A trip to summit of Mauna Kea is a long and somewhat physically demanding adventure. Currently, two excellent companies operate tours: Hawaii Forest and Trail and Mauna Kea Summit Adventures. Both have an excellent websites. On our trip, several years ago, we signed up with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures. We look forward to going with Hawaii Forest and Trail later in 2008.
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Our group to the summit consisted of about ten folks, of all ages. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He was a combination naturalist, culturalist, geologist and astronomer.The trip from Kohala Coast to the summit takes about two and a half hours. This includes as 30 minute stop at the Onizuka Vistor's Center at the 9200 foot level of Mauna Kea.
The ride takes you across a large part of the Saddle Road until you reach Mauna Kea Road. Along the way your guide gives you a wonderful narrative on the history, mythology, geology, flora, fauna, and animal life of the many levels of climate that you drive through.
Ellison Onizuka Visitor Center
The stop at the Ellison Onizuka Visitor Center, named in honor of the Hawaii native and Challenger astronaut. This stop is necessary to allow your body to acclimate to the altitude in order to avoid altitude sickness when you go to the 13,796-ft. summit. It is here that you're provided with a warm parka and gloves which you'll need for the rest of the evening.The drive from the Visitor Center to the summit takes about a half hour and is one of the most beautiful drives imaginable. As you ride to the summit and circle the mountain you can see the ocean on the west side of Hawaii near the resort areas and the town of Hilo down below to the southeast.
The Summit of Mauna Kea
Your group will arrive at the summit about 30 minutes before sunset and you'll spend the next hour or so watching the sun set. You'll learn about the various observatories located at the summit and the work that they are doing.Needless to say the views from the summit at sunset are amazing. The longer your remain at the summit; however, you begin to feel slightly dizzy and somewhat foggy due to the altitude.
It is for this reason that the tour only remains there for about an hour. This is not a place for anyone with serious health problems. Be sure to bring some chocolate or other sugar candy. It does help with effects of the altitude. Also, if you remember to take that thermal underwear, you will thank yourself for it.
Dinner and Stargazing
Following sunset you'll descend the mountain for a couple of hours of dinner and stargazing.On our trip with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures we stopped at an area used by the Hawaii Girl Scouts for camping. This is at about 6000 feet in altitude.
The tour provided sandwiches, hot soup and a hot drink. The guide set up a very impressive telescope and proceeded to give us a wonderful lesson in the night skies of Hawaii, perhaps the clearest and most expansive views of the heavens available from the surface of the earth.
Due to its proximity to the equator, from Hawaii you can view almost all of the stars of the northern hemisphere as well as about 70% of those of the southern hemisphere. In fact you can even watch the Southern Cross rise above the southern horizon as the night progresses.
The star gazing aspect of this tour is very educational and informative. You learn of the names of the stars and constellations, not only the names that we have been taught in the west, but also their Hawaiian names and what these stars and constellations meant to ancient Polynesians and Hawaiians.
Back to Your Resort
By about 10:15 p.m. it's time to head back down to your resort area where you arrive at about 11:00 p.m. The trip to Mauna Kea lasts over seven hours and it is well worth every minute of it.So, don't let folks tell you that all that there is to do in Hawaii is go to the beach. There is so much more to do and see. But remember to pack what you will need to do so.
Additional Information on Waipio Valley
Waipi'o Valley Horseback Adventure with Na'alapa Stables Website
Additional Information on Visiting Mauna Kea for Sunset
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures WebsiteHawaii Forest and Trail Website
