All Reviews for Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

Bundle up and enjoy one of the most unique experiences in Hawaii. The tour ran in a very timely fashion starting with the pickup time and getting to all the sites on site. Our guide was very informative but didn't overwhelm us with information either. The view of the sunset and stargazing just speak for themselves. Nothing short of spectacular and definitely a worthwhile experience.

Stefan was very kind and guided us thoroughly, taking many photos as well. I will definitely repeat this next time I come to the Big Island.

丁寧にステファンさんがガイドして頂き、写真も沢山撮影して頂きました。
次回ハワイ島へ来たらリピートします。

Travis was phenomenal. Knew so much about the island as well as space facts. Definitely worth the price and time.

We had hoped the weather would clear, but, unfortunately, despite our tour guide’s best efforts to find some clearing, we were beaten by the weather. Our guide, Hunter, was extremely knowledgeable and tried really hard to wait for some sign of being able to observe anything, but had to cancel with no luck. I can imagine it would have been spectacular to see and hear the wealth of information he would have been able to provide if we could have seen it.

You should definitely do this tour. This is the best stargazing tour! I was trying to book the other tours but because of our location it would of required us to drive across the island to meet up and then gather with others to ride together to stargaze. It was like a 7 or 8 hour tour. I chose this tour because we could pick a time slot and just meet and stargaze and the tour was only 2 hours AND with a photo. On our way it was pouring rain. We thought the tour would be canceled. But James sent us a new location. There was no rain and perfect place to be in awe of all of the stars we would be able to see. His knowledge of astronomy and his professional photography made the experience more memorable. I didn't think that much of the photo we would receive. But after getting the photo was was in awe!! We was not only able to learn so much about astronomy, but we was able to have the best souvenir of our experience!

The sunset was partly obscured by clouds, but it was still a wonderful sky that made me forget the chilly atmosphere. And the starry sky was simply amazing, with so many stars that it was breathtaking. The explanations of the constellations were clear and enjoyable, which left me very satisfied. My son was also happy to learn how to take photos with a DSLR camera. Thank you very much. The sandwiches, which should not be forgotten, were delicious as well. I would love to participate again when I come back to the Big Island of Hawaii. Next time, I hope to catch the sunset perfectly!

サンセットは雲が出て余り見れなかったのですが
それでも幻想的な寒さを忘れる素敵な空でした。
そして何と言っても星空は素晴らしいあまりにも沢山の星達に圧巻でした。星座の説明もわかりやすく楽しく教えてくれて大満足です。
息子は一眼レフのカメラでの写真の撮り方も教えてもらえて喜んでいました。
本当にありがとうございました。
忘れては行けないサンドウィッチも美味しかった。
またハワイ島に来たら参加したいです。今度はサンセットもバッチリなときに！

The Mauna Kea sunset had a bit more clouds, and we couldn't see the stars due to the full moon, but we were able to witness the eruption of Mauna Loa up close. Thank you so much, Sue, for the wonderful images and videos!

マウナケアサンセットはやや雲多め、満月で⭐️は観えませんでしたが、マウナロアの噴火を間近で観ることができました。
素敵な画像や動画も頂き、スーさん本当にありがとうございました

It was amazing. This sums it up perfectly.
I extended my trip to the Big Island specifically for this tour, and it was definitely worth it.
Since returning home, I have already recommended it to several acquaintances.

The guide took photos for us, which were shared for free on the spot. They were also very accommodating with photo requests.
The explanations during the tour were in English, but necessary information was also provided in Japanese, so I think it would be no problem even for those who are not good at English.

The sandwiches and hot cocoa we had along the way were very comforting.
Thank you, Shouyou.
The conversations during the ride back were also very enjoyable.

最高でした。この一言に尽きます。
このツアーに参加する事を目的にハワイ島まで足を伸ばしたのですが、その甲斐は十分にありました。
帰国後、もう何人もの知人に勧めています。

ガイドさんが撮影してくれた写真は、その場で無料で共有いただけました。撮影リクエストにも快く対応してくださいます。
道中での説明は英語でしたが、必要な情報は別途日本語でも説明があるので、英語が苦手でも全く問題ないと思います。

途中で頂いたサンドイッチやホットココアもとても沁みました。
Shouyouさん、ありがとうございました。
帰りの車中での会話もとても楽しかったです。

Arthur gave us an incredible experience. With his knowledge of geology and astrology plus history of island we learned more than we expected. We felt we could not have asked for more in the planetarium and stargazing. The telescope was an exception experience. I will be recommending your company.

It was our first time on the Big Island, so my husband and I participated in two tours. Since it was our first time booking an overseas tour individually from Japan, we were a bit anxious, but we received email confirmations before departure, which made us feel at ease for the day.

On the day of the tour, we had a wonderful time at the summit of Mauna Kea with our guide, a bright young man named Stephan. There were 13 Japanese participants, so the entire tour was conducted in Japanese. It was very cold at the summit, but we were moved by the incredible sunset. We took many commemorative photos together, and enjoyed warm cocoa to warm up. We also got to see the moon and Saturn through a telescope. However, what surprised me even more was seeing satellites moving here and there! That was astonishing.

The next day, we had a knowledgeable young guide named Moana for the Kilauea Volcano. Since it was just the two of us, we were able to hear many interesting stories in Japanese. The bright red volcanic smoke from Kilauea was breathtaking. The starry sky at the foot of the mountain was also wonderful. That day, we saw the moon and Jupiter through a telescope, and took a lovely commemorative photo in front of the constellation Cassiopeia. We took many commemorative photos at each location we visited.

Participating in these tours over two days was a very meaningful and valuable experience for us. I would like to join this tour again in a different season. I am grateful to the two guides who took care of us. Thank you very much (ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈).

初めてのハワイ島でしたので、夫婦で2つのツアーに参加しました。
日本から初めて個人で海外ツアーの申し込みをしたので、不安でしたが出発前にメールの確認があり安心して当日を迎えることができました。
当日は明るい青年ステファンのガイドでマウナケア山頂とっても楽しかったです。
この日は日本人13名のツアーでしたので、全て日本語でガイドしていただきました。
山頂はとっても寒かったですが、素晴らしいサンセットを見ることができ感動。2人の記念写真もたくさん撮ってもらいました。そして暖かいココアにホッコリ。
天体望遠鏡で月・土星を見せてもらいました。
でも、それより驚いたのは衛星があちらこちらで動いてる！これには驚きました。
翌日は博識の青年モアナのガイドでキラウエア火山。
2人のみの参加でしたので、日本語でたくさんの興味深いお話を聞かせて頂きました。
キラウエアの真っ赤な噴煙は感動でした。
山麓の星空も素晴らしかったです。
この日は天台望遠鏡で月・木星を見せてもらいました。
そしてカシオペア座の前で素敵な記念写真。
行く先々でたくさんの記念写真を撮影してもらいました。

2日間に渡りこちらのツアーに参加させていただき、とても有意義で貴重な体験をすることが出来ました。
季節を変えて、またこのツアーに参加したいと思っています。
お世話になったガイドの2人に感謝。ありがとうございました(ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)

It was nice and cold at the summit, but the provided clothes helped a lot. Guide was informative although not nice. The bus to the top is very old and has a poor seating arrangement of mostly rows of three, so couples will be separated. Additionally, if you are separated on the way up, the guide will specifically force you to be separated on the way down in order to preserve your initial seats.

I have an egg allergy and specifically requested egg free food, yet the sandwich I was provided had mayonnaise and I was left with no other options.

The summit was a nice tour but I would recommend a different company. The other buses we saw were much nicer.

Gorgeous stars holy goodness!!!! It is cold but they have some bundling clothes

Awesome evening all guided, pick up and drop off back near the hotel, very awesome tour

This tour was AMAZING from start to end. Yes this is a pricer tour to book; however, you truly get a ton for your money. This is a long event; we got picked up at 2pm and back around 10pm. The pickup location was very convenient right in Kona Town. You are provided a solid dinner, dessert, and hot beverages while stargazing. You get to sit back and relax during the drive and enjoy the wealth of knowledge from the tour guide. Speaking of, our tour guide Art was absolutely outstanding! He was knowledgeable, approachable, and entertaining. Also the star-gazing area is private to tours and had a high level telescope for easy viewing. We were fortunate enough to see a really big shooting star during our viewing. We were also provided super warm parkas which was great because it is quite chilly at the summit. I could go on and on about this tour but I would 100% book this again and personally recommend this specific tour to family and friends.

P.S. Did we say how amazing Art was?!

The tour was everything we hoped for. Fernando was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, religious significance of Mauna Kea and stargazing.

Well worth the money since getting up to the site is nearly impossible logistically for a rental car. More importantly, our guide, Gage, was so exceptionally knowledgeable on everything from astronomy to Hawaii geography.

Due to the decrease in Japanese tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were only two of us Japanese among about 20 people on the same tour (most were from the mainland United States). The guide was Japanese, but the explanations during the transfer were in English. However, they provided us with individual guidance in Japanese, so we were able to enjoy the experience without any issues. When watching the sunset from Mauna Kea, it was colder than I had imagined. They do lend out down jackets, but depending on the season, I recommend dressing warmly in advance.

The stargazing was amazing. As soon as we got off the van, I was moved by the breathtaking starry sky that I had never seen before. We were able to see Saturn through a telescope, and there were opportunities for photography as well. I'm really glad I participated. If you want to see the stars beautifully, I recommend checking the lunar phase before joining.

コロナ禍で日本人観光客が減少した為、同じツアーの役20人中日本人は私たち2人でした（他はアメリカ本土の方が多かったです）。ガイドの方は日本人ですが、移動中の説明は英語でした。私たちには個別に日本語でガイドしてくださったので、何も問題なく過ごすことが出来ました。マウナケア山からサンセットを見る際は、想像以上に寒かったです。ダウンを貸して頂けますが、時期によっては事前に厚着していく事をおすすめします。
そして、星空観測は最高でした。バンを降りた途端に今まで見たこと無い満点の星空に感動しました。望遠鏡では土星も見せていただき、写真撮影もありで、本当に参加して良かったです。星を綺麗に見たい場合は月齢を確認しての参加をお勧めします。

Stefan waited after others had left, and got us the most amazing photos and memories. Thank you to Stefan for caring for the guests.

It was a fantastic tour! From the ease of meeting the guide at a local pick up point, the his knowledge of the islands, the geography, and of course the telescopes and sky, to the use of parkas, pants and gloves... it was a wonderful experience! We went on an almost full moon night so only the brightest of stars were visible, but we were still able to see Saturn and Jupiter through their telescopes. Dress warm... and have a great time!

Stefan was a great guide and we loved how he made a concerted effort to make sure that we got some amazing photos with the sunset and stars.

First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Stefan Weich. I have participated in various tours in the past, but none have been as good as this one. I was impressed by the attentiveness and clear explanations. Above all, as a photographer, he took wonderful photos, which will be a great keepsake. Thank you very much.

先ずは、Mr.Stefan Weichに感謝しています、過去色々ツアーに参加しましたが、今回ほど良かったツアーは無かったです、気配り・明朗な説明等、感激しました、何よりも写真家でもあり、素晴らしい写真を撮って頂き、非常に記念に残ります、ありがとうございました。

Have done this tour 5 years ago with a different vendor. Was much better with other tour group but did not recall who it was when I booked this trip. Things I did not like about this tour:
1. Was not notified I could have been picked up in Kona. So we drove over an hour when we did not have to. Another couple drove all the way to the visitor center for the same reason 2. Dinner was marginal at best. 3. Star viewing from the visitor center parking lot?? Are you kidding me? Why? Light pollution, less clear skies..what a joke. I lay that blame on the tour guide, Maka. 4. Guide is not passionate about astronomy but he can be a good guide at times. Sadly, as the night wore on so did his personality. 5. Gloves were only proffered when a man complained. Hand them out with the coats.

Bottom line: do the tour but with a different group.

The original schedule had to be changed due to bad weather, and we had to turn back at the Onizuka Visitor Center, but I was very grateful for the option to reschedule to another day when there was availability. The sunset view from the summit was absolutely stunning and very impressive. Additionally, the stargazing tour at another location was not only beautiful because of the clear night sky, but the guide's explanations of the constellations were easy to understand and very helpful.

当初の日程は、悪天候のためにオニズカビジターセンターで引き返すことになりましたが、空きがあった別の日に振り替えてもらえた対応はとてもありがたかったです。
山頂から眺めるサンセットはとても素晴らしく、見ごたえがありました。また、別の場所に移動しての星空観測ツアーも、星空がきれいであることはもちろんですが、ガイドさんによる星座の説明がわかりやすくてよかったです。

Had a wonderful experience at the top of Mauna Kea watching the sunset, followed by star gazing at a private location.

Very accommodating, lots of pics taken for us and very informative about the dormant volcano as well as Hawaii and the observatories. Coats and mitts were available when the temp dropped with the sunset.

The choice was ours to make as to pics we wanted taken, where and when to have our dinner snack and what we wanted to see in the night sky.

A few improvements would be to have a more comfortable van. This van was not comfortable to ride in for the trip to the top and back. Additionally, the photography equipment and additional telescope equipment should be added and improved.

This experience is beyond human words to describe. We had an absolutely perfect night with a crescent moon that set shortly after we got set up. The Milky Way was more spectacular than we could have imagined. James’ knowledge of what we were looking at was top notch. There were a couple of personal disappointments and cons but they do not diminish the rating of the experience.

I had expected some serious telescopes that would be used. James had a top end mount and camera with some powerful lenses but when it came to looking at Jupiter and Saturn, I get bigger and better images with my homemade 6” reflector. I was really wondering if he was using his equipment to show us Andromeda and what I think he said was the Dumbbell nebula or if he was showing us stock photos. He homed in on those two objects very quickly for a setup that was merely put down and “kinda” leveled.

The other comment is about the cost. James is an expert and one expects to pay for expertise. But for an adventure that does not include pickup except for about a mile from the destination and has no major equipment like a submarine that the Atlantis has to maintain, the price seems high. Especially since the included photos are about worthless, you are forced to purchase the full resolution package if you want to share your photos with anything other than your phone.

That being said, experiencing God’s creation like that was amazing!

The guide is friendly and informative. He can speak fluent English and Japanese. He provided the needed equipment for the trip and took nice photos for us. We’ve had unique and amazing lifetime experience by standing on the top of the world (count elevation from the seabed) and watching the stunning sunset and moonrise. Unfortunately, the full moon was so bright and we couldn’t clearly see the Milky Way. Overall a must have one and I will recommend do it with a guide as first time as some unexpected situations could happen if you are not fully prepared.

Warning: some people might feel faint and uncomfortable or fall asleep due to elevation

●Tour Details: We were guided by a charming guide who spoke fluent Japanese. Along the way, we enjoyed stories about the history and specialties of Hawaii Island, making the approximately 2.5-hour journey to the summit of Mauna Kea feel effortless. At the summit, we watched the sunset over the vast sea of clouds, followed by a sky full of stars. It was truly the best view.

●Cautions: Most of the road is paved, so I don't think you'll get car sick, but there is about 25 minutes of bumpy road near the summit, so if you're prone to motion sickness, it's better to take some anti-nausea medication.

●Food: We had a hearty BLT sandwich. Since you'll be busy enjoying the scenery during the tour, I think it's a good idea to bring some light snacks.

Overall, it was a wonderful tour and one of the most impressive experiences in Hawaii. Thank you!

●ツアー内容：日本語ペラペラでおちゃめなガイドさんにご案内頂きました。道中もハワイ島の歴史や特産品などの話で楽しませて下さり、マウナケア山頂までの約2.5時間も飽きる事なく過ごせました。山頂では大雲海に沈む夕日を眺め、その後は満天の星空。ほんと最高の景色でした。
●注意点：大部分は舗装された道路なので車酔いしにいくと思いますが、山頂の近くで25分ほどガタガタ道を通るので、酔いやすい方は酔い止めを飲んどいた方が良いと思います。
●食事：ボリューム満点のBLTサンドを頂きました。ツアー中は景色を見るのに忙しいため、軽く軽食を持って行った方が良いと思います。

総じて素晴らしいツアーで、ハワイで最も印象的な経験になりました。ありがとうございました！

Thank you for the guide. I was able to see some very beautiful scenery.
However, I was very concerned about the driver’s hands-free driving and using a smartphone while driving.
I understand that this is a road he has been driving on daily for years and that he is familiar with it. The speed was not excessively fast.
Since I also drive in Japan, I know that it is possible to drive with both hands off the wheel at a slow speed. Using a smartphone might be similar to looking at a navigation system.
That said, this is not a drive with family or friends; it is a tour that I paid to participate in. The lives of several people are at stake. It would be too late after an accident or injury.
In fact, we were able to return safely without any incidents. However, as a guide, I believe it is not acceptable to make participants feel uneasy.
Those participating in English may not mind. However, I felt anxious every time the driver looked at his smartphone, worrying about the distance to the car in front of us.
If he is so accustomed to this road that he cannot drive without using his smartphone, then I think the company should implement some measures.
Alternatively, if hands-free driving and smartphone use are allowed in Hawaii, then I apologize for my lack of knowledge. However, if that is the case, I believe it would be appropriate to inform us at the beginning, saying, "I will be using my smartphone while driving, but this is okay."
While entertaining as a guide is important, I think safety should come first.
I enjoyed everything else besides the driving. Thank you.

ガイドありがとうございました。とても素敵な風景を見ることが出来ました。
ただ、ドライバーの、両手放し運転とスマホいじり運転が非常に気になりました。
何年も毎日の様に通っている道で、運転し慣れていることは重々承知しています。スピードがすごく出ていた訳でもありません。
私も日本では運転しますので、遅いスピードでの両手放しが余裕であることはわかります。またスマホいじりも、カーナビを見るのと同じかもしれません。
とは言ってもこれは、家族や友人とのドライブではなく、お金を払って参加しているツアーです。数人分の命を預かっているわけです。事故や怪我をしてからでは遅いです。
実際、何もなく安全に帰ることは出来ました。しかしガイドとしては参加者に不安な気持ちを抱かせた時点でNGではないでしょうか。
英語で参加する方は気にしないのかもしれません。しかし私は、スマホを見ながら運転される度、前の車との車間距離が気になってしまったのが事実です。
あまりにも毎日慣れている道で、スマホをいじらずには運転してられない、というのであれば、会社として何か対策を打つべきだと思います。
もしくはハワイでは、両手放しもスマホいじりも許されているというのであれば、私の知識不足です。すみません。しかしそれなら、冒頭に「私はスマホをいじりながら運転するけどこれはokだからね」と伝えるのが正しい姿勢だと考えます。
ガイドで楽しませることも重要ですが、安全を第一にしていただいた方がよろしいのではないかと思います。
運転以外は楽しめました。ありがとうございました。

Awesome tour! Stephan was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the island, Mauna Kea and the stars. We would definitely recommend. Everything was as advertised and even more!

I'm glad I went.
As expected, the weather was better at the summit, and once my eyes adjusted, I could see everything clearly.
Our guide, Stephan, was very polite and illuminated things with his light, providing information about the stars, even sharing knowledge I had no prior understanding of. Thank you for being such an interesting guide, Stephan.
I want to go again.

いってよかったです。
やっぱ、山頂のほうが天候もよく目がなれてくるとくっきりと見えてきました。
ガイドのステファンさんも英語でも日本語でも丁寧にライトで照らしなが

星に関してまったく知らない知識まで教えていただきました。それにおもしろいステファンさんありがとう。
また、いきたいです。