Absolutely stunning!!

Posted on: 2015/08/23

Was picked up from Kihei hotel at 2:30am on Aug. 18. It is quite early but was worth the lack of sleep and every penny. Sunrise was stunning!! They do a little chant before the sun shows up, which sounds really cool. After the sunrise, you get to tour around the mountain to take pictures of silverswords and perhaps the Big Island you can see in a clear day.
As for how cold it is up there, I am pretty warm blooded, so I thought it wouldn't be much of a big deal. Oh boy was I wrong! The temperature itself isn't too low, but keep in mind that up in 10,000 ft. the wind slashes at you in all directions and that you need to keep standing there for at least an hour if you want a good spot for beautiful pics. I even saw people wrapped up in thick blankets (not the thin ones but the fluffy ones for bed) and padded outerwear. So do prepared! :)
Oh and the breakfast afterwards was okay. For the last stop the guide takes you to a local market so that you could shop for souvenirs.