Worth a DetourSpiritualSacred summitStargazingSunset

Mauna Kea

Hawaiʻi's highest and most sacred mountain, a summit above the clouds with world-class observatories, unforgettable sunsets and some of the clearest night skies on Earth.

Photo: International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab/AURA/J. Pollard · CC BY 4.0

Mauna Kea is the highest point in Hawaiʻi and, measured from its base on the ocean floor, the tallest mountain on Earth. To Native Hawaiians it is the most sacred place in the islands, the realm of the gods and the piko (navel) of the island, and its summit holds shrines, burial sites and the sacred lake Waiau.

Above the clouds, the air is so clear and still that the summit carries some of the world's largest telescopes. For visitors the magic is the sunset above a sea of clouds, and the stargazing afterward, best done from the visitor station partway up.

Worth a Detour in Hawaii If You're Nearby in United States

Best Time: Year-round; April–October has the most settled weather
Time Needed: Half a day, timed for sunset
Cost Level: $$$$
Open: Visitor station every day, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Getting There: Up the Saddle Road (Route 200) from Hilo (about an hour) or Kona (about 90 minutes). The summit road beyond the visitor station needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle; most visitors join a guided sunset tour.

What to See

2 of 3 are free

Free1 hour

Maunakea Visitor Information Station

At 9,200 feet (2,800 m), the place to stop, acclimatize and learn about the mountain. On clear nights, stargazing here is often the highlight of the trip.

Paid4–6 hours with a tour

Sunset Above the Clouds

Watch the sun sink into the clouds below you, with the observatories catching the last light. Guided tours provide four-wheel-drive vans and warm parkas.

Free1–2 hours

Night Sky

With no city lights and thin, dry air, the Milky Way is bright enough to cast a glow. Bring a red flashlight and warm layers.

Know Before You Go

The summit is over 13,000 feet (4,000 m). Altitude sickness is common: children under 13, pregnant women and anyone with heart or breathing problems shouldn't go above the visitor station.
It's freezing at the top, even in summer. Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves.
Many rental-car contracts don't allow the summit road. Check yours, or take a tour.
This is a sacred place. Stay on roads and trails, don't stack rocks, and leave offerings untouched.