All Reviews for Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

Not only did we go to the top of the mountain and see the observatories in a beautiful sunset, We also had an amazing stargazing tour with a very knowledgeable guide. I recommend this to her for anyone who's interested in the stars or a beautiful sunset. Go do it!!

Our tour guide Gage was both informative and very pleasant. The entire tour was amazing, with incredibly gorgeous views of both the sunset above the clouds and the star filled sky. Gage was very knowledgeable and pointed out many stars and constellations as well as providing many interesting facts. Please heed the advice about bringing layers of clothing. They provide the parka but I also recommend bringing a hat and gloves if possible. The food was also good but make sure to bring water.

Great informational tour. Loved gazing at the stars and having James describe all the constellations. Best photo too! The jackets he provided were a life saver.

This was the PERFECT way to experience Mauna Kea. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience so incredible. Can’t recommend enough!

I was not sure about spending so much time in the van. Travis was educational and fun. We had clouds, rain, sun and stars. It really was a wonderful experience. The food was fine. I appreciated the larger telescope and good star viewing.

Maka was a great guide. Extremely knowledgeable about geology, vulcanology, astronomy and Hawaiian history. The views were spectacular.

The view of the sunset was amazing, the history, information and stargazing that Hiro provided was a priceless. The drive up to Mauna Kea was pleasant and Hiro’s local tips on where to go and local places to eat was great. The journey up the dirt road was not stressful at all with Hiro’s safe and expert driving. Our time at the summit was amazing the photos Hiro took were both amazing and entertaining. On our way down we were provided with a stargazing lesson. Hiro showed his passion for teaching the stars even though there was a full moon that washed out some of the constellations. We would definitely recommend this tour over driving it yourself or other tour companies that don’t offer the same uniqueness that Hiro provided.

We loved this tour - being on the summit was amazing. You can always tell when your guide is excellent and passionate about what they are speaking about. Maka was amazing and knowledgeable not only of Mauna Kea and the surrounding areas but you could tell he loved astronomy. Highly recommend this and I’d we come back again we will try to time it in the summer on a new moon to see even more.

Our guide was warm, informative and great with the telescope. We experienced a magnificent sunset at 14000 feet. We saw the rings of Saturn and moons of Jupiter, several high points. It was a perfect evening.

At the end of December, during a season with a lot of rain. It's unavoidable due to the weather, but we went up to the summit, saw the observatory building from the outside, enjoyed the snowy scenery, and then descended. We returned a few hours earlier than the scheduled tour time.

However, the guide Hiroshi who accompanied us on the tour was very kind, and I would like to challenge myself again next time with him.

１２月の終わり近くで、雨の多いシーズン。天候のせいなので、仕方が無いですが、山頂に上がり、外部より、観測所の建物を見、雪景色を見て下山となりました。予定のツアー時間より、数時間早い戻りとなりました。
しかしながら、ツアーに同行してくれた、ガイドのひろしさんは、大変親切で、次回、又、彼の同行でチャレンジしたいと思います。

The originally scheduled day was canceled due to bad weather, but fortunately, I was able to rebook for a day with available spots. The staff was very kind during the rebooking process. The scenery was beautiful, and the guide was very knowledgeable, which made for a very satisfying experience.

当初予定していた日が悪天候により、ツアー中止となりましたが、運良く空席がある日に再予約して頂く事ができました。再予約の際も、とても親切に対応して頂けました。目に映る景色が美しいのはもちろん、ガイドさんも知識が豊富でとても満足できました。

Our guide was informative and personable, and made the best of a bad situation as we arrived to the visitor station to find the road closed due to bad weather, then had to wait for an accident to be cleared on our way back down.

We are being refunded, no complaints!

We loved this excursion. We came prepared and had plenty of clothes, hats and gloves. The dinner was yummy. The snow was hysterical- we live in CO and had to go to HI for snow- our guide was over the edge with enthusiasm and knowledge - loved our stargazing- don't delay-book today! This was not an easy one to book!!!

The tour guide was excellent and had some great stories, but we were completed clouded out and didnt see any stars.

Nicely done and very interesting. The scenery was fantastic. The guides were knowledgeable and accommodating. The veggie lasagna dinner was better than expected. It was a memorable lifetime experience. The snow that had fallen recently was an added bonus.

Travis was fantastic during our trip up Mauna Kea. His knowledge and presentation made it interesting and insightful. He personally took the extra time to make sure the adventure was complete. We even had snow, something unexpected for travelers to Hawaii.

Hawaiian Eyes and our guide, Stefan were awesome to the nth degree. Funny, friendly, helpful, prepared, photographic prowess, and he even stopped to help an elderly woman, not attached to any tour, after she collapsed at the side of the road in a snow bank, due to altitude sickness. First aid training, oxygen tanks, blankets, and past experience likely saved her life.

It’s funny to say, but a tour to the summit of a snowy mountain was the highlight of our Hawaii trip! Hiro was the best guide anyone can ask for. He also does the Lava walk tour which I’ll be sure to book with him next time we’re back to the islands.

This tour was Amazing! We have traveled to many fabulous places around the globe with lots of adventure & this tour was right up there with the best! Our guide, Gage, was fun, informative, patient, and an all-round delightful young man! Having to reschedule due to the Kona Low & Mauna Kea blizzard was easy & ultimately a better tour due to lots of beautiful snow at the summit! Our guide prepared us well for the seriously high altitude and checked on everyone frequently! Be sure to pack hats & gloves and the tour provided parkas were plenty warm. A couple e of things to keep in mind before going: bring a refillable water bottle, remember to nose in & slow pursed lip breathing out, bring your camera or cell phone for pictures, visit the restroom at the visitor center so you won’t have to go at very high elevation, and eat before the tour begins (the provided dinner is pretty simple). Just pack a smile and enjoy the “high”! The stargazing with the telescope was extra special! Who knows, we saw a Jedi, a snowman, & a crazy snowboarder so maybe you will too! Thanks for a great memory!

Shoyi and Hiro were wonderful! Very knowledgable and patient with many questions that were asked. We learned so much! Shoyi's photography was a bonus! This was a fantastic tour and an experience we will never forget. Thank you!

Very unique. Views of a lifetime!
The host was amazing. Very informative and helpful. Really enjoyed my time on this tour. Will definitely recommend!

Shawn was an excellent tour guide. He answered all of our questions, and was very knowledgeable about a range of subjects. We were confident in his driving ability, especially in the dark downhill with the goats :-)
Overall, best part of our trip so far!

Our tour leader Stephan was exceptional in that he does great photography and is an excellent tour guide and leader. He shared interesting info about the area as we traveled and then took great sunset photos our our group of 3 and airdropped them to us. The parkas provided were an essential and welcome addition since it was quite cold at the mountain top. Wonderful trip!

This was such an amazing experience and our favorite activity that we did on the Big Island! Hiro was a wonderful tour guide, shared lots of great information and was super funny and personable. They have everything covered from making sure you're acclimated to the altitude, stopping for spectacular views, warm winter gear, food, water/hot chocolate/tea, the most amazing star-gazing I've ever seen, etc. Dress warm and don't forget your cash tip money because they will go above and beyond and you'll want to show your gratitude for the incredible experience. Do not miss this activity!

This activity was great. Our tour guide gave us informative details on our stops we visited. Getting to view the stars, the moon and the planets were stellar! My 7 year old had a blast. We would do it again. The area we stopped at had a restrooms and nice little playground. The sandwiches were good and the hot coco was yum!

Ok, this is honestly one of the best tours I have ever taken. The van was super comfy, and our guide Arthur was informative, friendly, and honestly just plain fun! Obvious he LOVES this tour.

Words just cannot describe the beauty of this tour. From the drive up, to the spectacular sunset, to the jaw dropping star gazing......endless beauty. Plus, Arthur made sure we stayed safe, and kept us informed about what we should do and what to expect. I felt comfortable and at ease.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing experience. If you do one thing on the Big Island......do this.

This was such an awesome experience! The sunset was beautiful being that high up and the stargazing was amazing. It was our favorite experience on the island. Our guide Gage was so great! He was so knowledgeable on the island, the history there and the stargazing. He also helped us feel comfortable and safe on the drive up and back down. We highly recommend this experience!

Tour Guide was an enthusiast, patient, native who shared culture, history, science, jokes and Hawaiian myths and songs. You can't ask for more from a guide. Try to book for a moonless night for best view of stars. They use an automated 11 inch telescope. The food was surprisingly very good (vegetable lasagna), the brownie decadent and the hot chocolate and biscotti at the end a nice touch. Had an issue finding the pick up spot, but a phone call resolved this since we were close. If you miss the sign for the international market (if that's your pick up spot), look for the 76 gas station, enter there and drive to the back. Dress warmly and bring a refillable drink. Cold (but not terribly) even with the given parka and gloves. A very enjoyable 8 hour afternoon & evening l

Pickup by the crew was timely, and the vans comfortable, in good condition and clean. The sandwich was delicious, and the two hosts super friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. Thank-you, Stephan.

Sean did a wonderful job at making this tour be a terrific experience !!! He was always making sure everyone had an enjoyable and comfortable time !!
This experience was above my expectations . I appreciate his help capturing many pictures of this experience!!