Going to Mauna Kea was a must-do on our trip to the Big Island. We planned for our visit to line up perfectly with sunset. The visitor center is cool. Lots of good info. There's quite a bit of parking. It was super busy for a Sunday evening. We were in an all-wheel drive vehicle (Ford Edge) and the ranger gave us the green light to go up, even though all of the signs say 4-wheel drive only. They said they can no longer turn all wheel drive vehicles away. He recommended we stop every so often on the way down to let our brakes cool. The road is rough. Not paved. It's basically gravel and dirt the whole way. We only made it a mile of the 8 before turning around. The sun was so bright in our eyes we weren't able to see the road at some points and there is definitely some steep terrain going up. Our vehicle was already needing to have the gas all the way just to make it up. The thought of going down 8 miles of that sounded quite anxiety-inducing. So, we got back to the visitor center in time to hike the trail up the mountain across the road and catch the sunset. It's spectacular. The altitude change is no joke. I could feel how much harder it is to breathe with just a few steps into the hike. Be careful! The views are stunning though. So pretty. Definitely an experience worth checking out. read more

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Unique place to explore, experience your lung and enjoy the view of sunset above the cloud. Make sure you have 4wd or AWD car with LO gears option and a full tank of gas. Everybody has to stop at the visitor center (9200 ft) for 30 minutes acclimate time and Pitstop. After that you can continue the drive up to the top after a small talk and car check with the ranger. There is a bout 4.5 miles of rough terrain and the rest 4 miles is smooth sailing. Total time about 30 minutes. The view is breathtaking. The air is really thin so you have to take more breath you can stay to enjoy the sunset above the cloud and that is all the difference, but you cannot linger till the sky is dark. Everybody has to leave 15 minutes after sunset. Recommended to stop at the visitor center in the way down, stay longer and see the Milky Way by your naked eyes. Remember to keep warm. read more

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Very cool spot to visit on the big island. Wonderful for exploring and being at the top of the volcano. Consider timing when visiting and weather. Look into easy hiking options. read more

Make sure you do all your research on Mauna Kea prior to going! Best to book a tour with one of the many local companies, as they have trained professionals and tour guides who are knowledgeable about procedures and the history behind Mauna Kea. If you do go up on your own, you must have a 4-drive vehicle like a Jeep, and many rental car companies will not let you go up to Mauna Kea's summit, at least not beyond the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (VIS). One thing to keep in mind that even during the summer months, it can and does get cold and freezing at the higher altitudes. I've been told that the summer months are much better in terms of making it to the summit of Mauna Kea than any other times of the year because of the weather conditions. You do have to spend at least 30 minutes at the VIS to acclimate to the higher altitudes prior to going to the summit. Best to bring plenty of water and snacks along with a beanie cap and mittens. You don't want to be like some crazy hikers whom we saw at the summit with only shorts and a shirt on (and barely any hiking gear on them)! And at that high an altitude, you don't want to move around too quickly due to lower levels of oxygen, and you might feel light-headed and a bit dazed at times. read more

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I am so glad I made it to Mauna Kea. I only went to the visitor center cause I was worried about altitude. 1st definitely take heed that it is cold even at the visitor center! It is also windy. I didn't bring gloves, but you'll definitely need those too. We arrived right in time for the sunset, it wasn't super crowded. It was beautiful to watch the sun disappear in the hills. It's also surreal that when you turn to the side opposite the sun, the landscape looks so different. Then, once the sunset the stars were an added bonus. You really can see them so clear, also beautiful. Pics were taken on my iPhone 13! read more

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We were hoping to catch the sunset and stars from the summit during our trip. We had several rainy days that were forecasted but still attempted to go and were so glad we did. It rained the majority of the drive to the volcano but once we started climbing higher we were above the clouds and the sun was shining. Once you arrive at the visitors center all cars are required to stop and check in here. If you are planning to go to the summit to watch the sunrise, you will need an all-wheel drive vehicle and an informational talk with the park ranger prior to your ascent. While we did have an all-wheel drive vehicle that could drive to the summit we chose to stay at the visitor's center. The workers at the visitor's center suggested this small "hike" up this hill to get the best view of the sunset, we did it and it was amazing. Afterwards we waited in our car and hung out at the visitor's center waiting for the sun to completely set so we can stargaze. The temperature drops quickly so be sure to bring warm layers, it was about 40 degrees at the visitors center once the sun was completely gone. Another reason why we forwent going to the summit was 30 minutes after the sunsets is when you have to depart down the mountain to the visitors center. If you want to stargaze, parking is at the visitor's center and started to fill up and eventually get full when everyone at the summit was coming down. Seeing the starts was beautiful. You can see the milky way with the naked eye. The visitor's center also had a scheduled little informational talk in where they talked about the ancient Hawaiians using the stars for navigation and pointed those out along with visible constellations. They used a laser pointer that pointed directly what they wanted you to look at. Totally worth a visit and this visit we did was free. read more

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Great place to stop and aclimate yourself to 9000 ft altitude. Staff is welcoming and super helpful. ;-) read more

Mauna Kea - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state of Hawai'i. It's one of the only places in the world where you can drive from sea level to 14,000 feet in about two hours, so altitude sickness is very possible. It is highly recommended to do your research beforehand and stop by the visitor center before you head on up. We were glad we stopped by the visitor center to get information on how to use the different gears on our Jeep and when to switch from 4H/4L. Thanks to the kind staff for helping us newbies! Tips: - You need 4WD. There is no way you're going to make it up/down without it. The road is rough and steep. - Spend ~30 minutes at the visitor center to acclimate to the change in elevation. - Make sure you have lots of water. - If you feel nauseous, lightheaded, or sick at any point, turn back. The lack of oxygen at such a high elevation can be dangerous. - Bring a jacket, it's chilly at the top. The drive was very bumpy when you were on the gravel. Sometimes we'd feel our car slip over rocks and it was a bit scary. We didn't have too much of a problem with the elevation - my friend felt a bit of nausea, but we made it up to the top!! Go us! Views were stunning. You felt like you were on top of the world. We were way above the clouds. It was so beautiful with all the snow! We were so lucky we were visiting when it just snowed! I think without it, it would look very barren & dull. read more

Mauna Kea - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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This is a MUST SEE! First and foremost YOU MUST HAVE A 4WD VEHICLE TO GO TO THE SUMMIT! Anyone can go to the visitor center, but the ranger won't let you up to the summit unless you have at least a half tank of gas and your vehicle is 4WD capable. They will look in your car to check. They also want you to acclimate to the elevation for at least 30 minutes at the visitor center. The drive to the summit is easy and only 8 miles. Road is half paved and half gravel. You don't need off-roading experience to make the drive either. read more

Mauna Kea - Summit - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Must visit spot while on the Big Island! Fun fact: Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano and mountain in the world, measured from base to peak. You can drive yourself to the visitor center, or to the summit with a 4 wheel drive or on a tour service. Children under 13 (I think?) can't pass the visitor center due to the elevation, so that's as far as we made it. Bring some warm clothes, it was about 50 degrees at that point. They have an informational center with bathrooms available. A local astrology group sets up their telescopes certain nights. Arrive before sunset so you can find parking. read more

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When we took our trip to the Hawaii island we went in the dead of summer's tropical heat! The elevation is so high on this mountain that it is freezing cold even then. We went up the winding road with much caution. One wrong move and it feels like you'll be rolling down the mountain. As we went higher and higher up there were many warning signs about the elevation and not to bring children past a certain point, so we parked in the "safe zone". All I can remember was after we washed our hands and got out of the bathroom, we were frozen. There's a store in the parking area that sells lots of cool souvenirs, clothing, and snacks. I definitely would like to make another trip higher up when the kids are older for sure. Mostly for educational purposes and the views! read more

Mauna Kea - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We went to visit Mauna Kea on our vacation and were very glad that we did. We went about halfway up where they have the visitor station. You can park your car, get out and visit inside where they have informational videos playing along with some neat souvenirs . They have a guided lecture in the evening where they talk about the night skies and you are able to look through several telescopes to observe the stars and planets. Make sure you dress warm and bring your blankets because it gets very cold in the evening, the temperatures drop drastically. Also I would suggest bringing some sandwiches or food because they have limited snacks and drinks at the gift shop. If you are interested in driving all the way up to the top of the volcano you have to have a 4 Wheel Dr. otherwise your vehicle will not make it. They do warn you that you will get stuck if you don't have a four-wheel-drive so I would not suggest it. Around the souvenir shop there are several trails where you can walk around and take pictures. It is just beautiful because the clouds and mist is all around you. I had such a great experience! The only thing that I wished I had done was bring a heavy jacket and more food with me. read more

So I read lots of reviews, articles, and their website. We did not want to pay over 200 dollars a person so we did this on our own. 1) pack winter clothes and binocular 2) bring your own hot chocolate, water, and snacks 3) rent 4×4 car 4) call the morning of to get the weather report We left from Waikoloa at 3pm. Don't do that. It took us 50 minutes to get to the visitor center and stayed 30 minutes to hang out (recommended before going any higher) There was so much parking. If i do it again, I would leave at 4:30. We waited too long. Bring a snack and hang out. After the sunset, go back to the visitor center for star gazing. We used a phone app to identify dufferent stars. Must do. read more

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Please do a little research before going up Mauna Kea. Even though you go up by car, the quick change in altitude can be really stressful on the body. - Rent a 4WD vehicle, to go beyond the visitor center - Go with a full tank of gas, you'll burn through fuel going up - Bring lots of water and food to snack on - It's cold at the top! Bring something to keep you warm - DO NOT GO ALONE Start by going to the visitor center and plan on hanging out there for at least 30-60 minutes. Do not underestimate the need to acclimate to the altitude - you may notice a shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or headache from the lack of oxygen. Take your time and watch out for each other. At the top, the views are gorgeous. Soak it in and enjoy it! On the way down, I really wanted to see Lake Waiau, but my partner was about the pass out from the lack of oxygen and we had to pass up that experience. read more

The sunset is stunning. Get a four wheel drive car, have enough gas, and drive slowly up to the summit. Although it sounds troublesome, once you see the sunset, all those hassles are nothing. read more

Mauna Kea is one of my favorite places on earth! The views, sunsets, and stars are amazing to see from the observatory. Make sure to go early to catch the amazing colors the sunset gives and go on a night where the volunteers are there for star gazing tours! read more

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Where else can you get so close to heaven that you're above the clouds!? Very very cold and windy. Crazy drive, make sure to have a good driver behind the wheel that is okay with not looking at the view. Don't get distracted on the narrow roads. Beautiful sunset and clouds. read more

We had the chance to go to the top of Mauna Kea on the Bis Island of Hawai'i on the last day of the year 2016. We stopped by the visitors center and then made our slow and bumpy advance to the top. You need a 4x4 vehicle to make it all the way up. Be sure to dress warm as it was very cold, even with stocking caps and an extra pair of socks. The view from the top of Mauna Kea is absolutely stunning! The air is crystal clear and the sun reflects beautifully of the snow covered mountain top and the observatories. read more

Spectacular drive, fantastic views. Feels otherworldly in a good way. I was surprised to feel an actual deep cold, and the blizzard up top was such a fun way to connect with yet another of Hawaii's mysteries of the ecosystem! I'm from Colorado, and was craving mountains...I got my fix up here! read more

I thought we would just be driving to another mountain and enjoy the view and leave, not so! We arrived about 1.5 hours just before sunset. After looking around and taking in some knowledge, we hiked a short distance and enjoyed a beautiful sunset above the clouds. After the sun sets, the information center brings out telescopes and does a star gazing light show for free! This was a great way to spend an afternoon and such beautiful sights! In February, the temperature dropped to about 35* at night, just so you have an idea. As for the summit, we couldn't go all the way to the top because we didn't plan for it in advance. You can go up on a tour or on your own, but you must have a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Not to mention it is cold and you need to bring some cold weather gear. A must do, just plan it in advance. A 4 wheel drive vehicle is not needed to make it to the visitor center. read more