Mostly sunny with isolated rain showers. For astronomers yes, but for the general public the summit is strangely enough not that good. 1: Maui Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Road to Hana (Maui) 6: Maui Itinerary 7: Maui blog posts, The second-biggest island in the chain, much of Mauis appeal comes from its natural landscape and biodiversity, including its two massive volcanoes, whale watching and marine ecosystems, 1: Oahu Overview 2: Things to Do 3: Where to Stay 4: Popular Sights and Destinations 5: Oahu Beaches 6: Oahu Itinerary 7: Oahu blog posts. It was a cloudy night with a very bright moon, but we still enjoyed it. Mauna Kea State Recreation Area helps protect one of Hawaii's most precious natural landmarks: a dormant volcano. See our list of favorite stargazing locations on all Hawaiian islands for more good stargazing spots. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Click here for more information on how the see the sunset from both locations. Mostly dry. Chance of rain 20 percent. The best sunset viewing is from the summit but getting there is difficult because you need to either have a 4WD vehicle or join a tour. The maximum group size per reservation is 2 people. ), Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour, Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Sightseeing, History, Kulaniapia Falls Daypass with Activity Discount, Waterfall Rappelling at Kulaniapia Falls: 120 Foot Drop, 15 Minutes from Hilo, A must do- choose over going to top of summit. Light winds becoming west around 10 mph after midnight. From left to right: the Subaru Telescope, the W. M. Keck Observatory (2 domes), and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Each map is linked to a high-resolution .jpg image file. Read more about driving to the summit here. Yes, this was some 18 years ago I drove up there, not Feb 2019 as indicated below; doubt the view has deteriorated since then! Be familiar with the following symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Mauna Kea/Mauna Loa Weather Forecast It's interesting to climb in elevation and watch the temperature drop! Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Sat night, strong winds from the WSW by Tue afternoon). Imiloa is a gathering place that advances the integration of science and indigenous culture with a world-class stereoscopic 3D planetarium, visitor center, and Sky Garden restaurant. For more helpful information to better plan your trip to Maunakea click here. Some expensive mugs, water bottles and sweatshirts. 13 years ago. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Experience University of Hawaii managed lands on Maunakea from anywhere with this flyover 3D-perspective animation. Deeper than 3,900ft lie the midnight zone and abyss. Most of Mauna Keas life below the water lies between 0 and 1,189ft. 2023 University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 W. Kwili St., Hilo, HI, 96720. A gale warning means winds of 34 to 47 knots per hour are imminent or occurring. Temperatures can reach near freezing some nights at the visitor center. The summit is high altitude and the trail is over rough, jagged, and often loose lava. Its height and location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (almost no light pollution) have made it an ideal place for viewing sunset above the clouds and for stargazing. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Telescopes are obviously not bothered by a lack of oxygen so the summit *is* the best place for them. 5 Forecast Elevations: Peak: 13797 ft 11484 ft Mid: 8203 ft 4922 ft Base: This table gives the weather forecast for Mauna Kea at the specific elevation of 4205 m. Our advanced weather models allow us to provide distinct weather forecasts for several elevations of Mauna Kea. On the way down, there's a parking area to stargaze and take pictures of the milkyway. Can I even drive up here at this point with the telescope drama? Annual average temperature of 38.1F recorded at Mauna Kea Observatory. High altitude storms can occur without warning. Read more about the Kamaina Observatory Experience. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Tours that dont go to the summit do not have the sunset constraint and can organize our tours late at night which is good because it helps to (A) see many interesting night sky objects and to (B) avoid almost all of the other tour companies, giving you a more private and unique experience. One of the highest lakes on the planet . Be sure to dress warm, andcheck the weather. Our drive up from the coast to the visitor was amazing. To get all the way to the summit you need a 4WD vehicle with good brakes to navigate the steep and winding gravel road to the summit. Wind will be generally light. See Visiting Maunakea Safely and Responsibly for important safety information. Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. VIS Phone: (808) 934-4550. Mostly sunny with frequent rain showers with possible snow showers, freezing rain and thunderstorms likely in the morning, then mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers with possible snow showers, freezing rain and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. According to the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy, Maunakea is one of the best astronomical observing sites due to the atmosphere above the mountain being extremely dry. Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is located at 9,200 ft / 2,800 m. The building has a small (underwhelming) gift shop and restrooms. We highly recommend the following 2-hour long small group tour that gets GREAT reviews from all of their customers. Check out the stargazing calendar tip The parking lot can fill 115 spots and its first come first serve. This tour does NOT visit summit of Mauna Kea or Mauna Kea Visitor Center. Highs 37 to 61. Sunny in the morning, then partly sunny with scattered rain showers in the afternoon. A big disappointment. However, more than half of the mountain lays bellow the oceans surface. One star for clean restrooms. Mostly clear. Geology and Glaciology Sunsets from the MaunaKea summit are without exception breathtaking. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The visitor center has potential - it shares a bit about the sacred grounds and native uses and a little about the observatories and telescopes. The visitor center is at an altitude of 9,200ft, so you might want to hike R1 or one of the many trails beginning at the visitors center before driving to the top, which is at about 13,800ft. Where: 35 miles west of Hilo on the island of Hawaii. In this guide we explain how you can visit the Maunakea Visitor Center and see the telescopes and sunset at the summit. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Big Island has seen quite a bit of winter weather and recently the visitor station at Maunakea welcomed snow. Length 1.2 miElevation gain 167 ftRoute type Out & back. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit destination on the Big Island. Oahu is the lively center and most visited of all Hawaiian Islands. These operators are guaranteed to employ knowledgeable guides and bring their own portable telescopes. Take the Daniel K Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) and turn onto Maunakea Access Road (Milepost 28). (This post was originally published on camandtheoutdoors.com). Because of the winter conditions, the road to the summit remains closed. I believe youd have to book a private tour to do organized star gazing. Stay clear of observatories and other structures to avoid falling ice. Blschestrae 44, 12587 Berlin Germany +49 30 39202336 Website Menu. , Don't be afraid, any car can make it, even when they say '4-wd only'. Scroll up for 8 tips on how to drive to the summit yourself. Due to the hazards of altitude sickness, pregnant women, persons in poor health, and children under 13 should not venture above the Visitor Information Station. Measured from the base on the ocean floor, MaunaKea rises over 10,000 m (33,000 ft) high! Temperatures on Mauna Kea can get down to 30-40 (-1-+4 ). To reach the visitor station (website) follow Saddle Road (Hwy 200) until you get to the Mauna Kea access road (around mile marker 28, across the street from the Puu Huluhulu Cinder cone parking lot) and follow that road up. Heavy to excessive rain may produce flooding Thursday from northeast Texas into the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. Facemasks are not required to enter the Visitor Center but they are encouraged. And IT. During our tour of the stars, we learned a lot about Polynesian constellations, including Mauis Hook. How can I make reservations for my Mauna Kea Summit Adventure? View from MaunaLoa Observatory (looking at Mauna Kea from the south) Subaru 10u Skymonitor (limited access) CONtinuous CAMera (CONCAM) - The night sky above Mauna Kea. Either way, it only cost us $1 to buy a cup of hot chocolate from the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, so we felt like it was worth it at the time. There are serious and potentially fatal consequences of hiking at high altitude. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour, Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stars Free Astro Photos Hilo Kona Waikoloa Pick Up, Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls and Highlights, Best Mauna Kea Summit Tour (Free sunset and star photo! The staff running the event said it was their first time seeing it as well. A gale warning has been posted for Big Island leeward and southeast waters until 6 p.m. Thursday. Get our brand-new trip planning series delivered directly to your inbox - for FREE (more info). It's been more than 4,000 years since Maunakea last erupted, but . May be worth checking their web site before planning visit to see when open and best to to visit. Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Sat night, strong winds from the WSW by Tue afternoon). If you are in for a hike at high altitude, you can also make a short excursion to the highest lake in the state at 1,3020 ft: Lake Waiau. Snow or driving rain are possible at any time of year. File a Trip Report, Additional information: The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the Big Island summits until 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 2. Our advanced weather models allow us to provide distinct weather forecasts for several elevations of All rights reserved. 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