I really wanted to go to the top of Mauna Kea but discovered it would be rather difficult trying to find 4WD and a car rental that allows driving to the summit. The money for the rental would be just as much for the tour so mind as well let them do all the heavy lifting while you sit back, relax, drink hot cocoa, and stargaze! Definitely worth the extra money to go to the summit bc the visitor station is nothing compared to the top.
The sunset was amazing, the snow was beautiful, the star were out of this world. If all that isn’t enough, I was super happy with the unforgettable photo memories they captured with their nice DSLR cameras, capturing every single star in the night sky, something your iPhone simply cannot do. That photo alone is worth it all.
Thank you Hunter for an unforgettable birthday visit to Mauna Kea, your knowledge and passion for the mauna was truly appreciated.