Roo M.
Yelp
This review is specifically for the Mauna Kea adventure tour.
If at all possible, ask for a tour given by Robert, you will not regret it.
Seriously, Robert's knowledge and passion for what he does is what made the tour for us.
here's how it went:
On our recent trip to the Big Island, one of the Must-Do things we had on our list (as well as my personal Bucket List) was to "Catch the Sunset from Above the Clouds" at the peak of Mauna Kea. Every resource we checked online recommended the tours that were $200+ per person, but us being the frugal travelers that we are, opted to do some price comparisons once we arrived and boy are we glad that we did.
Rather than opt for the tour that picks you up from Kona-side and takes you to Mauna Kea, we chose instead to check the pricing on tours originating from Hilo-side and that's when we found out that Arnott's Adventures had tours originating from Hilo that were significantly cheaper than anything we could find Kona-side. Significantly cheaper as in Half the price!
So, with that in mind, what we decided to do was drive our rental car to Hilo, use the money we saved to rent a room at the Hilo Bay Hotel and not only be able to take the tour to Mauna Kea, but also be able to explore Hilo along with its surrounding environs AND have a comfortable room to sleep in for the night. Now THAT's one hell of a ProTip because driving from Hilo back to Kona at night is a major No-no.
And why would you want to when you have all the beautiful sights to stop at on the way back like Akaka Falls, Rainbow falls and all of the other assorted scenic points of interest all along H19
ProTip - **DO NOT TAKE SADDLE ROAD - unless you've done it before and have 4x4**
Where was I? oh yeah, The tour itself takes about seven hours (2pm-9pm) Meals are not included which is a great thing because then you can choose to bring whatever you want to eat and not have to eat what is provided to you.
ProTip - grabbing a mix plate from Verna's or the Wiki Wiki Kitchen is a winning game plan, but the tour will also stop at a local 7-11 that sells Hawaii-only goodies like Manapua Buns, Pork Hash, etc etc. Also a great option for frugal savages like me who don't need froo-froo dining options.
We got very lucky on our tour because asides from the two of us, there was only one other guest. What this meant is that time needed for loading/unloading as well as organization of guests was practically nil which gave Robert the option to pass by other points of interests and stop at scenic vista points to indulge my photography needs. - SCORE!
So, if you are going to try to book a Mauna Kea Summit tour with Arnott's, here is what you need to keep in mind
- See when Robert is driving and try to hop onto that tour
- Hope that the van isn't too crowded
- Grab some grub from Verna's or Wiki Wiki
- Bring Gloves and a beanie because it WILL get cold at the summit (Parkas are provided)
-Bring WATER - Lots of it - Mountains are high and dry and WILL dehydrate you like crazy
Photography tips:
Bring a solid/heavy tripod - Wind gusts get up to hurricane speed up there
High ISO/Low Light performance is a MUST
Polarizing, Vari ND filters are a MUST - if you have slide-type vari-ND filters, even better
Wired or Wireless release to minimize shake
Mirror UP!
I was working at -10degree weather with wind chill, but since my gear is Weather-sealed, it was not an issue. Make sure your gear can perform in these conditions.
AND TURN YOUR GOBDAMMNED FLASH OFF!
Btw yes, I got one of my once in a lifetime shots here. Boo ya.