[2025 The Big Island (Hawaii island) Attraction] Travel Guide for Mauna Kea (Updated Jul)

The highest observatory in the world It feels like I've entered the Martian It's a picturesque viewㅠㅠㅠ Highly recommended for honeymoon!! Big Al is the best #honeymoon #Hawaii

📍Address of the attraction: Mauna Kea Observatory 🚗Transportation to the attraction: There are only two ways to get there: self-driving or joining a tour group 👍️Must-visit attractions: There is a museum at the mid-mountain checkpoint that explains the formation of the mountain. There is a must-visit restroom, as there is no restroom after going up the mountain. 🎟️Ticket related: No tickets required 💗Other tips: [Heart] Self-driving cars must be four-wheel drive! The vehicle must be checked and verified to be a four-wheel drive vehicle. Because the mountain road is very steep, you must drive slowly. [Heart] At the same time, due to the sudden increase in altitude, it is easy to suffer from hypoxia, so the driver must be in good physical condition. [Heart] The temperature difference between the mountain and the foot of the mountain is more than 10 degrees, so be sure to bring thick clothes and keep warm. [Heart] Don’t jump around too much at high altitudes. Walk slowly and enjoy the view. [Heart] Check the sunset time and go up the mountain one hour in advance. [Heart] Bring hot water with you, it’s very dry on the mountain and there are only places to add cold water. [Heart] The package for the group tour includes a lunch box, a bottle of water, and a rented coat (I saw other people's configurations. We don't know where to register for self-driving, but it should be available at the local travel agency) In the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea is a treasure that cannot be missed. It is about 4,205 meters above sea level and is an excellent astronomical observation point. In the evening, the sun sets and the sunset on Mauna Kea arrives. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can see the endless mountains and the vast Pacific Ocean. As the sun sets, the sky is dyed orange-red, and the clouds are constantly changing in strange shapes. When the sun touched the sea level, the sky turned blood red and the sea looked like a sea of ​​fire.

#alohaspirit Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest mountain, offers an adventure that’s as out-of-this-world as the views from its summit. Standing at 13,796 feet (4,205 meters), Mauna Kea isn’t just a mountain—it’s a towering giant that rises above the clouds, offering breathtaking vistas of the Big Island and, on clear days, a rare glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The journey to the summit is an unforgettable experience, taking visitors through diverse landscapes—from lush rainforests at the base to barren, otherworldly terrain at the top. Mauna Kea is also home to one of the world’s most advanced observatories, making it a stargazer’s paradise. On a clear night, the view of the stars is unrivaled, thanks to the mountain’s high altitude and low light pollution. While hiking to the summit is a challenge that requires proper preparation and acclimatization, many opt for a guided tour to ensure a safe and informative trip. Along the way, you’ll encounter stunning panoramic views and possibly even catch a glimpse of native wildlife like the Hawaiian monk seal. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a casual traveler, summiting Mauna Kea is an experience that’s truly one for the books.

The thing I was most looking forward to in Hawaii was watching the sunset at the Mauna Kea Observatory on the Big Island. It was actually more fantastic than I had searched and seen, and the air was a little colder because the temperature was a little lower, which made it a little more atmospheric. I brought a padded jacket just for this place when I went to Hawaii, but it was a really good decision!!

I didn't see a proper sunset during the few days on the Big Island. Either I got the time wrong and rushed through the mountains at sunset, or I arrived out of breath and saw dark clouds. On the last evening at Mauna Kae, I finally saw a beautiful sunset that I will remember for the rest of my life. I was hesitant before I set out. All the guides I looked up exaggerated how difficult it was to go up the mountain. Although I rented a four-wheel drive vehicle, I started to do research and find a small group going up the mountain out of fear of the unknown. Then I was scared away by the $750 chartered car price. So strictly speaking, it was money that drove me to face the fear of the unknown. The road to Mauna Kae is divided into two sections: navigation to Mauna Kae Visitor Information Station; 2 Visitor Information Station to the observatory (no navigation required, there is only one road). 1 The road to the visitor center is an ordinary mountain road, which is not difficult. You will pass through clouds on the way, with low visibility and light rain (Figure 14), so drive slowly. The journey is beautiful, with silent rain and fog, exotic plants, and a sudden drop in temperature. It is mysterious and moving. You can stop at the visitor center at more than 2,000 meters to adapt to the altitude and go to the restroom (the restroom is clean, and there are basically mobile restrooms as you go up). But if it is close to sunset, do not stay and queue up to go up the mountain as soon as your body can bear it. The Ranger will check each vehicle in this queue, teach you how to change gears and go up and down the mountain, and exchange pleasantries. If there are too many cars in the queue, you may miss the sunset. 2 This is the terrifying mountain road that is highly praised in various guides, but if you have driven on the more primitive mountain roads in China, this road will be no problem! The first 3/4 is a dirt road covered with pebbles (but it is not entirely a dirt road, it feels paved), and the last 1/4 is a paved asphalt road. Use the correct gear throughout the journey and move forward slowly. When there are no cars around, try to drive as close to the inside as possible, and there will be no problem! As for manual gear shifting, we found all kinds of information a few days in advance to prepare and memorize, and practice all kinds of fancy moves. As a result, we found that even if we didn't know anything in front of the Rancor, he would still patiently teach us how to engage and shift gears, as well as which gear to use when going up and down the mountain. It's not complicated at all! You'll learn it as soon as you hear it! It seems that you can drive in the same gear when going up and down the mountain. Ranger taught us the safest way. In fact, we also changed to other gears when the speed was really slow on some sections. If you are not an experienced driver, you still have to be obedient! Safety first! You can reach the observatory on the top of the mountain by driving along the road. The altitude here is more than 4,000 meters. Friends who are worried about altitude sickness can take me as a reference. Generally, I will feel dizzy if the altitude is above 2,000 meters, and I will have a headache and nausea if I stay there for a long time. I will be bedridden if the altitude is above 4,000 meters. We stayed in the observatory for 40 minutes, and I only felt obviously dizzy and had tinnitus in the last five minutes. So as long as the stay is not long, there is basically no need to worry about altitude sickness. Hawaii, United States

How to enjoy the sunset of a lifetime on the Big Island of Hawaii During my few days on the Big Island, I never had the chance to formally see the sunset. Either because I misremembered the sunset time and was rushing in the mountains, or because the clouds were so dense that I was panting to catch up. Until the last evening, at Mauna Kae, I finally witnessed a beautiful sunset that I will remember for half a lifetime😭 Before departure, I was indecisive. The guide described the difficult road up the mountain, and although I rented a four-wheel drive, the fear of the unknown made me start looking for a guided tour up the mountain. However, I was scared off by the high price of $750 for a chartered car🙂 Strictly speaking, it was money that drove me to face the fear of the unknown🙂 The road to Mauna Kae is divided into two sections: the first is to navigate to the Mauna Kae Visitor Information Station; the second is from the visitor information station to the observatory (no navigation required, there is only one road). The first section of the road leads to the visitor center, which is a normal mountain road without much difficulty. On the way, you will pass through the clouds, visibility is low, and it may rain lightly (see picture 14). Drive slowly, this road is very beautiful, with quiet rain and fog, strange plants, and a sudden drop in temperature, full of mystery and emotion. At the visitor center at an altitude of about 2000 meters, you can stop for a while to adapt to the high-altitude environment and use the restroom (the restroom is very clean, and if you continue to go up, there are basically mobile restrooms). But if it's close to sunset time, if your body allows, it's best not to stop and queue up the mountain as soon as possible. The queue will be checked one by one by the ranger, who will teach you how to shift gears when going up and down the mountain, and will also chat a few words. If the queue is long, it is likely to miss the sunset. The second section of the road is described as a terrifying mountain road in various guides, but if you have driven on more primitive mountain roads in China, this road is nothing! The first three-quarters are dirt roads covered with small stones (but it feels like they have been leveled), and the last quarter is a well-paved asphalt road. Proceed slowly in the correct gear throughout the journey, and when there are no other vehicles, try to drive close to the center of the road, and there will be no big problems! About manual shifting, we checked various materials a few days in advance, memorized various fancy skills, and found that even if you don't know anything, when you face the ranger, they will patiently teach you how to shift gears and which gear to use when going up and down the mountain. This is not complicated! You will understand it as soon as you hear it! It even seems that the same gear is used for going up and down the mountain, and the ranger teaches the safest way. In fact, we still shifted to other gears at a slower speed on some sections of the road. If you are not an old driver, you should follow the instructions! Safety first! Drive all the way to the end, and you will reach the observatory at the top of the mountain. The altitude here exceeds 4000 meters. If you are worried about altitude sickness, you can refer to my experience. Generally speaking, when the altitude exceeds 2000 meters, I will feel dizzy, and if I stay for a long time, I will have symptoms of headache and nausea; when the altitude exceeds 4000 meters, I will stay in bed and not get up🙂 We stayed at the observatory for forty minutes, and only in the last five minutes did I clearly feel dizzy, my eyes were spinning, and my ears were ringing, so as long as the time is not too long, you don't need to worry too much about altitude sickness.