Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KONA

Overview

For an out-of-this-world experience, check out Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KapohoKine Adventures. This thrilling adventure is the only Big Island star tour to feature nighttime astronomical observing AND safe daytime solar viewing with all ages welcome! Our in-house stellar explorers are the best and most experienced in Hawaii with one having created the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center and operated it for a decade. Others on staff have written noted articles and reviews for well-known astronomy magazines and have worked at world-class observatories.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Thu 16 Jan

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $263.76

Make a reservation

Thu 16 Jan

Starting at $263.76

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Bottled water

Driver/guide

Dinner

Jackets

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Kailua-Kona

The adventure starts with dinner.

Saddle Road

Next, you’ll travel across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and most massive volcanoes on Earth. Your National Park Service trained guide will discuss the volcanology, geology, and history of these monstrous wonders, as well as providing in-depth narration on the various lava flows and flora and fauna that you’ll be passing by. Lastly, your guide will take you to one of our preferred locations on Mauna Kea for nighttime stargazing.

Mauna Kea

You’ll observe deep sky and planetary objects through a large aperture Dobsonian telescope under one of the darkest and most pristine skies on planet Earth! Our Dobsonian telescopes are a true purist’s experience to view the night sky. Their fast focal ratio enables you to see sprawling wide field views of objects that simply aren’t possible with the types of telescopes used by other tours. Depending on what is visible in the current sky and weather permitting, you’ll observe galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, double star systems, the moon, and much more; all the highlights and showpiece objects like you’ve never seen before! Afterwards, warm up with Kona coffee and hot chocolate before returning to your resort. Warm jackets provided. This tour does not visit Maunakea’s summit out of deference to Native Hawaiian concerns.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (70)

Mark_P

Nov 2022

Loved the guide, Mark! Great vibe and awesomely informative. It was a really memorable experience seeing galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, planets, and moon details.

Jane O

Sep 2022

This was the most frustrating, disappointing, and complete waste of $479.00 for my husband and me. Six hours, terrible food and no stars to be seen. We had to sit in the van for one hour and 45 minutes to pick up other people from hotels and then finally arrived at what was supposed to be a restaurant with dinner. It turned out to be a Small dump/dive like place with a very haphazard service that someone shouldn’t even have to pay five dollars for. The service was haphazard at best. Everyone at our table had finished eating before my husband even got his food. The portions were child size it was disgusting. To top it all off we drove to a parking lot stood outside and saw absolutely no stars we then drove to another parking area and saw no stores all of this for $479 is extremely disappointing to say the least I would never recommend this experience to anyone because it was a horrible waste of time on one of her precious days in Hawaii.

Jane_O

Sep 2022

Five long hours riding in a van and seeing no stars. The “dinner “was a plastic bowl with portions that were small enough for young children but not for adults this was the most expensive trip to see zero stars. Definitely would not recommend this to anyone