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Mauna Kea

Photo contribution by Tony Braim

Mauna Kea - The White Mountain
The ancient Hawaiians named it Mauna kea, which means White Mountain for the snow that covered its barren slopes nearly 2,000 years ago.  The summit of Mauna Kea rises 13,796 feet above sea level.  At its summit, temperatures are frigid, but the view is magnificent!  The ancient Hawaiians thought of the top of Mauna Kea as heaven - or at least where the Gods and Goddesses lived.  Today, the summit of Mauna Kea houses the world's largest telescopes.  These telescopes have the most un-obscured view of the skies than any other telescopes in the northern hemisphere.  At this altitude and location, they are located above 40% of the earth's atmosphere; above the clouds and undisturbed by city lights, these telescopes are the window into the Universe.

Driving up to Mauna Kea
From the Saddle Road, it is 14.7 miles to the summit.  The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy is 6 miles up Mauna Kea Road at 9,200 feet.  Beyond the Visitor's Center the road is unpaved for 5 miles before it becomes paved again for the last 3.7 miles.  You are allowed to access the top of the mountain in any vehicle -- however, a 4WD is especially nice because the unpaved portion is somewhat steep and can get a bit slippery (especially coming down the mountain).

Those looking for a real challenge can opt to hike the tail from the Visitor's Center to the top.  It's 15 miles round trip and a very tough day hike.  You should make a very early start and follow our Big Island Hiking Tips.  Check out the Mauna Kea Web Cams.

Looking for a guided tour?  Check out the Mauna Kea Summit and Stars adventure, taking you to the top of Mauna Kea!

Photo contribution by Tony Braim

Night Star Gazing Program
The Visitor Information Station (VIS) has a stargazing program that is held every night from 6:00pm to 10:00 pm. The program begins promptly at 6:00 pm with First Light, a video about Mauna Kea that was produced by PBS Hawaii in 2004. On Saturdays, the Visitor Station hosts many different special events. For more information on the special programs, visit the special events section.

Right after the video, the stargazing program moves outside to the lanai, where telescopes are already set up for viewing. The telescopes are run by our knowledgeable staff and volunteers. The telescopes were bought by donations from the public. Throughout the night, the telescopes will be pointed at various objects in the night sky, including star clusters, double stars, nebulas, planets, galaxies, supernova remnants, supernovas and various other objects. Requests are always welcomed providing we're in the right season. During the program, a staff or volunteer will give a constellation tour of the sky. They will point out bright objects and constellations in the sky.

At 9,200 feet (2,800 meters), the Visitor Station is located above the clouds giving our program a crisp and bright night sky. Temperature at the VIS can range from 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 to 12.8 degrees Celsius) during the summer season and 26 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.3 to 10 degrees Celsius). Please dress warmly for evening activities at the VIS.

Important note: Make sure that there is a full tank of gas in the vehicle before making the trip up to the station. Due to the steep grade and low oxygen level, the internal combustion engine runs inefficiently. Fuel is NOT available for purchase on Mauna Kea. The nearest gas station is one hour either way at the bottom of Saddle Road (Hwy 200) in Hilo and Waimea.

For more information check out the University of Hawaii Astronomy website.

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