The only tours I see for Mauna Kea are $175 or so. Are there any cheaper tours?
Has anyone been on any tours, and are they worth the $. I really wanna go up but $350 for 2 people just seems so expensive.
Any Tours of Mauna Kea that are not sooo expensive?
We went with Hawaii Forest and Trails, and here%26#39;s some details that may help:
They picked us up in a 4-wheel drive van from our hotel at 2:00, and after a few more pickups, we started up the Saddle Road. We stopped for an early dinner at a former ranch outpost--soup, sandwiches and hot tea. That%26#39;s where they broke out the parkas, as the temperature was dropping fast. Back into the van, and we continued on Saddle Road up to the visitors center for a short acclimation stop. Then, up to the top for sunset, and back down to the visitor center for star-watching through the telescopes, with hot chocolate %26amp; chocolate chip cookies. Then, the long drive back to the hotel, arriving around 11:00 pm.
Things to consider: First, it%26#39;s a long, long day. Second, it%26#39;s really cold. I%26#39;ve lived near Chicago all my live, so I thought it wouldn%26#39;t bother me, but I was wrong! Third, the quality of the star-viewing really depends on whether or not there%26#39;s full moon that night, and of course, we had a full moon. We really couldn%26#39;t see many stars, but did get a good look at the moon.
So, did we think it was worth it? Not for us. But another couple on our tour had done it before (without the full moon), and they said that, with the right conditions, it%26#39;s an experience that you%26#39;ll never forget. Plus, sunset at the top was cool, especially seeing the shadow of Mauna Kea projected onto the clouds to the East.
Hawaii Forest and Trails seems to be a class operation, so if you decide to do it, check out their website. Our guide was great, and handled the van like a pro.
Any Tours of Mauna Kea that are not sooo expensive?
This is just my opinion. Take it for what it%26#39;s worth, which may be zip. I came to the Big Island 4 times on vacation, for a total of SIX WEEKS stay and never included a trip to Mauna Kea summit. Went to the VC during the day on trip #2. Finally went to the summit after we moved here. Once. No desire to go back.
It amazes me that anyone on a first time visit with only 3 days to spend would put the summit on their list (or Green Sand beach in other cases).
I feel like with every island, promoters look for ways to differentiate their island from other tropical islands. So they hype up things that are only on that island, green sand, the tallest mountain, black sand, the volcano of course, whatever sounds unique or exotic.
But to me, these are fringe attractions. There is so much beauty on this island, and for me, I would start with the obvious -- enjoy being in the tropics! Why go to Hawaii to spend one day out of 3 on a trip so cold you need a parka? -- and stand a decent chance of getting sick and dizzy from lack of oxygen?
People these days are so focused on excitement and forget about the simple pleasures. Just come and WHOOSH around the island hitting the perceived high spots. Missing the point that this is an extremely laid back place in a world that gives people little time to slow down and commune with nature.
Trust me, driving our highways is as much about communing with semitruck exhaust as nature. I strongly urge everyone not to spend the majority of their vacation here out on the highway. Certain spots are ON the beaten path because they DESERVE to be, so don%26#39;t make the mistake of disdaining the best known beaches just to hike the dusty trails to the windy desolate ones.
If people have 10 days to 2 weeks, then it makes sense to make the treks to more remote areas, including Mauna Kea.
If I drove from Kona and wanted to go up to the visitor center only, 1) can i do it in a normal car 2) how much time would I need to put aside for that?
Depending on if you descend on Hilo side ... and where you are in Kona. Keauhou is farther away.
I think about
1 hour to the Saddle Road turnoff
1 hour to VC turn off
1/2 hour to VC?
1/2 hour back to Saddle.
1/2 hour to upper edge of Hilo, maybe 15 minutes to hotels
These could be off and could certainly be less, tried to be realistic and not quote best possible time. I don%26#39;t time these things, and it%26#39;s all subject to whether you get behind slow traffic. Also whether you hit white out fog on way down to Hilo and on the VC road.
Road down to Hilo is good roadbed but serious grade. 6000 foot descent in not many miles, you need to gear down.
I have a follow-up question about self-driving to the Mauna Kea Visitor%26#39;s Center.
We were planning on taking a Mauna Kea summit stargazing tour as a highlight of our trip, but it turns out that our visit is cursed by a full moon (darn you, universe!).
I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s worth 8 hours and $300+ for the 2 of us to take the full-on trip to the summit when the moon is full, but it would still be nice to experience the visitors center for sunset (or sunrise!).
Question: Can a ';normal'; rental sedan drive to the visitor%26#39;s center (NOT the summit)? In terms of road difficulty and grade, is it similar to the road leading to the summit of Haleakala on Maui? We%26#39;ve driven to the summit of Haleakala several times to catch the sunrise, and that was no problem at all. We are staying in the Kohala area.
Thank you!
Megan
Not that I%26#39;m an expert, but I%26#39;d just like to chime in that if you are going to Kilauea during your stay, you can do some excellent stargazing right from the grounds of the Volcano House. There weren%26#39;t any telescopes when we were there, but after a long day of trekking over lava fields, my partner and I just laid on our backs on the wall in back of the restaurant and gawked at the spread of the night sky for a long time.
Of course, we%26#39;re city folk... the best views we%26#39;d seen of stars before then were in planetariums! ;o) But I%26#39;ve seen clear mountain starscapes from other high, low-light areas, like the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Kilauea put these to shame.
Aloha
I love star gazing at Mauna Kea. We go up 8+ times a year and before we had a place in Kona we went on every trip.
Once I saw a moonbow, it was amazing and I will never forget it. I thought it was better than the solar eclipse, but maybe because it was so unexpected and I did not even know moons could have a bow.
Astronomy is something our family enjoys, if yours does as well it is worth the effort.
Yes it is best if there is no full moon.
We never took a tour, just went up to the visitors center on our own.
We have just a regular small car.
Be advised that the saddle road is having road work and maybe KK can let you know where they are up to with that.
The drive up we always bring a picnic and do sunset from the center.
It is very cold. I ware gloves, 2 pr of socks, and as many layers as I can manage. Thank goodness the center has hot coco.
The ride up is easy and beautiful, the ride back is dark so go slow and pull over to let any locals go by. We just turn on KAPA, listen to local music, take our time and feel the air get warmer.
I do take aspirin before I go.
We have been to the top but be advised they will not let you in the telescopes unless you know someone.
Uof H sends students and Professors to the Visitors Center with telescopes. They do an excellent job of showing you the sky. They answer questions and are amazing people, hats off to them.
I believe the Haleakela road is much better and easier.
Remember that you will be driving down in pitch darkness.
Sea level gazing on the BI is so much better than most anything on the mainland because of the clear air and low level of light pollution....just go somewhere away from street lights or resort lights...diamonds on balck velvet.
Hi PensiveFrog,
yes, a regular sedan can get you to the VC fine. All you need to check is that your rental car company permits you to drive Saddle Rd. Used to be none of them did; now that has changed.
If it doesn%26#39;t, you probably know the drill: contract is void, tow is hugely expensive, if you get in an accident the repair is entirely on you.
If you drive up from Hilo you%26#39;ll be on recently paved road. If you drive from Waikoloa side you have to put up with the up and down surface, potholes, one lane bridges.
They recently opened a short new section of upgraded road, but the main upgrade is still in progress--which I believe is to bypass the Pohakuloa Army Range (but I could be wrong, I%26#39;m not paying that much attention to the project). The work on the new sections won%26#39;t affect anyone as those are closed until completed.
My son drives the Saddle to work on the other side and he hasn%26#39;t said anything about big delays. The main comment he has about the road is that too many drivers fail to yield as required on the one lane bridges. Instead they speed up trying to get over the bridge before you get there. (each bridge is signed telling drivers whether it%26#39;s their turn to YIELD).
It can be hair-raising when you have one of these near head on collisions (has happened to me) -- and that is the main reason why I don%26#39;t use this road as my route across the island. (also my car%26#39;s suspension isn%26#39;t the best for the potholes)
Aloha,
Here is a place to check the phases of the moon.
…navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html#y2007
Hope it helps with your plans to star gaze!
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