Mauna Kea Summit & Observatory

There are several ways to visit the Mauna Kea Summit and Observatory. Some people only visit the observatory information center, which is home to interactive displays, telescopes, talks, and tours. Others choose to combine a visit to the telescopes with an independent excursion or guided tour to the summit. You can choose between a challenging hike or a scenic drive in a 4x4 vehicle. Both sunrise and sunset are popular times for visiting the summit.

• The hike from the information center is challenging and lengthy; expect 10 hours for the round-trip hike and be aware that the trail has no amenities.

• The observatory information center is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but the hiking trail to the summit is not.

• Wheelchair users can access the summit by 4x4 vehicle.

• Camping is not permitted on Mauna Kea.

The visitor information station is about an hour’s drive from Hilo, via Highway 200. From Kailua-Kona, the drive takes about 1.5 hours along Highway 190. From Waikoloa, the drive is about 50 minutes via the Saddle Road. Tours are available from each of these three origin points. Some visitors choose to rent a car and explore independently.

Clear sky conditions are essential for those seeking to check out the telescopes at Mauna Kea Observatory. The months that coincide with the least amount of rain on the Big Island are from March through September; this time of year offers the best conditions for the telescopes. Sunrise and sunset tours are beautiful year-round.

Dark skies at Mauna Kea make this location one of the best in the world for viewing the Milky Way. While it is possible to see the Milky Way with the naked eye when conditions are right, the telescopes here offer the chance to see even more detail. Nightly, ranger-led programs shed even more light on astronomy and what visitors are seeing through the telescopes.

No, the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) are private research facilities and not open to the public. However, you can visit the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy and there are plenty of guided tours that will take you to the summit of Mauna Kea for some stargazing with the operators’ own telescopes.

At 13,796 feet (4,205 meters), conditions on the Mauna Kea summit are typically chilly. Summer daytime temperatures average between freezing and 50°F (8°C). Winter temperatures range from 25 to 40°F (-4 to 4°C), but wind chill can make it seem even colder.

Yes, you can see the Milky Way from Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is one of the best places in the world to see the Milky Way. While it is typically visible with the naked eye, the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station has a few telescopes that visitors can use. Rangers also provide astronomical information in a nightly program.

Summit visiting hours are from half an hour before sunrise through half an hour after sunset. The best way to experience Mauna Kea is to reach the summit in time for the sunset then go down to Visitor Information Center at 9,200 feet (2,800 meters) for an evening of stargazing.