Big Island GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Delight in the awe-inspiring sunset at the top of Mauna Kea, the highest point in the Pacific.
Your guide will share historic accounts of the Big Island. Stand amidst the world’s largest collection of research telescopes.
Two of the eight telescopes which took the first photos of the black hole are here.
Sip a hot beverage during your private star show and view planets with a professional telescope (Weather Permitting).
Your guide will take astrophotography photos of you with our camera and email them to you.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not allowed for travelers under 13 years old
Not allowed for travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not allowed for pregnant travelers
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Mauna Kea Summit
One of the best places to see the sunset and stargazing and it's also the highest mountain on earth. Comfortable 4X4 passenger van as transportation.Jackets and gloves provided to keep you warm. Experienced tour guide to talk about our history and show you our amazing night with a laser pointer. Get close to the stars with our professional Celestron telescope and get a nice photo with our DSLR camera.
Maunakea is a celebrated and storied place in the cultural traditions of Hawai'i. While it is the dwelling place of the goddess Poli'ahu it is also associated with the Hawaiian deities Lilinoe and Waiau. The summit was considered the realm of the gods and in ancient times was kapu (forbidden) to all but the highest chiefs and priests. Occasionally Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) would make the long trek to the top, the last royal visitor being Queen Emma in 1881 who led her companions on the arduous 6 hour journey to the top to see the summit and rejuvenate herself in sacred Lake Waiau. The White Mountain Legends of the Mountain - Poli´ahu While today Maunakea is home to 13 international observatories and recieves thousands of visitors every year it remains a sacred place for the people of Hawai'i. On the the fourth Saturday of every month MKVIS hosts community speakers who speak about Mauna O Wakea from a cultural perspective.
What‘s Included
Experienced tour guide
FREE night photo with our professional camera
Snacks and a hot beverage
Jackets and gloves to keep you warm
Transportation in a comfortable 4X4 van
Professional telescope (Weather Permitting)
Dinner (Travelers may bring their own)
Private Tour
Options
Kona Bank Of Hawaii Pick Up
Kona BOH Pick Up : Kona Commons shopping center Bank of Hawaii (across the lot from the Kona Target)
Starting point:
Bank of Hawaii, 74-5457 Makala Blvd Suite 102, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Waikoloa Starbucks Pick Up
Waikoloa Queens' Marketplace Starbucks
Starting point:
Starbucks, Beach Resort, 69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
Hilo Naniloa Hotel Pick Up
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a DoubleTree by Hilton “A” lot, near Crowns nightclub
Starting point:
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a DoubleTree by Hilton, 93 Banyan Dr, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Reviews
1,688 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing time. Loved how...
Danielle T,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing time. Loved how they packed snacks and had extra jackets. I thought I packed warm enough clothes, but boy was I wrong. We saw snow at the summit. Kela was a sweet person and informative guide. This has to be on your bucket list on Big Island.
Packing Tips
Natalie S,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Tay was a great guide and was very optimistic that we would see the stars, even though it was a very cloudy night and with some patients, the clouds broke for a short time, and we had an amazing view of the stars. The guide had a snack bag for everyone, along with a cozy parka to keep us warm as it was very cold at higher altitudes. My tips, if you’re booking this prior to arrival, is to pack a lightweight pair of gloves and/or air activated hand/toe warmers. Some emergency toilet paper might be helpful since the bathrooms will likely be out. (The guides might have some too). Overall it was a great trip with a professional photo op.
Mostly A Miss
Brent W,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Most of this experience is either riding in the van or sitting in the van. This was a $300 (GROAT--greatest ripoff of all time) adventure to look into a telescope for about 5 seconds. The guides are friendly and nice, but the experience is hit and miss depending upon mother nature--ours was mostly a miss. Of the dozens of tours that we have done in Hawaii and throughout the world, this unfortunately ranks near the bottom.
Great time and an...
Erin S,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great time and an excellent evening. Highly recommend bringing a pair of gloves and hat - the coats provided kept us warm throughout the experience. Our guides were great and full of information!
Once in a lifetime experience
katievG4229NZ,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing experience for me and my husband! We conveniently got picked up and dropped off in Hilo. John our guide was kind and knowledgeable. The sunset from the top is indescribable, the stargazing was also beyond words. We saw Orion’s Nubela, and two other entire galaxies!! Unreal! It was life changing. Other: we got a little snack bag for the drive up the mountain (chips, crackers, candy), hot cocoa and oatmeal were provided during the stargazing. The supplied jackets were surprisingly warm (gloves available also)! We got complementary photos of our group, and photos of all the amazing we saw in space…all available to download after our trip! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you again John for everything!
Really worth it!
monikamG8086LF,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour! Visiting Mauna Kea at sunset is an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience. I'm really glad we went. The ride was smooth and our guide was friendly, fun, and informative. If you are visiting Big Island, this tour and the Volcanoes Park are a must.
Highly recommend
risa180,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fabulous experience on this tour. John and Chris were great tour guides and the sunset and stargazing were spectacular. We appreciated the warm coats for the cold night. We highly recommend this tour.
Our Hawaii Mountain-top Experience!
James D,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great mountain-top experience! We had 6 family members and saw a spectacular sunset from the summit. At elevation 13,800 ft we could notice the cold, thin air, but we were well prepared by our tour guides. The star gazing and astronomy lesson at 9,200 ft was really good, with clear skies and a knowledgeable night sky expert providing a tour of the stars and constellations. This tour was a major time commitment, but well worth the time and effort.
Peak experience
Companion10120854968,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Tay is great. He knows a lot about astronomy, mythology, geology and history. He explained all the fascinating Hawaiian myths related to Mauna Kea. Tay is friendly and humorous, and never feels bored during the trip. So far, the scenery is the best part of my trip to Hawaii. It's definitely worth a try. They have professional cameras, which can take good photos with you and the stars.
Chilly night, but worth the effort
Thomas C,,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It can be very cold up there, bring a stocking cap and gloves. Very interesting experience. It was great to learn about which star formations were out that night and their history. Looking through the telescope at the new star formations and the Andromeda galaxy was the highlight for me.
From US$289.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Hawaii Island Holidays