Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

My favorite part of my trip! Our tour guide Fernando was extremely knowledgeable, teaching us about the Big Island’s geology and Hawaiian culture all along our drive to the top. The sky was cloudy at first and we weren’t able to see much, but he was dedicated to making our experience fulfilling, waiting for the sky to clear. We were able to stay in the park until closing and had the fortune of seeing the Milky Way and Saturn’s rings! + the lasagna dinner add-on was delicious

Addison was an amazing tour guide for the Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. He was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and we absolutely loved the sunset and the night sky filled with stars. I learned so much and truly enjoyed the entire experience.

🌋 Mauna Kea Summit and Stargazing Tour — Absolutely Incredible! This was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Our guide, Travis Paradea, was hands down the best tour guide I’ve ever had. His intelligence, knowledge, and passion for the island were absolutely mind-blowing. He shared so much fascinating information—about the land, the native plants, the telescopes, the stars, and Hawaiian history—and somehow remembered it all effortlessly. Travis was also incredibly personable, humble, and kind. He made sure everyone felt included, checked in to see if he was talking too fast, and encouraged us to ask questions. You can tell he truly loves what he does. He’s a local who has been driving up Mauna Kea since he was 10 years old, and his deep respect for the mountain really shows. He even counted in about eight different languages when taking our photos—such a fun touch! He knew the details of every telescope on the summit, including their sister observatories around the world. Thanks to his long-standing rapport with the park rangers (and his legendary brownies, apparently!), we got extra time on the summit and were one of the last vans to leave, which made the sunset and stargazing feel even more special. The freshly made lasagna from a local restaurant was delicious, and the warm winter jackets provided kept me perfectly cozy. The views, the stars, the entire experience—it was surreal. ✨ I truly couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a more magical night. If you’re considering this tour, ask for Travis Paradea—you’ll be blown away just like I was!

We had such a wonderful time on this excursion. Our guide was Kea (his actual Hawaiian name was much longer than that and I don't know how to spell it!). He was so knowledgeable about all things Hawaiian. The 4x4 that we drove up in was incredibly comfortable. Kea kept us entertained with history and stories of Hawaii and was open to any questions we had regarding anything. He was super kind and super funny too. Just a really great guy and guide. Seeing all of the telescopes at the top of Mauna Kea and then the sunset up there was amazing. Bucket list item for sure. We then descended a bit down to do the stargazing part after dark. I've never felt so close to the solar system. It was so incredibly beautiful and awe inspiring. Both of my teenage sons enjoyed it very much. I think we will do this again and I would recommend it to any of my friends going to the big Island.

Make is a great guide! Personable, down to earth, funny, and very informative. By the end of the tour I was amazed at the diversity of what he knew. From the Big Island, to volcanoes and mountains, to astrology, he knew it all and made it fun. The sunset was amazing and the stars even better. Plan for a long day, pack layers, and snacks. But its worth it!

Had an unforgettable experience thanks to them. The booking is straightforward, the check-in is easy and most importantly, the experience was smooth. Kailekea was our guide, and he was extremely knowledgeable, humourous and humble. A good human being overall, that made the cost of this experience worth it every penny. We could have driven up ourselves as it's relatively easy drive up there, even to the summit, but had we done that, we wouldn't get all to hear the history of the island from dedicated natives like Kailekea. The stargazing and the astronomy information was also another added layer of beauty to the island. Nothing but praise and gratitude for this experience and to those who made it possible.

There should be a 6th star for things like this. An excellent experience. A fully guided, fun, and educational trip. The meal and snacks were top-notch. The coats and gloves were clean and very much needed & appreciated. We were greeted by our tour guide by name. He memorized the names of everyone on our bus! Travis brought a fun mix of native Hawaiian love and lore, botanical insight, geological history, astronomical education, and personal interest. This was a bucket-list item for me. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures delivered us everything we hoped for and more (Travis). Do it. You won't be disappointed.

We had an amazing time on this excursion. Our guide, Maka, was one time and super friendly. He was knowledgeable about astronomy, Hawaiian culture and so much more. The trip to the top was entertaining and breathtaking. We had a lovely lasagna dinner on the way up and then were treated with astounding sunset views. After the sunset, the fun didn’t stop. Maka busted out his telescope and we explored the night sky. I would highly recommend this adventure!