All Reviews for Mauna Kea Summit, Big Island

I was a bit worried about going to an elevation higher than Mount Fuji without any prior experience in mountain climbing, but thanks to the wonderful support of our articulate guide, we were able to reach the summit safely. We drove almost all the way to the top and enjoyed the sunset. The stargazing afterward was easy to understand, and having hot cocoa under the starry sky was the best.

山登りなど国内でも経験がないまま富士山より高い標高に行くというのは少し心配していましたが、お話上手なガイドさんの素晴らしいサポートのおかげで、無事に山頂まで辿り着けました。徒歩はほぼなく車で山頂まで登り、サンセット。そのあとの星空観測もわかりやすく、星空の下でのホットココアが最高でした。

We had an amazing experience and time on this trip. Our tour guide, Stefan, was deeply knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The tour started on time and went out perfect. They provided mitts and coats which kept us warm along with hot chocolate. It was a great evening with no clouds. The views were unforgettable. Five stars, would book again!

This was on my bucket list. My guide was very informative. He took pictures, individual and group pictures of us during sunset and during the stargazing event. Be prepared to bounce around on the dirt road to the summit. Totally enjoyed the hot cocoa and BLT sandwich that was provided.

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds from 4200m is exceptional. You can truly feel the Earth. Observing Jupiter's Galilean moons for the first time was also moving. The guide's explanations and support were wonderful, making it a highly satisfying tour.

4200mからの雲海に沈むサンセットは格別です。地球を感じます。木星のガリレオ衛星の観測も初めて、感動しました。ガイドさんも説明や対応も素晴らしく、満足度の高いツアーです。

I searched for a tour to experience the great nature of the Big Island for the first time and participated in the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour. At first, I didn't have high expectations for climbing the mountain to see the sunset and the stars. I also read reviews mentioning that the explanations were only in English, making it difficult for those without strong English skills to understand. Additionally, although I don't have high blood pressure, I was concerned about climbing over 4,000 meters at the age of 67.

In conclusion, it was an amazing experience. While I did feel a bit breathless at the summit, it wasn't an issue if I walked slowly. The detailed explanations of the summit's viewpoint, the breathtaking sunset as it gradually darkened, and even I, with barely passing vision for my driver's license renewal, could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The detailed explanations of the constellations were also impressive. I hadn't seen the Milky Way in about 50 years, and it was truly moving.

This experience was made even more special thanks to the attentive service from the staff at Masashi Nature. Our guide was a Japanese person named SHOYO. His extensive knowledge, excellent explanations, and thoughtful attention created a very comfortable environment.

There were about 12 people on the tour, and my wife and I were the only Japanese participants. The explanations on the bus were in English, but they were not difficult to understand. Additionally, when we got off the bus, they provided a summary of the key points in Japanese. Outside the bus, the explanations were given in a mix of English and Japanese, making them very clear and detailed.

The photos of the sunset and the one with my wife under the Milky Way are wonderful treasures of memories. If I plan another tour in Hawaii, I will choose a Masashi Nature tour where I won't struggle with the language.

Lastly, thank you, SHOYO. I appreciate it.

初めてのハワイ島で大自然を感じることができるツアーを探し、マウナケア山頂サンセットと星空観測ツアーに参加しました。
最初は、山に登って夕焼けを見る、星空を見ることにそれほどの期待を持っていませんでした。また、口コミには英語だけでの説明で英語力がないとよくわからないとの感想もありました。さらに、私は高血圧ではないのですが、67歳の高齢で4000m以上の山登りはいかがかとも思っていました。
結論は、とても素晴らしい経験をすることができました。確かに山頂では少し息苦しい感覚はありましたが、ゆっくり歩けば気になることはありません。さらに、山頂の世界の展望台の詳細な説明、徐々に暮れてくる感動的な夕焼け。そして、運転免許更新に必要な視力ギリギリの私でも肉眼で見える天の川。また、星座の詳細な説明。天の川を見たのは50年前くらいで、感動的でした。
この感動もマサシネイチャーのスタッフの丁寧な対応があったからです。私らの担当は、日本人のSHOYOさんでした。彼の博学な知識と説明のうまさ、細かな気配りがとても居心地のいい環境を作ってくれました。
12人ほどのツアーでした。日本人は私と妻の2名だけでした。バス内の説明は英語でしたが、それほどわかりにくい英語ではありませんでした。また、バスから降りた際にバス内の説明のポイントだけを日本語で説明してくれました。また、バスの外では、英語と日本語と交えて説明をしていただき、とても分かりやすくかつ詳細なものでした。
夕焼けの写真、天の川の下の妻との写真も思い出としてとても素晴らしい宝物をいただけました。
次回、ハワイでツアーを計画するのであれば、日本語に苦労しないマサシネイチャーのツアーを選択すると思います。
最後にSHOYOさん、ありがとう。感謝しています。

I participated thinking it would be my last chance since the age limit for the tour is 70. The guide was very kind and explained everything in detail, and the photos they took were fantastic. I'm 70, and I want to participate again next year!

ツアー参加可能の年齢が70歳までということで、最後のチャンスと思い参加しました。ガイドさんもとても親切で丁寧に説明してくれて、撮影してくれた写真も最高でした。70歳、来年も参加したい！

The guide was great and shared loads of interesting facts and stories about history, nature, culture, language, habits and astronomy. His knowledge and captivating way of presenting things were amazing. I also highly appreciate his deep respect towards the Hawaiian culture.
The trip was organized very professionally. The warm parkas were also highly appreciated.

I highly recommend this service.

At first, I was worried about the weather because the mountain in front was hidden by clouds, but Mauna Kea was clear above the clouds, and it was a beautiful day! I enjoyed the best sunset and a lovely starry sky!

Our guide was an American named Tat, who occasionally spoke Japanese. It seemed he was working with another guide from the same tour company, who was also American but spoke Japanese fluently.

They prepared two telescopes for us, allowing us to observe Jupiter and Saturn. Then, they took a picture of the Milky Way and shared the photos with us via AirDrop. It was a wonderful experience with a great team!

初めは手前の山が雲に隠れていたので天気を心配していましたが、マウナケアは雲の上で晴れていました、快晴でした！最高のサンセットと、素敵な星空を堪能できました！
タットさんというアメリカの方がガイドさんでしたが、日本語も時折り話してくれます。同じツアー会社の方と一緒にツアーをされているようで、そちらのガイドさんはアメリカの方ですが日本語バリバリでした。
２人で望遠鏡を２つ用意してくれて、木星と土星をそれぞれ観賞できました。それから天の川の写真を撮ってくれてエアドロップで写真をいただきました。とても良いコンビで素敵なツアーを体験しました！

I participated alone as the only Japanese person, and there were no other Japanese participants that day. It was a tour with two vans, and my guide in my van only spoke English. However, the guide in the other van was fluent in Japanese, so they kindly took the time to explain the stars to me one-on-one, paying attention to the details, which was very thoughtful. The guide's talk in the van was in English, but they clearly explained the efforts of the local Hawaiians to preserve Hawaiian culture and the importance of conveying such information to tourists. I was grateful to hear valuable stories from a local person. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

日本人一人での参加で、他の参加者にも日本人はいない日でしたが、バン二台でのツアーで、私の車のガイドさんは英語しか話せなかったのですが、もう一つの車のガイドさんが日本語ペラペラだからと、わざわざそちらの方がマンツーマンで星の説明をしてくださり、細かいことも気にかけてくださり、とても親切でした。車内でのガイドさんの話も、英語でしたが、地元のハワイアンの人々がハワイアン文化を守るためにしていることや、そういった内容も観光客に伝える必要性もわかりやすく話してくれて、貴重な現地の方のお話が聞けてありがたかったです。素晴らしい体験をありがとうございました。

On the day I participated, a Japanese guide was in charge. While driving, he provided explanations in both English and Japanese. There were eight participants, half of whom were Japanese. At the summit, we were able to see a beautiful sunset. It was almost windless, so it wasn't too cold, but according to the guide, it had been very cold the day before due to strong winds, so it seems to vary by day. The stargazing was limited because it was close to a full moon, resulting in fewer stars. However, everyone, including the guide, was surprised by a fireball that suddenly appeared. It was an experience that happens once in a lifetime. It was a great tour.

私の参加した日は、日本人のガイドさんが担当してくれた。運転しながら、英語、日本語、交互の説明、参加者８名、内、半分が日本人だった。山頂では美しい日の入りを見ることができた。ほぼ無風だったのでそれほど寒くはなかったがガイドさん曰く前日は風が強く大変寒かったそうで、日によってまちまちのようだ。星空観測は満月に近いこともあって、星の数は少なかった。しかし突然現れた火球にガイドさん含めて皆ビックリ。一生に一度あるか否かの経験をした。良いツアーだった。

The entire experience start to finish was amazing. Wes was our guide and driver and took the time to explain what to expect and educate all of us on the island and the history of Hawai’i! I would recommend this tour to anybody who would like to enjoy the beautiful Mauna Kea! Wes also took the time to take photos of us at sunset and stargazing!

My husband and I had an amazing time with Fernando! He was an incredibly knowledgeable guide and made the trip very fun. If you have the opportunity to do the evening stargazing and sunset do so and request Fernando!

Our guide Gabe (I think that was his name - sorry if I’m mistaken!) was superb.

He picked us up near our condo and the van was very nice and spacious. We had 5 adults and were very comfortable.

The drive up he pointed out things of interest, answered any questions and was just overall very upbeat, fun and informative.

He was great up to this point but he crossed over to superb when my mom got altitude sickness. He was constantly checking on her, giving her sickness bags, anti-nausea meds and overall just very attentive.

He very professionally handled both her and the rest of the guests.

Will definitely book with this company and guide again.

This was definitely the highlight of our Hawaii trip. Will definitely try it again!!! 10/10 will recommend their service.

We had a group of 4 and had an excellent afternoon. Our guide was very knowledgeable and warm and friendly. The van was comfy and had big windows for viewing scenery along the drive. The starts were amazing as was the sunset.

This stargazing experience was absolutely fantastic! James did an amazing job with explaining what we were seeing and keeping the group engaged. He was informative yet entertaining…and the pictures almost look unreal. As our family returned to the hotel, our kids raved about how much fun they had. Definitely an experience not to miss!

The meeting at the supermarket parking lot, the sunset at the summit of Onitsuka Center, and the stargazing upon returning to the foothills all went smoothly. Warm clothing was provided, so the cold was not an issue. Thank you for the explanations about the mountains and history in the car. The only concern I had was that the guide looked very sleepy during the drive back. Please make sure to rest well during the day to avoid any accidents. Thank you very much.

スーパーマーケットの駐車場の待ち合わせから山麓のOnitsuka center　頂上での夕焼け、山麓に帰っての天体観測、帰還と全てスムースに進みました。防寒服も用意され寒さも問題ありませんでした。車の中での山や歴史の説明もありがとうございました。帰りの運転でガイドさんがとても眠そうだったのが唯一気になった点です。事故なきよう昼間十分に休まれるようにしてください。ありがとうございました。

The day of the tour was just one day before the full moon, and with 98% moonlight, it was too bright to see a perfect starry sky (I should have checked the lunar calendar in advance...). However, the sea of clouds below was breathtaking, and the sunset from the summit at an elevation of 4,207 meters was truly beautiful and very moving.

Our tour guide, Stephan, was very friendly and, despite being a tall foreigner, he grew up in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. He was very kind, took many photos for us, and even sent us some amazing starry sky pictures he had taken in the past via AirDrop. The vegetarian sandwich was also very delicious, and the cocoa he made for us at the summit was incredibly tasty and warming. Thank you for a wonderful experience and memories.

ツアー当日は満月の一日前で、月明かり98%ということで満点の星空を見るには明るすぎたのですが、(事前にちゃんと月齢カレンダーを確認すべきでした、、)雲を下に見る雲海は絶景で、標高4207mの山頂からのサンセットは本当に綺麗で、とても感動しました。
ツアーガイドのステファンさんはとても気さくで見た目は背の高い外人さんですが、バリバリの日本育ちとのことで、日本語ペラペラで、とても親切で写真もたくさん撮ってくれて、過去に撮影した素晴らしい星空の写真もAirDropで送ってくださいました。
ベジタリアンサンドイッチもとても美味しく、山頂で入れてくれたココアはとっても美味しくてあたたまりました。素敵な体験と思い出をありがとうございました。

Japanese tourists have returned to Hawaii. However, due to the pandemic, there are hardly any Japanese guides left, making the tours quite boring for those who struggle with English. On tours that showcase the rich nature, Pocketalk usually doesn't work, and we find ourselves tuning out the rapid-fire English explanations. Please rehire Japanese guides soon! We are only reluctantly signing up for English guides!

ハワイにも、日本人が戻ってきましたね。でも、日系のガイドさんはコロナ禍でほとんど居なくなってしまい、英語が苦手な日本人にはつまらないツアーばかりになりました。
豊かな自然が売りのツアーでは、たいていポケトークは機能せず、マシンガンの様な英語のガイドをしらけながら聞き流しています。
早く日系ガイドを再雇用してあげてください！
英語のガイドは、仕方なく申し込んでいるだけですよ！

Excellent tour with SUPER tour guide, Kailikea! Full service , including tasty meal, excellent transportation, LOTS of very interesting information on Hawaii, the stars at night, Hawaiian Culture and History. Absolute recommendation to book with MKSA!!!

During our previous visit to the Big Island, my son was too young to join the Mauna Kea summit tour. Now that he is an adult, his dream came true, and we participated together with my husband. Although it was cold at the summit, they lent us down jackets, so it was no problem. With no wind and being the second day after the new moon, both the sunset and the starry sky were magnificent. It felt like we were on another planet. Our guide was half Japanese and had attended school in Japan until elementary school, so he was fluent in Japanese. He was very polite and kind, and he made the starry sky explanation enjoyable with a touch of humor. It was a wonderful experience.

以前にハワイ島を訪れたとき、息子はまだ小さかったので参加できなかったマウナケア山頂ツアー。そんな息子も成人となり、夢がかない主人と3人で参加しました。山頂は寒いもののダウンを貸していただいたので問題なし。風もなく新月から2日目ということもあり、夕日も星空も素晴らしかったです。地球以外の惑星にいるような気分でした。ガイドさんは日本人とのハーフの方で、小学校まで日本の学校に通っていたとのこと、日本語はご達者でした。そして、とても丁寧＆親切に対応していらっしゃり、星空解説もユーモアを取り入れながら楽しく聞かせていただきました。素晴らしい体験でした。

The full moon made the starry sky a bit disappointing, but my zodiac sign, Scorpio, was beautifully visible. The guide, Sue, was kind and it was an enjoyable observation event. I would like to participate again.

満月で星空はすこーし残念でしたが、私の星座蠍座は綺麗に観えました。ガイドのスーさんが親切で楽しい観察会でした。又参加したいと思います。

I encountered a view that was more wonderful than I had expected, and it was the best. Although the distance was considerable, which is unavoidable, the long drive by car was a bit of a drawback. However, the explanation in Japanese by a second-generation person from Yokosuka was incredibly clear. Since it was a nearly seven-hour tour, I suppose that's to be expected, but the cost... If I can get past that, I would love to go again.

思っていたよりも、素晴らしい景色に出会えて、最高でした。距離があり、仕方がないのですが、車での移動が長いのが玉に瑕、、、、
英語で説明！よありましたが、横須賀出身の２世の方の日本語の説明で、物凄くよくわかりました。
七時間近くのツアーなので、しょうがないのでしょうが、費用が、、、、、、、それさえクリアできれば、もう一で、行きたいです。

Unfortunately, due to the strong winds from the hurricane, the path to the summit was closed on the day of the visit. However, there was a possibility that if negotiations were successful at the Onizuka Center, the path might be opened, so I went to the Onizuka Center. But the result was... it was indeed not possible.

That said, it was good that I was able to get to Onizuka! The tour fee was refunded later for the portion that I couldn't complete to the summit (not the full amount, but $200 out of $400). Well, we can't win against the forces of nature! This will be a lesson for next time!

運悪くハリケーンの影響で風が強く、当日は頂上への道が閉鎖されたとのこと。
ただ、万が一オニヅカセンターで交渉次第では？道が開けてもらえる可能性もあるということでオニヅカセンターまで行ってきました。
でも、結果は・・・やはりダメでした涙
とはいえ、オニヅカまででもいけたのは良かった！
ツアー代金は、頂上まで行けなかった分、後から返金されましたので(全額ではなく4／5の200ドル）まぁこればっっかり自然の力には勝てないということで仕方ありませんね！
次回の宿題になりましたｗ

After five years of waiting due to the opposition to the observatory expansion and COVID-19, I was finally able to participate in the sunset tour. The company advertised having Japanese-speaking guides, but due to the impact of COVID-19, it seems they laid off most of the Japanese guides because there were many domestic (U.S.) users. During my visit, the guide was an American with experience working at a U.S. military base, and aside from casual conversations near the Onizuka Center and confirming the meeting time, everything was in English. The explanations along the way, including stories about Hawaii's only Army training base, were all in English, but even with my limited English knowledge from middle school to university, I understood about half of it. Of course, the meeting time and important notes were explained in Japanese, but I felt the English explanations were sufficient.

For the stargazing, two vehicles were used in the parking lot between the summit and the center, with only two Japanese participants. We were divided into two groups for English and Japanese explanations, and one person who spoke Japanese provided dedicated explanations. The photos taken during that time, as well as the best photos that the guide had likely taken previously, were received directly through the Aiphone communication feature. Previously, we would receive them later via the website, but with Aiphone, we could do it on the spot by pairing our phones. It seems that those using phones with OS like Samsung might not know how to do this, so I wonder what they do? After returning to the meeting place and dispersing, I was given a ride to a nearby hotel. I was spared a 20-minute walk at night, but this was only because everyone else returned to their cars from the meeting place or were from nearby hotels, so it was just a coincidence that I got a ride. I heard that if Japanese tourists return, Japanese tours might resume.

The tour itself was fantastic, just like everyone else's experience, but I have two final points. The emergency toilet near the summit is very dirty, so it's better not to use it. Let's use the facilities at the Onizuka Center instead, as we will stop there after stargazing, which should take about three hours. Lastly, remember to give a tip when you get off the vehicle. A few years ago, during my first visit (at the time of the "B-class Gourmet Tour"), I completely forgot to tip because it was an all-Japanese tour, and that experience still gives me a bit of trauma. This time, I prepared three levels of tips in my pouch according to my satisfaction and handed them out at the end. If the explanations had been given in both English and Japanese twice, I would have given 20%, but this time I gave about 15%.

　天文台増設反対の封鎖とコロナ等で5年越しでサンセットツアーに参加できました。同社は日本語ガイドがあるのが売りでしたが、コロナの影響で景気のいい国内(米国)利用者が多くなったので、日系人のガイドをほとんどレイオフ?したみたいです。今回利用時は、在日米軍基地勤務経験がある米国人ガイドさんでしたが、オニヅカセンターや展望台付近の雑談や集合時間の確認以外はすべて英語でした。途中の説明は、ハワイ唯一の陸軍訓練基地の話など英語オンリーでの説明でしたが、特に英語は中学から大学までの勉強でしかしたことない私でも、半分くらいは分かりました。もちろん、集合時間、注意事項等は日本語で説明してくれましたが、先の英語の説明で十分わかりました。また、天体観測は、2台の車が、山頂からセンターの間の駐車場で行いましたが、日本人は２人だけで、英語と日本語の説明の二つのグループに分かれましたが、日本語が話せる1人が専属で説明してくれました。その時撮った写真や、以前ガイドさんが撮ったと思われるベストな写真は、Aiphoneの通信機能でそのまま受け取りました。以前は後日ホームページでの受け取りでしたが、Aiphoneだとその場で携帯付き合わせてできます。サムスン等のOSを使った携帯はやり方がわからないみたいなのでどうするんでしょう?集合場所に戻り解散してから近くのホテルまで送ってもらいました。夜道を20分ほど歩かなくて済みましたが、あくまで、他の方が全員集合場所から各自が車で帰ったり、直近のホテルの方だったので、たまたま、送ってもらうことが出来ました。日本人がまた戻ってきたら日本語ツアーが再開されるかもとのことです。ツアーの素晴らしさは申し分なく他の方と同じですが、最後に2点。山頂付近の緊急用トイレは非常に汚いので使用しない方が良いです。オニヅカセンターで済ませましょう。天体観測後にも寄るので、しょうみ3時間くらいでしょうか。最後にチップは降車時に渡しますので忘れないようにしましょう。私は、数年前、最初の利用の時(当時の「B級グルメツアー」)、完全に日本人だけのツアーでその快適さから錯覚してチップ忘れたことがあり、今も少しトラウマになっています。今回も満足度に合わせて3段階のチップをポーチに用意して、最後に渡しました。途中の説明が英語と日本語で2回してくれたなら20％渡したと思いますが、今回は約15％程度としました。

Our tour guide Addison was awesome. Excellent in setting tour expectations and safety guidelines from the start. His knowledge of Hawaiian history, culture, volcanology, and astronomy was impressive. VIP treatment. Don’t miss this tour on your visit to the Big Island.

Thanks Addison and team.

- Dave T.

I fulfilled a long-held dream of seeing the perfect starry sky from Mauna Kea. I prepared thoroughly and participated on a new moon night, expecting the best view of the stars. The starry sky from Mauna Kea exceeded my expectations. I was also able to see the Subaru Telescope, and the guide's explanations were detailed, allowing us to take many photos. Although I dressed warmly, it was still quite cold, and when I was freezing, I enjoyed a warm cocoa, which was a thoughtful gesture that warmed my heart. I would love to participate again.

マウナケアからの満点の星空を見てみたいという長年の夢が叶いました。
しっかりとした準備をして最高の星空を期待し、新月の夜に参加しました。
マウナケアからの星空は期待以上に最高でした。
スバル天文台も見ることができ、またガイドさんの説明も詳しくて、写真もたくさん撮っていただきました。
着込んでは行ったものの、流石に寒く凍えていた頃、温かいココアをいただき、心遣いに温まりました。
また参加したいです。

This whole event and trip was astonishing. I never had an opportunity to see the sky like this ever before. The trip was well organized and our guide Nate was so brilliant and he explained each and every part of the sky so beautifully in addition to having us watch different planets through the extraordinary telescope that he brought. The whole sky is so active in the night where we were able to see bunch of shooting stars, starlink satellites and other individual ones. I probably will do this again next time when I am in Big island!!

Fernando was our tour guide and he was great. We had the perfect weather. Its was an amazing experience! Definitely need the parka even though it was August. It was 44 degrees at the top and got colder after the sun set.

Fewer Japanese participants joined the tour, and since it was an English tour, I was disappointed that I couldn't understand the explanations during the bus ride. We took a 45-minute break at the Onizuka Visitor Center to acclimatize to the altitude, but there was no place to change, so I changed in the restroom. I wore Heattech top and bottom, jeans, and a fleece, with a light down parka on top. At the summit, I was lent ski pants and a warm jacket, so I was well-prepared for the cold. My hands were only cold from holding the camera.

The meal consisted of sandwiches distributed at the Visitor Center, which were very delicious, but there were no drinks provided. Since it was drizzling, I didn't feel like sitting at the outdoor tables and chairs, so I stood and ate in a corner of the center. During the stargazing, I enjoyed warm cocoa.

I was very satisfied with both the sunset and the starry sky, but I'm wondering how to receive the photo data taken during sunset and stargazing. There has been no email contact since the next day. I called but reached voicemail and left a message...

参加する日本人が少なくなっており、英語ツアーだったので、往路車中の解説はよくわからず残念。高地に慣れるためにオニヅカビジターセンターで45分間の休憩、着替えの場所はなくトイレで着替えました。ヒートテック上下にGパンとフリース、その上にライトダウンパーカーです。山頂でスキーパンツと防寒上着を貸して頂き、防寒は万全でした。カメラを持つ手が冷たかったくらいです。
食事は、ビジターセンターで配られるサンドイッチでとても美味しかったのですが、ここでは飲み物無し。小雨模様だったので、外のテーブル＆椅子に座る気になれず、センターの隅っこで立って食べました。星空観察の時には温かいココアを頂きました。
サンセットも星空も大満足だつたのですか、日没時と星空鑑賞の際に撮って下さった写真データをどう受け取るのか？翌日以降、メール連絡もありません。電話しても留守電で、メッセージは残したのですが…