Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Summit Sunset Adventure reviews, Big Island tours & activities, fun things to do in Big Island | HawaiiActivities.com

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Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Summit Sunset Adventure

Overall Rating

4.83 4.83 / 5

Reviews

120 reviews
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Awesome - everything

Reviewed by: David B, 2024/01/01

We had the best time
Tour guide was so knowledgeable and friendly
We learned so much about Hawaii and the big Island and astronomy
On the way we learned so much

Tour guide was exceptional
- always told us what was coming
- very organised
- everything was like clockwork

Everything was high quality and expert in every way

I can think of nothing to improve

  • Stars!

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/12/30
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A full package

Reviewed by: Varpu M, 2023/11/12

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Solo Travelers
Activity Date:2023/11/10
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Amazing evening at Mauna Kea!

Reviewed by: Andrea, 2023/11/02

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!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/10/26
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Above and Beyond!

Reviewed by: Sandra McCaffrey, 2023/11/01

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/10/29
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10/10

Reviewed by: Andrea, 2023/10/24

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

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2023/10/22
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Great afternoon trip

Reviewed by: Steve S, 2023/10/19

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.

  • Sunset

  • Shadow of Mona Kea before sunset

  • Maui in the distance

  • Group shot at the top

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2023/10/16
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ABSOLUTE RECOMMENDATION!

Reviewed by: Annet & Jeroen; NL, 2023/09/17

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!!!

  • Sunset at the summit

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/09/15
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Must do experience on Big Island!!!

Reviewed by: Dave T., 2023/08/16

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/08/14
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Beautiful!

Reviewed by: Vanessa V, 2023/08/13

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/08/11
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Great experience

Reviewed by: Stefan, 2023/07/30

We took the tour yesterday. It was a great experience which I can absolutely recommend. Worth mentioning is in particular the star gazing with the expert explanations of our guide.

Rating:
Attended as:Families with Young Children
Activity Date:2023/07/28
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Educational and entertaining

Reviewed by: Heather P., 2023/07/29

If you're looking for an experience where you are cared for, entertained, and learn more about this island, look no further. It was a day full of sight-seeing, history, and stimulation. This company has put time into thinking of everything from bathroom breaks, food, and health/safety. As one of the oldest tour companies on the island, there's perks they get that others do not.

Completely worth every penny to make the memories of this day!

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/07/27
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Better than ever!

Reviewed by: Pete and Tara Hudson, 2023/07/01

This is our second trip up the mountain with Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour & Sunset Adventure. We were so awed in 2015, we wanted to take it all in again. Of course, we never expected it to be even better than our first experience. Our host/driver/guide, Kea, was excellent! His knowledge of the land, the people, and the culture was extensive and well-delivered. We wanted to listen to him for hours more! Kea's respect and request, in Hawaiian, to visit the mountain was moving. It reminded us we were guests, and to honor those before us and where we were. Stepping out of the van for stargazing took our breath away. The stars are so brilliant. Kea had so much information to share on each of the selections he chose to show us through the mighty telescope. We saw Polaris, the Southern Cross, and the Milky Way all in the same sky. Quit searching and choose Kea with Mauna Kea Stargazing! Best in Class!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/06/06
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this tour is a MUST do,AMAZING

Reviewed by: ivan , 2023/06/11

OMG not even sure how to translate to words the experience on this tour

everything went smooth since the pick up, the tour guide assigned to us has so much knowledge about the culture, and the places.

you get a meal which is delicious to start the day, the the views from the sunset never in my life had experience something like that

then the cherry on top the stars, this was a life experience like never before you can see even the space station crusing the skies.

do not hesitate on talking this tour you wont regret it

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/06/05
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Outstanding guide, very informative and personable.

Reviewed by: NVGirls, 2023/06/10

Great experience. Amazing stars and view of the sunset.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2023/06/08
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Incredible! Definitely recommended

Reviewed by: LammyP, 2023/05/21

This was amazing! From our pick up point in Kona, our guide Kailikea (hope I spelled this right) was fantastic. He was so passionate about the trip and his home town it was so engaging. He's such a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable chap. I didn't expect to learn so much, but it was just the right level. 'Kea was clear about what to expect from the altitude and how to best manage it. We were lucky enough to see the Silversword plants by the visitor centre and then enjoyed our meal, included in the tour; veggie lasagne and chocolate brownie. It was a mixed journey up to the summit with some paved and some very bumpy roads but so worth the trip. We learned all about the different dishes and observatories and watched the beautiful sunset from the summit. We had to head lower for stargazing to avoid polluting the light by the observatories. We were awestruck by how many stars you could see, it was stunning. The powerful telescopes were set up and we were shown the visible planets and constellations/asterisms. Viewing the Edna carina nebula through the telescope was an incredible experience. I would 100% recommend this tour!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/05/08
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Wonderful experiences with great hospitality

Reviewed by: Nobu, 2023/05/04

I joined the tour with my wife, and we were a bit nervous as we worried about altitude sickness before we joined. However, we did not need to worry too much. The guide was so professional, and he made us relax in the large van of Mercedes-Benz. In addition, the distributed dinner, hot lasagna and chocolate cake helped us get adjusted in the rest area before we were elevated to the summit. In astronomical observation, I was able to see two shooting stars. I strongly recommend this amazing tour if you come to the big island.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/05/02
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Truly fantastic tour!

Reviewed by: Joe, 2023/04/29

This tour was worth every penny. We loved the ride to the summit, the star gazing, and the wealth of knowledge provided by our tour guide, Maka.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/04/26
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Best thing we did in Hawaii!

Reviewed by: Daniel, 2023/04/27

The tour guide was inviting and very knowledgeable. The food was actually quite decent. The views of the sunset from the top were sensational, and it was near seeing all the giant telescopes.

But the highlight for me by far was the stargazing after sunset. It was only 80% visibility and the moon was quite bright but I've never seen so many stars so clearly in my life. It was really a sight to behold. Maka (the tour guide) brought a telescope with him and we saw a number of cool things close up, such as a globular cluster, a star in portions
Orions belt, Venus, and the Moon.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/04/25
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Wonderful experience going to Manua Kea summit stargazing

Reviewed by: Lil, 2023/04/23

Fernando was a great guide for our tour! We really enjoyed his commentaries and learned a lot from this trip. The sunset was amazing. The night sky was impressive, but cold. Bring winter clothes and layers if you can! They do provide a very warm parka. The dinner was yummy. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2023/04/21
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Gage/Gaige!? Who cares sir you are one AWESOME guide!

Reviewed by: Max family , 2023/03/13

This was one the best experiences ever! The guide was fantastic! (Gauge/Gage? My apologies if misspelling your name - he was super knowledgeable about the island and easy to talk to, he was also well organized and thought of everything. The entire journey was super easy to follow and we all got to see some amazing things. Hot chocolate and biscotti? Snow? Wild turkeys and sheep? Binary star system anyone? Gage will make it happen. We also had a great GREAT experience just chatting with you about the Big Island. Thank you Thank you!

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/02/22
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Absolutely THE best land excursion!

Reviewed by: Analiese Kennedy , 2023/02/09

I know, I know, everyone likes to use the words “best” “amazing” “trip of a lifetime” THIS excursion IS absolutely THE best trip you will book! It may seem a little pricey, but the time, care, and knowledge that our tour guide Travis invested in our group was top of the line!

First of all, do not underestimate the “cold” warnings. It was frigid, cold to the bone so, dress appropriately! If you have a beanie, bring it for this trip.

Secondly, be prepared for the potential that the actual road up to the summit may be closed. Our group (along with 15 others) was told the road was closed and we would not be able to drive to the summit. Travis was able to talk with another tour operator (friends are good) and together they got the rangers to open the road for us last minute!! Yay!

Okay, so let’s talk dinner for a second. They served a vegetarian lasagna that was to die for most of my family are hard core meat eaters, so i was surprised at how quickly they snarfed it all down and EVERYONE commented on how “great” it was Make sure to bring your own water bottle (there is fresh water at the first stop) or whatever you want to drink.

Once we hit the road to climb the summit, the road was definitely an “off road” experience. Lots of major bumps but totally fun . The drive up was spectacular, so have your camera ready. The view from the top will blow your mind. Take a lot of pics and enjoy!

Then on to stargazing. Totally over the top and way exceeded my expectations! Travis had his own telescope that was a high end piece of equipment to say the least! He has so much knowledge that he was eager to share. We even got to see the once in a lifetime “green” comet he spent at least an extra hour with us up there when all the other tour operators were leaving. It was truly the most memorable experiences of my life! Mahalo to the entire team that i know has to work hard behind the scenes for this…my entire family is so grateful for the experience

Rating:
Attended as:Families
Activity Date:2023/02/07
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Outstanding Star Hazing!

Reviewed by: Jen & Dion, 2022/12/25

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

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/12/23
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Outstanding experience!

Reviewed by: GapC, 2022/11/29

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2022/11/25
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Easily the best tour guided experience we've ever done!

Reviewed by: Samantha Creamer, 2022/11/21

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?!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/11/12
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My wife and I summit in Hawaii

Reviewed by: Greg, 2022/11/19

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

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/10/30
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Well worth it

Reviewed by: Paul, 2022/11/15

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Friends
Activity Date:2022/11/13
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Book with other tour group

Reviewed by: Hilohannah, 2022/11/03

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.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/11/01
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Amazing Experience

Reviewed by: Merritt Hillman, 2022/08/27

My wife and I did this tour on our honeymoon. We come from the Midwest US and have not ever really been able to see many stars hence our booking this trip. The pickup location was convenient, the tour guide friendly and informative, and the experience overall was enjoyable. Would recommend to anyone going to try and book this tour as it was fun and definitely worth it.

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/08/05
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Memorable and breathtaking!

Reviewed by: A.Packard, 2022/08/08

My husband and I absolutely LOVED this excursion. Our tour guide was so incredibly kind and knowledgable. We loved learning about the history and culture surrounding the mountain during our ascent. The dinner provided was delicious. The sunset on the summit and the stargazing was other worldly. We will never forget it!

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/07/07
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Really great experience

Reviewed by: Steph, 2022/07/24

Great knowledgeable guide, Fernando made the long drive up to the summit with a bunch of volcano facts and stories about the Hawaiian history. Absolutely breathtaking views at sunset in the summit. Followed by stargazing, we were told about and shown all the constellations, saw some shooting stars, the Milky Way and Saturn

Rating:
Attended as:Couples
Activity Date:2022/07/22
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