big island astronomy tour

Big Island Stargazing

Stargazing tours.

Not your Usual Star Party

This is not your usual Star Party where you only look at the top 10 easy and bright deep space objects. We select a curated list of visually stunning space objects. You’ll see a stimulating variety of obscure and well known space curiosities designed to open your mind to the mystery and romance of astronomy.

Our equipment is beyond question, well maintained and performing at the optimum, limited only by atmospheric conditions. We ask you to focus the image for your personal eyesight. Unlike other stargazing experiences where only one eyepiece is used all night, we use a variety of high quality eyepiece optics to reveal delicate details and obscure overlooked aspects.

Novices and experienced stargazers will enjoy the high quality views, carefully selected list of objects and the star lore narrative on the history of Astronomy told by an experienced Astronomer.

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Seaside Stargazing

All our stargazing tours are done on coastline hotel properties in warm weather near all the amenities you enjoy. Join us at any of the following locations based on the spot or the day of the week that works best for you.

Notes on Standing

Our activity requires participants to stand for the entire hour, and we do not provide chairs. If you or others in your party need to sit during the hour, please bring a beach chair with you. Stargazers must stand in queues to look through our telescopes. We may have one to three telescopes depending on the number of reservations.

Weather Cancellation Policy

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Westin Hapuna Beach Resort

February 1 to April 30, 7:30 PM

May 1 to September 30, 8:00 PM

October 1 to January 30, 7:00 PM

Kohala Garden Parking Lot

Adults to 12 years: $75 Child 11 to 5 years: $30 Free Under 5 Years Parking: Free

Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort

Adults: $47.50, Children: $24.00

Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (at Mauna Lani)

January 1 to 31: 7:00 to 8:00 PM

February 1 to September 30: 7:30 to 8:30 PM

October 1 to December 31: 7:00 to 8:00 PM

Pool Side on the Croquet Lawn

Subject to Cancellation for bad weather or low attendance by one hour before starting time. 6 Reservations minimum per session. Prices subject to change without prior notice.

AstroPhotography Session

Star Gaze Hawaii offers 2-hour astrophotography sessions featuring a Vaonis Stellina Robotic camera. The session’s goal is hands-on, acquiring pictures of many deep space objects.

Deep space objects are dim and require long exposures. We can most likely obtain just a handful of objects in two hours.

The Stellina is an 80 ED F/5 400mm refractor with a Sony CMOS sensor. Artificial Intelligence software will post-process the images in real-time as the customer watches on an iPad.

The client will control the telescope and camera exposures.  The images obtained will be sent to the customer’s email, airdropped, or SMS to their cellphone.

Our Fee for an astrophotography session is $400.00 + 4.712% Tax = $418.85 (Credit Card or cash). Please get in touch with me if you want to book this, and I will send you a link to book and pay for it online.

Scheduling and Location

The Moon will prevent astrophotography of deep space objects – schedule for dates with minimal moonlight. We do these sessions at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort.

Private Stargazing Session

We love being part of your small group event. We offer Private Stargazing Sessions at the amazingly dark (except for Star light and Moon light) Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Kohala Garden Parking Lot. Unsurpassed Stargazing with pristine skies and wide-open vistas.

Private Sessions lasting from 1 to 2 hours for families or small groups.

One Hour Session

Guided tour of the sky with private access to the telescope for groups of up to 6 10 people.

Contact us for pricing.

Two Hour Session

Guided Tour of the sky for groups of up to 15 people with private access to the telescope.

1 or 2 Telescopes Available. Contact us for pricing.

Equipment Rental

Frequently asked questions, why stargaze at sea level when all the observatories are at high altitude.

The Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii has unique geographic topology that allows world class stargazing–sub-arc-second viewing–from Sea Level.  1 arc-second is 1/3,600 of one degree of angle.  In most places on this planet, due to turbulence in the air, stars will be 2-3 arc-seconds in diameter.  At Star Gaze Hawaii’s selected sites, we can attain ½ arc-second star images routinely, limited only by weather.

Additionally, high Altitude reduces oxygen levels in the air that your eyes need. Your eyes require oxygen to metabolize rhodopsin in order to see anything. Dim space objects require maximum oxygen to be realized at all. Mauna Kea Observatories (at 40% oxygen levels) are remote controlled telescopes where the astronomers are at low altitude.  Nobody views directly through any of the telescopes at the summit. Astronomers using the telescopes can be anywhere in the world as they operate over the internet.  If an Astronomer comes to Hawaii at all, they will be in a warm, low altitude environment while using the telescope.

Why should you go and freeze and suffer high altitude effects when no professional astronomer does that anymore? Instead, wear your aloha shirt and shorts (or Muumuu) in warm weather, close to hotel amenities at 100% oxygen levels and world-class arc-second viewing.

How does Star Gaze Hawaii differ from the Mauna Kea tours?

Star Gaze Hawaii concentrates on observing the sky. We look at interesting and many obscure objects not on any top 10 lists in Astronomy. We seek to stimulate the mind as well as the eyes of the participant. The principal astronomer has been doing this since 1962 and he knows a lot of history of Astronomy as well as the physics of the objects viewed. He keeps current with the news in Astronomy and has a unique ability to explain physics in plain language. Astronomy brought down to Earth. We use visual aids such as Green Laser Pointers and Original photographs taken of the objects viewed in the telescope.

What will happen if it is cloudy at sea level?

We do not control the weather.  Even professional astronomers have that same problem.  We call it “Astronomy in the Trenches”.  We bring the telescope and our expertise and deal with Mother Nature on her terms.  If the weather is a lost cause by 5 PM, we will cancel the session.  If there is hope or if it is clear at 7 PM, we will proceed and deal with clouds as they will do whatever they will.  We offer extensive historical accounts of Astronomy in the trenches when that happens.  We demo our equipment and make equipment reviews and recommendations.  In 1991, the Total Solar eclipse in Hawaii was encumbered by cloudy weather.  The astronomers and general public that made the investment to come to Hawaii were frustrated by the cloudy weather.  But, some people got partial data and photographs through breaks in the clouds.  This is Astronomy in the trenches.

The Kohala Coast has unique weather patterns that no weather forecast covers. It can be cloudy at 6 PM and clear up completely by 8 PM. We have been doing this since 1992 and we can predict the weather fairly well. Due to the high mountains to the East and South East, we get a Venturi effect from the winds funneling through the mountain valleys. If the trade winds are out of the North East, we can depend on clear weather by 8 PM. If it comes out of the East or South East, then we have a wind shadow effect and clouds may linger a bit longer, beyond our time frame for stargazing, but it will eventually clear. If we have Westerly winds, the clouds will pile up against the mountains and we can have clear skies overhead. If it comes out of the South, bad weather can persist all night.

How do weather cancellations work?

Hard cut off at 5 pm for reservations. we will send out email and (optional) text messages to confirm or cancel stargazing just after 5 pm. we are based over an hour away from the stargazing venues and with travel and setup times, we are unable to respond to changes in weather after 5 pm..

If the weather is poor at 5 PM we will cancel stargazing and send out email and (optional) text messages.

If it turns bad after 5 PM we will inform you around 7 PM of a cancellation in the same manner.

Check your email before you travel to the stargazing location. During Hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, having any storm in the vicinity can make weather highly unpredictable and rapidly subject to change.

Is VOG (Volcanic haze) a problem for stargazing?

In general, no. VOG indicates calm steady air free of turbulence. Strong winds and clear air go together and result in blurry views from moving turbulent air. With VOG, Planetary views are greatly improved as they will be sharp and finer details can be viewed. Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and the Moon are very bright. In our telescopes, they are so bright that your eye will be saturated and see no color, just white. The dimming due to the VOG can improve the colors and finely detailed views of these bright objects. Galaxies will be impacted negatively by dimming. But, Galaxies are commonly called “Dim Fuzzies”, best photographed rather than viewed by eye. Galaxies are always hazy and nebulous in small telescopes. Edwin Hubble required the 100” Mount Wilson telescope to be able to see individual stars in the Andromeda Galaxy a mere 2.54 million light years away. Galaxies offer intellectual stimulation of actually seeing ancient photons from millions of years ago as dim fuzzy patches. To see spiral arms, photography is the best method.

Can we see a Black Hole?

Visual light telescopes such as the ones that we use cannot “see” a Black Hole.  By definition, Black Holes emit no visual light.  As matter falls into a Black Hole, it can form an accretion disk that emits infrared and x-ray radiation.  The Infrared is from friction and compression of material falling into the strong gravity field.  The X-Ray is from ionized plasma that is accelerated to the speed of light as it falls into the event horizon around a Black Hole.  Visible light will be obscured by the accretion disk in all directions.  What can be seen in visual light are an artifact of a Black Hole: the jets of ejected matter from the poles of the spinning accretion disk.   We have a different name for those: Quasars.  Quasars are the incandescent glow from matter that is ejected out along the poles as jets of high speed material.  It is not a view of the actual Black Hole.  Unfortunately, most of these are very dim and billions of light years away.  There are no active Black Holes nearby with jets of ejected material.

Can we see Saturn’s Rings?

Yes, even a 60mm (2.4”) telescope can do that. We use 11” or 280mm telescopes and we normally magnify Saturn 200x. We can get up to 550x but that would cut off the Moons orbiting Saturn. We get fabulous views of Saturn’s rings, Moons and delicate banding in the atmosphere.

Show us the Milky Way.

All of the stars you can see in the sky at night are part of the Milky Way galaxy that we occupy. During the summer months, Sagittarius and Scorpius are high in the sky and the core of our galaxy is in that area. The Milky Way is the bright band of hazy light running through that area. In the winter, we are looking out towards the rim of the Milky Way and the hazy band is much dimmer running through Cassiopeia and Perseus.

Why are the pictures from NASA and in Magazines so vivid and the telescope views so dim and hazy?

The Human eye is very different than a camera. Cameras can store light over time and build up an image from multiple exposures. Essentially, Photoshop and image manipulation software is used to highly enhance the images through adding together many dim hazy exposures. The human eye has to work with the light it can sense through the telescope and what we show is the truth about the sky. Only a camera can get those magazine views of deep space objects. Planets are actually subdued in color and details are fleeting and hard to see. The atmosphere blurs out fine details except for short periods of time when it is stable. We extract this fine detail in images via video methods that average together many frames of video and build up the details from averaged data. Very often, we like to use 2,000 video frames to produce a decent image of Jupiter, Mars or Saturn. The human eye cannot do this type of processing. The Human Eye is very insensitive to red light. Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the Universe emits a deep red color in nebulae. Most people see that as blue or green since the rods in our eyes are most sensitive to dim light and they are monochrome. The Cones in our eyes need lots of light to see the red.

Have Star Gaze Hawaii staff used the telescopes on Mauna Kea?

Yes, we have been to the mountain many times, but to use the telescopes, you do not go up there. 95% of the time, there is no astronomers on the mountain. Only telescope operators who live at the 9,000 foot Hale Pohaku dorms actually go up to the summit at night. The astronomer goes to Waimea or Hilo where the main control panel is located. All of the telescopes are remote controlled robots. The staff at the summit are there to fix things that break or jam. The folks calling the shots are at low altitude and warm. The summit is at 40% oxygen levels and people need to acclimatize to that to work there. There is no good reason for astronomers to do that. Remote operations can be done from anywhere in the world over the internet. Star Gaze Hawaii has participated in observing sessions for the Keck Telescopes. Some of our staff work part time for us and full time for the Keck Observatory.

Will the views through the 11-inch telescope be similar to the pictures on this website?

The short answer is no. Telescopic views of astronomical objects are dim and faded to the human eye. The vast distances (thousands to millions of light-years) to the objects dim the view due to the inverse square law of light – twice the distance, one-fourth the brightness. Our eyes evolved to adapt to bright sunlit vistas on Earth. Space is a new frontier where we need to develop tools to extend our vision into an alien Universe. Some people are disappointed with the telescopic view of deep space objects. Others expand their view of the vastness of space and our situation among the stars. Star Gaze Hawaii gives one a first-hand experience sensing the actual photons from a deep space object. Then we show you our processed images which reveal it further to your minds’ eye.

An analogy in paleontology is the discovery of a fossil bone millions of years old, which we interpret into a dinosaur. Telescopes look far into the past at light, which left stars, Nebulae, and Galaxies thousands to millions of years ago. Per my paleontology analogy, I show you a bone in the telescope and try to reveal the entire dinosaur.

I show pictures of the actual object as it would be up close. Science aware people will perceive the physics of the object by its appearance. Star Gaze Hawaii will explain in plain language what is going on in an image. Looking through a telescope with the human eye will not be comparable to a long exposure image. Astronomers use instruments such as spectrometers, CCD Cameras, multi-spectral sensors, and filters to seek out what processes are present. Knowing this data, I photograph and process my images to be a good representation of an object.

Time exposures with a camera accumulate the colors for beautiful images. If we could be closer to the objects, those colors would be visible. The vivid colors in Nebulae originate from ionized gasses excited by ultraviolet light from stars. Many of my images are 1-hour or longer exposures. Amateur astronomers learn to use averted vision to see dim details directly, with little or no color. Colors depend on each individuals’ threshold of color, which is dependent on genetics and eye health. Still, colors in Nebulae are very subjective at these distances.

MAUNA KEA SUMMIT ADVENTURES

Mauna Kea kuahiwi ku ha’o ika malie

(mauna kea is the astonishing mountain that stands in the calm), ‘since starting this outfit in 83’ with an ancient land cruiser and a basket full of dusty sweaters, my guides and i have had the enviable job of guiding inquisitive folks, like you, to the beauty of mauna kea. for us, guiding mauna kea isn’t a sideline, or the greatest new instagram spot. for us, it’s our passion, our responsibility, and our pleasure., we invite you to experience what is quite possibly the most dramatic and stimulating scenery to be found anywhere. journey with us to the top of this spectacular mountain in our 4x4 vans, enjoy a hearty meal, watch the breathtaking sunset and stargaze at the heavens..

E Komo Mai!

M. Pat Wright  Founder, Owner and Guide

The Highpoints of our tour:

• Professional Guides: As the pioneer guide service on Mauna Kea we have over 60 years of combined experience on the mountain.
• 4X4 Passenger vans:  All Mercedes fleet. Large windows, custom-built coach-style seating where everybody gets a great view and plenty of room.
• Educational and Fun: Learn all about the island’s geography, culture and natural history from our experts. A laugh or three isn’t out of the question
• Astonishing Scenery: See surrealistic landforms, strange cloudscapes and a panorama of the night sky like no other. Excellent photo opportunities abound!
• Sunset at the Summit: The most dramatic spectacle in Hawaii.
• Stargazing: Learn about the night sky from Polaris to the Southern Cross and see the treasures of the night sky through our powerful telescope. *
• Trip Includes: This 7.5-8.5 hour excursion includes Arctic style parkas with hoods, a hearty and hot supper, gourmet hot beverages and convenient pick-up points.

* natural conditions permitting

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If you’re looking for the best stargazing in the world, look no further than Big Island. Take a guided tour of the massive Mauna Kea- the world’s tallest mountain from base to summit- and be prepared to be amazed. Learn about its significance to native Hawaiians, astronomers, and visitors from around the world. Gaze in wonder as the sun sinks below the horizon and the sky sparkles and shares its magic with you- truly awe-inspiring!

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Recommended Big Island Tours

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Tour Details

• Tour Calendar
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Mauna Kea Sunrise Sunset & Stars

The most epic experience on Hawaii’s Big Island

The breathtaking view you'll never forget.

Watch an amazing Sunrise/Sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea, nearly 14,000 ft. above the Pacific Ocean. Located in the center of Hawai’i Island, Mauna Kea has an unobstructed view of the horizon and offers a breathtaking vista that is hard to match. This view, coupled with its famous clear skies and dry crisp air, creates the perfect condition for absolutely stunning scenery.

My God, it's full of stars!

Mauna Kea is also known as one of the best stargazing spots in the world for its air clarity and total darkness. Our tours include ample time to explore the amazing star-filled night sky from where ancient Hawaiians believed the earth meets the universe.

Please note;

• Our tours do not include meals. We provide light snacks.
• Please bring warm clothes to wear under the provided parka. Read the FAQ to learn more about our Mauna Kea Tours.
• We strongly encourage you to bring water. Staying hydrated can help you reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
• You will be standing outside for roughly an hour while stargazing. If you have difficulty standing, please let us know in advance.
• Gratuity is not included in the tour price but tips are greatly appreciated.

*Children 12 or younger are not allowed on our tours due to the high altitude. Seniors 81 or older may only participate in our Private Charter Tours for our guides to be more attentive to their health during the tour. **If the number of participants does not reach 3 by 24 hours before the tour departs, the tour will be canceled. Customers who have already applied will have the option to pay the difference to avoid cancellation.

3 convenient locations to catch your tour van

We provide 3 convenient pickup points in Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach Resort, and Onizuka Visitor Center. Select an ideal location according to where you are staying or your activity of the day.

Don’t have a car? Or just don’t feel like driving? No worries! We can pick you up at major hotels and condos on the west side of the island. (Subject to an additional fee)

E Ola Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is one of the most sacred sites for native Hawaiians and the Hawaiian culture. We are dedicated to promoting a deep appreciation of and respect for the natural beauty, culture, people, and history of Mauna Kea and Hawaiʻi Island. E Ola Mauna Kea – Let Mauna Kea Live!

We continue to receive and pass on the traditional teachings of Kumu Kaela Ching , our exclusive advisor to the Hawaiian culture.

Tours operated by Taikobo Hawaii, Inc.

Taikobo Hawaii, Inc. has been providing guided tours to the summit of Mauna Kea since 1983 as well as other famous tourist destinations on the Big Island of Hawaii. We are one of the few companies that are officially authorized by Center for Maunakea Stewardship (part of the University of Hawaii at Hilo) to conduct commercial tours in this Hawaiian sanctuary.

We are dedicated to promoting a deep appreciation and respect for the natural beauty, culture, and history of the Big Island of Hawaii and the Hawaiian People by providing a variety of safe, enjoyable, and educational tours to visitors from all over the world, and by focusing company resources on the development of hospitable and knowledgeable guides and safe and comfortable tour vehicles.

Book Our Private Airport Shuttle and Get $10 Off Our Mauna Kea Tours

Visitor Information

Maunakea Visitor Information Station

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station ( VIS ) is located on the Maunakea Access Road at 19°45'33"N Latitude, 155°27′22″W Longitude, and 9,200ft (2,804m) Elevation. Take the Daniel K Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) and turn onto Maunakea Access Road (Milepost 28). For accurate GPS directions, search for Onizuka Center for International Astronomy . Google Maps link .

Daily hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

VIS Phone: (808) 934-4550

The Exhibit section in the Vistor Center is temporarily closed due to construction. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

See Visiting Maunakea Safely and Responsibly for important safety information. Due to the hazards of altitude sickness, pregnant women, persons in poor health, and children under 13 should not venture above the Visitor Information Station. Drivers are required to use 4-wheel drive vehicles above the VIS because the road to the summit is unpaved, rough, and quite steep. Those traveling to the summit should always use 4WD Low Range to reduce brake failure and overheating. It is recommended to have at least 1/2 a tank of gas before proceeding to the summit. Make sure your vehicle and any items taken to Maunakea are clean to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Things to do at VIS

• Star-gazing
• Short hiking routes around VIS VIS First Light Store (and the online E-Store ) has souvenirs related to Maunakea. The newly renovated parking areas provide a safe place to acclimate before going up to the summit.

Summit Access Road conditions: Maunakea weather varies widely and sometimes very quickly. The latest road and weather information are available at the upper right corner of this page.

Kamaʻāina Observatory Experience: The Kama‘āina Observatory Experience is currently suspended due to COVID 19. When it is in operation, it is a monthly community event that welcomes Hawaiʻi residents to the science reserve atop Maunakea to see world-class telescopes and learn about the cultural and environmental importance of the mountain. For more information about the event or to reserve a spot for an upcoming tour, visit https://kamaainaobservatoryexperience.org/ or call ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center at (808) 969-9703.

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station on Maunakea prides itself on its free public educational programs.

Your generous, tax deductible donations allow us to make all of these free programs possible, including all of the telescopes used in our free nightly stargazing programs!

Online donations:

www.uhfoundation.org/MaunaKeaObservatories

Give Online

Mail donations:

Please make checks payable to:

UH Foundation #12045164 Maunakea Observatories Visitor Program

and mail to:

Maunakea Shared Services 640 North Aʻohoku Place Hilo, HI 96720-5108

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Observatory in Big Island

Are you interested in astronomy? Many people love to see stars, galaxies, and the beautiful world above the sky, but they weren't getting any opportunity to observe carefully. But, Hawaii gives you this most significant chance of stargazing and feel above the world with its Big Island observatory tour. The Maunkea Observations has recently allowed local residents of Hawaii to come and observe everything being at the top of the highest mountain of Hawaii. It’s a treat for astronomy lovers because they can see the culture closely with telescopes. But going for, such a hilarious adventure need a lot of knowledge. This post has some things that you must know before setting off.

Things to know for Big Island observatory tour

You can drive anytime to the summit in your car if the weather is clear. Also, your vehicle must be appropriate for this journey. Some things that you should follow during Big Island observatory tour are:

1. Stop at the visitor station

Though you want to reach there as soon as possible but stop at the visitor's station for 30minutes. This is for acclimatizing the changing altitude. The summit is about 4250 m above, which can cause health risks like breathing problem and much more. It can be avoided with stops.

2. You should have to come back after sunset

At the summit, people taking telescopes with them are returned to home after sunset. So, if you are visiting the mountain, come back early.

3. Dress warm and comfortably

You may think that it's a natural temperature, but once after the sunset, the temperature goes down. For protecting yourself in this extreme weather bring your warm clothes and a lot of snacks.

4. Take care of weather

Most of the time, the road towards the summit is closed, and visitors are sent back because of bad weather. If you are going for this tour, try to check the weather report first for a better journey.

These are some facts that you must know during Big Island observatory tour. If you want us to help you on this tour, contact us, we are ready to help you.

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• Zipline Adventures (4)
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Stargazing Tours & Mauna Kea

From the slopes of Mauna Kea to the summit, there are incredible sites for viewing the night sky that is sure to leave you in awe. Hawaii Activities has a selection of Hawaii’s best stargazing tours on the Big Island. Find great deals and discounts on the best Hawaii stargazing experiences departing from Kona, Waikoloa, and Hilo. Book early as they sell out quickly!

Where can you stargaze in Hawaii?

Mauna Kea is a premier location to view the stars. The high altitude, the geographic location, and the lack of light pollution create perfect conditions for astronomical observation. There are several different types of stargazing tours in Hawaii, and all the options provide excellent opportunities to observe the Milky Way, planets, galaxies, nebula, and the moon.

The most popular tours are operated by Hawaii Forest & Trail , Mauna Kea Summit Adventures , and Nature SchoolMauna Kea Tour by Hawaiian eyes tour . They are the only tours licensed to take guests to watch the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea and do stargazing at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center. We recommend making reservations at least 2-3 weeks in advance since they sell out quickly.

There are other fantastic stargazing tour options that take place on the slopes of Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa mountains, or at remote areas along Saddle Rd. They all provide excellent conditions for observing stars, planets, and galaxies.

What are the advantages of doing a stargazing tour on the slopes of Mauna Kea compared to at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center?

Here are some advantages of stargazing from the slopes of Mauna Kea compared to the visitor center near the summit:

• Family Friendly - Due to lower altitude, kids younger than 16 years old can join the tour.

• More Affordable & Easier to Find Last Minute Availability.

• Premier Location - Secluded spots on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

• Small Group Tours - Skip the crowds of Mauna Kea Visitor Center.

• Kapohokine Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer combines both daytime solar viewing and nighttime astronomical observing. It is also the most family friendly stargazing tour in regards to age restrictions.

• Epic Tours Mauna Kea Stargazing Experience + Free Photos specializes in night photography and the guides are also astro-photographer experts. You can learn how to take memorable pictures of the Milky Way.

Do you have any tours that combine Volcano Sightseeing and Stargazing on the same day?

Kilauea Volcano Private Tour, Black Sand Beach, Petroglyphs & Stargazing by Big Island Backroads Adventure and Wasabi Tours Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour are two great options that will take you to explore Volcanoes National Park top attractions and the recent 2018 eruptions sights. At the end of the tour, they stop along Saddle Road for a 20 - 30 minute stargazing experience with telescopes.

When is the best time to go on a stargazing tour?

Stargazing is great year-round in Hawaii, although the weather can be unpredictable. For the most superb conditions, try and book your tour for a New Moon night (moonless night). Try using a lunar calendar to select your tour date and book as early in advance as possible to get the best tour.

Can we go into the observatories at the Mauna Kea summit?

The Mauna Kea observatories are used exclusively for Astro scientific research, especially at night, and are rarely open to the general public. However, if you choose to go on one of the summit sunset or sunrise tours, you’ll have some free time to walk around and see the massive observatories from the outside. Just after the sunset you can also watch the domes of the observatories open and rotate as the astronomers inside are setting the telescopes for their research.

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Latest reviews of Stargazing Tours & Mauna Kea

Henry is a wonderful tour guide. He told us so many interesting things about Big Island culture, history, plants, geology, stars. He was great with the kids and took a good care of us all. The Rainbow fall was beautiful ... more and the banyan tree nearby was insane! The star gazing was great even though the conditions were not the best (bright moon). For me the best experience of the tour was getting deep inside the cave - it was amazing, I had never seen anything like it.

Worth the money for sure!

We really enjoyed this tour. It is a long one so be prepared. But they keep you hydrated and fed. I loved the black sand beach, and the sea turtles and the stop along the shore the most. But all of the events were really ... more fun. They packed so much into one day. it was a great tour and we had a lot of fun. The picnic, the stop at the bakery, and the dinner, you were all excellent quality as well.

Out of this world!

The tour was well-organized, and our guide was knowledgeable and personable.

Fabulous event

This tour was one of my families favorite adventure while vacationing in Hawaii. James, our guide, was great. Very knowledgeable, had a sense of humor, and did a great job with the photos. He shared some of his other ... more work with our group and his photos are outstanding. I would do this trip again! But I would pack some additional clothes; it was cold at that elevation.

Awesome - everything

We had the best time Tour guide was so knowledgeable and friendly We learned so much about Hawaii and the big Island and astronomy On the way we learned so much Tour guide was exceptional - always told us what wa ... more s coming - very organised - everything was like clockwork Everything was high quality and expert in every way I can think of nothing to improve

Stargazing tour

The trip was fantastic and Ray was super informative. It was a beautiful night and we got to see a lot of stars and planets and the moon rising as well. It was spectacular and a must try for everyone! We thoroughly enjoy ... more ed it and I highly recommend it!! Also loved the hot chocolate touch at the end because it was quite cold on the slopes. The pickup and drop off was on time. The one thing that could have been better in my opinion was the food options and I also wished we had stopped somewhere to see the spectacular sunset. Apart from that, we really enjoyed it

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Next New Moon is July 9

West Hawaii Astronomy Club

Serving the big island of hawaii and astronomy enthusiasts around the world, ancient polynesian navigation by the stars, ancient polynesian cultures, including hawaiians, traveled thousands of miles across the oceans between islands from new zealand to easter island, the society islands (including tahiti) and the hawaiian islands.  stars played an important role in polynesian cultures including religious practice and navigation.  hawaiians developed a deep knowledge of the stars, their patterns and how they could be used for navigation.  this allowed them to sail across thousands of miles of ocean at a time when europeans feared straying far from the continent.    , you can find out more here:   https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/steiger/early_hawaiians.htm, tupaia was one of history's greatest navigators, tupaia was born around 1725 in one of the society islands.  he was trained in the origins of the cosmos, history, calendars and star navigation.  he developed an in depth knowledge of the polynesian islands, including their coastlines, harbors and reefs.  , in 1769 tupaia joined captain cook's ship endeavour as navigator and mapmaker.  he drew a map of 130 islands within 2000 mile radius, including the island of oahu.  many of the "discoveries" attributed to captain cook, including hawaii, were the result of tupaia's navigational and map making skills.  tupaia accompanied captain cook on many of his voyages including to new zealand and australia.  you can learn more here:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tupaia_(navigator), king kalakaua brings astronomy to hawaii,        king kalakaua reigned over the kingdom of hawaii from 1874 to 1891.  in 1881 he visited the lick observatory near san jose and was so enthusiastic about astronomy he expressed a desire to bring such a telescope to hawaii.  in 1884 a five inch refractor was installed in a dome constructed at punahou school.   unfortunately the telescope mount made the telescope unusable.   in 1892 a meridian telescope was introduced on mauna kea.  an extensive recount of the history of astronomy in hawaii can be found here:   history.dvi (hawaii.edu).

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Mauna Kea Observatories

All telescopes except the VLBA

All telescopes except the VLBA antenna can be seen in this photograph. The three main loci of development can be seen – at the lower right are the submillimeter telescopes in submillimeter valley. In the center left are the Subaru telescope, the Keck telescopes and the IRTF. Behind, on the summit ridge, are the CFHT, Gemini north telescope, UH 2.2-meter telescope, UKIRT, and UH 0.6-meter telescope.

Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

At the left is the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. The large cylindrical structure at the right is the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. The building in the foreground on the right is the antenna assembly buidling for the submillimeter array. The array is not visible in this photograph; it extends to the lower right.

From left to right, the telescope structures are JCMT, Submillimeter array assembly building, CSO, Subaru, UH 0.6-meter, Keck 1, Keck 2, UKIRT, IRTF, UKIRT, UH 2.2-meter, Gemini, and CFHT. The true summit of Mauna Kea is located immediately in front of the UH 2.2-meter telescope dome in this photograph. In the distance is Haleakala on the island of Maui.

From left to right, the telescope domes are JCMT, Subaru, CSO, Keck 1, Keck 2, IRTF, UH 0.6-meter, UKIRT, CFHT, UH 2.2-meter, and Gemini. The submillimeter array will extend behind the JCMT.

The Subaru Telescope

The Subaru Telescope is being constructed by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. First light is planned for 1998, and it is expected to be fully operational in 2000. The building in the foreground is the support building, where telescope operators and astronomers will be located. This design was chosen to minimize sources of heat inside the telescope structure, in order to maximize telescope image quality (heat degrades image quality).

VLBA antenna

This antenna is one of a large network of radio antennas that comprise the Very Long Baseline Array. The Hawaii antenna is the westernmost antenna; the easternmost antenna is in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Kecks and Subaru Telescopes

In the center are the open domes of the W.M. Keck Observatory. To the right is the Subaru Telescope. Some of the antenna pads for the submillimeter array can be seen to the right of the Subaru Telescope. These concrete pads have been painted brown to help reduce their impact. In the distance, at the left is the almost perfectly formed cinder cone Pu’u Hau Kea, and to its right is Lake Waiau, at an altitude of 13,020 feet. It has an area of about 40 acres.

Keck Telescopes

The mirrors of the Keck telescopes can be seen inside the open domes. The mirrors are relecting light from the sky, so appear blue. Both telescopes are pointing towards the north – a direction chosen to avoid getting sunlight on the telescope. Close-up photographs of the Keck telescopes may be found later in this series.

All of the optical/IR telescopes can be seen in this photograph. In the distance at the right is the Hawaii antenna of the Very Long Baseline Array, located about 2 miles from the summit. The submillimeter telescopes cannot be seen in this photograph.

The Gemini and UH 2.2-meter telescope

The Gemini telescope, on the right, is presently being built. Adjacent and to the left of the Gemini telescope is the UH 2.2-meter telescope. The extension at the top of the dome of this telescope houses a crane. This crane is used to bring the aluminizing tank to the telescope when the primary mirror is aluminized. (In most other telescopes, the mirror is transported to the aluminizing tank.) In the distance is the dormant volcano Hualalai.

Ridge near the summit

The ridge near the summit, only about 10 feet lower than the summit, was the first area on which telescopes were built on Mauna Kea. The UH 2.2-meter telescope (center) was the first large telescope on Mauna Kea. The Gemini northern 8-meter telescope is the largest and newest telescope in this area (open silver dome).

In the center are the open domes of the W.M. Keck Observatory. These are the largest optical/IR telescopes in the world. Each telescope has a mirror 10 meters in diameter. Each telescope mirror is made up of 36 separate precisely controlled segments, joined together in a honeycomb pattern. At the left of the photograph is the NASA IRTF. To the right of the Keck telescopes is the Subaru telescope (scheduled to become operational in 1999). In the valley below are the submillimeter telescopes – CSO (left), JCMT (center, open), and the submillimeter array. The roads leading to antenna sites for the submillimeter array (also scheduled to become operational in 1999) can be seen on the right. No array antennas had been installed on Mauna Kea when these photographs were taken.

In the foreground on the summit ridge, from left to right, are the UH 0.6-meter telescope (small white dome), the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, the UH 2.2-meter telescope, the Gemini Northern 8-meter telescope (silver, open) and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. On the right are the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (silver), the twin domes of the W.M. Keck Observatory; behind and to the left of them is the Subaru Telescope. In the valley below are the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (silver), the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (white, open), and the assembly building for the submillimeter array.

Above the summit access road

From high above the summit access road, but about 500 feet lower than the summit (at approximately the altitude of the submillimeter telescopes), not all of the telescopes can be seen. The top of the Gemini dome can be seen directly above the summit. This photo shows how steep the access road is. The Keck telescopes and IRTF are hidden behind the summit ridge.

From an altitude of about 13,800 feet (level with the summit, seen on the left of this photo), the Keck telescopes are hidden by the summit ridge. The Gemini northern 8-meter telescope dome is the largest structure from this perspective. In the distance is Haleakala, on the island of Maui.

Keck and Subaru telescopes

The twin domes of the Keck telescopes are on the left. The Subaru telescope structure is behind them and to their right. Behind the telescopes is Pu`u Poliahu.

Richard Wainscoat in a Hughes 500

These photographs were taken by Richard Wainscoat in a Hughes 500 helicopter. The rear door of the helicopter was removed. The photographs were taken using a Mamiya 645 Pro camera mounted on a gyroscopic stabilizer, and with a Nikon N90S camera with telephoto zoom lens. Special thanks are due to the pilot, Marty Williams, for his excellent flying. This photo was taken by Andy Perala of the W.M. Keck Observatory, who provided a great deal of help in organizing this photo shoot..

Hale Pohaku

Because of the extreme altitude of Mauna Kea, astronomers and technicians must acclimatize and live at an intermediate altitude. The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy (also known as Hale Pohaku – Hawaiian for “Stone House”) has living facilities for up to 72 people working at the summit, as well as a visitor center and other support buildings. This photograph is partially obscured by drifting smoke from a distant fire – the 1998 winter was very dry, with drought conditions and extreme fire danger on the Island of Hawaii.

The NASA Infrared Telescope

The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility consists of a 3-meter infrared optimized telescope. It is operated by the University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy, for NASA.

Keck Telescope

The Keck 2 telescope of the W.M. Keck Observatory was the second 10-meter telescope to be built on Mauna Kea. It came into operation in 1996. Its 10-meter primary mirror comprises 36 separate hexagonally shaped segments. The primary mirror can be seen in this photograph, and its outer edge shows the hexagonal segments.

W.M. Keck Observatory

The primary mirrors of the two telescopes of the W.M. Keck Observatory can be seen in this photograph. At the left is the Keck 2 telescope, and at the right is the Keck 1 telescope. Behind the domes, a carport is being constructed to protect workers and visitors from falling ice.

The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope lies at the northern end of the summit ridge, and was one of three telescopes that came into operation on Mauna Kea in 1980 (the others were UKIRT and IRTF).

Gemini Telescope

At the time these photographs were taken, the Gemini telescope enclosure was complete, and the telescope was being installed (blue structure inside the dome). The primary mirror for this telescope is scheduled to be transported to the summit later in 1998.

Institute for Astronomy

We are one of the largest university astronomy programs in the world..