しに。日程が選べ、このツアーを旅行の目玉にしたいなら平日、そして月齢が新月に近い日を選ぶのがオススメ。最後にツアーの感想を少々。マサシｻﾝのツアーの売りの一つでもある写真サービスは、アンケートさえ答えれば完全無料で有難い。後日、ネットで写真をDL出来ますが満天の星空をバックにカメラで撮って頂いた写真はiPhoneしか持ってない自分には撮れない写真なので本当に良い記念になります。行程も無理無くホテル出てから戻る迄、私達は車に乗ってるだけ。車窓風景も楽しめて楽チン。割と至れり尽くせりの楽しいツアーでした。道中のハワイ島の景色、マウナケアの白い雪、山頂の雄大なサンセット、そして満天の星空に天の川...日頃の行いが良いせいか!?天候にも恵まれ、大変想い出に残る私達のツアーの目玉となりました。一つだけ、欲を言えばもう少し長く星空を見ていたかった。先述の地元民のせいで暗い時間が少なく、物足りないのが☆4の理由。最後に、もしハワイ島に来る事を計画されているならば、是非このツアーへの参加を検討してみては？天候や条件にさえ恵まれればお値段以上の素晴らしい体験が出来ると思います。私自身また次回ハワイ島を訪れた際にはこのツアーへの再参加をする事を強く心に誓いました。※運転に自信の有る方へ。このツアーは途中、オニヅカで合流可能。オニヅカ迄はレンタカーで行けますが、山頂迄はレンタカーの保険が効かない為NGなので自己責任かツアー参加が必須です。レンタカーでオニヅカ迄行ける方はそちらで合流、離団すると星空を純粋に長く楽しめます。オニヅカで合流した方が帰りに離団しましたが、羨ましかった。

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