Maunakea Summit & Stars Adventure

Journey from sea level to the summit of Maunakea — one of the world's premier astronomical sites — for a sunset and stargazing experience led by Hawaii Forest & Trail's expert guides. This 7 to 8-hour evening adventure takes you through diverse climate zones as you ascend nearly 14,000 feet to witness a spectacular sunset over the Pacific, followed by a private star show under some of the clearest skies on Earth.

After sunset, your guide sets up an 11-inch Celestron telescope for an intimate tour of the Hawaiian night sky, pointing out planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies visible with remarkable clarity at this altitude. A state-of-the-art digital telescope captures images of deep-space objects that are emailed to you after the tour — a unique souvenir of your evening above the clouds.

A warm picnic dinner is served on the mountain with your choice of Southwest Stew or Vegetarian Chili (both vegan and gluten-free options), along with hot chocolate and cookies for dessert. Hooded parkas and gloves are provided to keep you comfortable in the cold summit temperatures, which can drop well below freezing.

This tour is recommended for ages 13 and up and is not advised for guests with respiratory, circulatory, or heart conditions, or those who are pregnant, due to the extreme altitude. If you plan to scuba dive during your trip, allow at least 24 hours between your last dive and this tour. Pickup is available from multiple Kona and Waikoloa locations. Please note the late return time and arrange transportation from your pickup point accordingly.