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    Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

    4.6 (176 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Diana G.

    We went for sunset and missed it by a few minutes. So get there by 6:30 the latest because you have to go up the mountain to catch the best view. Depending on your fitness level, it may take you longer than others, but give yourself at least 10-15 min to get to the top. It can get a little slipper with loose rocks and dirt, so wear proper shoes. I suggest coming back down before it gets too dark. Once you're back at the visitors center, you can wait till it gets dark to see all the stars come out. They do not have telescopes available. It is nice that they keep the store and restrooms under red light to make the star visibility easier. Parking is available at the visitors center. Driving back down the mountain at night is not for the faint. There's a lot of curves. Go slow. If you want to go to the summit, you do need a 4x4 vehicle and need to arrive even earlier. They do also have tours up to the summit. Wear warm clothing.

    Valerie T.

    On a last-minute adventure to the other side of the island, we decided to take a peek at the legendary Mauna Kea. I'd read about the breathtaking views and the magical night skies where the stars twinkle so brightly, you feel like you're floating among the clouds. Since this wasn't a planned detour, we didn't exactly pick the right car for the job. To reach the summit, you must have a 4-wheel drive, so we made a stop at the visitor center instead and honestly, I'm so glad we did! We soaked up fascinating historical facts about the area and learned so much about the unique ecosystem that calls Mauna Kea home. The temperature dropped and you could feel the chill in the air a complete difference from the hot beating sun as the UV rays penetrate your skin and sweat beads trickle down your face. So be sure to pack for colder weather. Even without making it to the very top, the drive up was magical. The sky was draped with low, dreamy clouds, and it genuinely felt like we were climbing into a secret world hidden above the earth. It's one of those moments where you just stop, breathe, and take it all in. And yes, we learned about all the tiny bugs that live here too... which I completely appreciate as long as they stay safely in their little display boxes and not crawling or flying anywhere near me. I'm already counting down the days until I return, this time properly equipped and ready to conquer the summit. Mauna Kea, I'm not done with you yet!

    Mai L.

    High Altitude with lot of walking trails. Much cooler up the hill. Wish I could walk to the Lake after the trails. Maybe next time with good walking shoes.

    Joyce Z.

    Forgetting how big the island is especially since I wanted to experience both sides, I could easily stay twice as long and just scratch the surface. Not realizing Mauna Kea is half an hour closer to the Hilo side and only two nights there, made the trek for sunset and stargazing from the Kona side and it was still worth it. Without a 4-wheel drive, we did not get to go up to the summit but at 9000 ft at the visitor center level, once you walked up the hill, it is still breathtaking, literally. If you do have a 4-wheel drive and plan on heading up to the summit, you do have to stop at the visitor center first to acclimate before they allow you to continue on. If you are there for the sunset, stay afterwards so you can experience the starry sky without the light pollution. They may even have free talks available.

    The drive down - more foggy, pictures do not do it justice
    Kaliko P.

    We drove from Volcanos, specifically Volcano Village Estates in Volcanos as a day trip to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, from the Visitor's station to Waimea/Kamuela (Big Island Brew Haus), then to Paauilo (Hawaiian Vanilla Company) , Tex Drive Inn (Malasadas) on the Hamakua Coast and back to the Volcano Village Estates at the end of the day, several hundreds of miles. The drive up Saddle Road was smooth and paved, nothing like how my husband remembered it several decades ago when it was a rough, pot-holed, one-laned road in both directions back in the 90's - now a smooth transition from Hilo/Volcanoes up to the Visitor Center. There were a few tents there at the base of Mauna Kea from the protests that erupted a few years ago, but there wasn't anyone to stop us from going up to the visitor's center this time. The road up was clear, with a bunch of twisty, turning roads that we had to put the car into low gear to prevent strain on the car, but other than that, no problems getting to visitor's center. If you want to drive to summit, you will need a 4-wheel drive and will need to get your vehicle checked out by the rangers at the visitor's center before proceeding up. The Visitor's Center was a small place with a small historical side off to the right, a shop on the left and bathrooms in the back of the parking area. The people manning the shop were super friendly. Keith and Pua (?) were both graduates of Roosevelt High School (Oahu) and somehow managed to end up 9,200 ft above the clouds spreading cheer and joy to whomever walk into the Visitor's Center. I ended up buying a cool University of Hawaii Astronomy shirt on a guess in size (no fitting rooms) and some "astronaut ice cream" (freeze-dried ice cream) for the kid. Used the bathroom off to the side of the parking lot; Women's bathroom had weird red lights in them, and I wanted to ask the rangers or anyone else why the red lights, but didn't get to do so, and now it's still a mystery, so if anyone knows, please shoot me a message. We didn't do the hike from the parking lot up to the small hill summit as suggested by the kind shop keepers as we were wanting to get going, and the main reason is that husband did not bring a jacket and it was probably upper 40's and 50's in late April. It is very cold up there, take a jacket!! The drive down was a bit more challenging with the fog rolling in, and having to go down slowly in low gear as it was very steep (and foggy). Next time we come back, we will take a 4 WD just to get to the summit to watch the sunset and the stars! This is a must on my bucket list, so stay tuned, we will be back!

    Visitors station parking lot
    Lanny H.

    Great place to stop especially if you can't make it to the summit! This is where you can get a souvenir or acclimatize to the altitude as you wait to ascend to the summit. We finally were given the green light once the winds fell below 50mph!

    Leah N.

    This place is great. We wanted to see the sunset at Mauna Kea summit so we have to stop at Mauna Kea visitor center first prior to heading to the summit. There is a line for cars at the visitor center for direction and guide how to go up the mountain and only four wheels can go up the mountain. Staff was nice and answered all questions. Today is my first time seeing the sunset at Mauna Kea summit. Compare to seeing the sunrise in the past, I liked both. If you want to see sunrise, waking up super early is a must. I remembered in the past I woke up at 3am ish. This time seeing the sunset does has limited timeframe of being at the summit. All vehicles must leave about thirty minutes after sunset. Overall spectacular view.

    Outside
    Henry P.

    So haven't been here in a while but da family had their first look and had a blast. We went to the visitor center and hung out for 30 min to get acclimated to the altitude. Went to the gift store and got some astronaut snacks. The rangers weee all so helpful and knowledgeable to explain everything

    Brigitte L.

    Absolutely beautiful and amazing experience of my life and truly recommend when you visit the island!! This is life changing and so impactful, seeing the absolute beauty of God's creation!! This experience was nothing but amazing and once in a lifetime. I can't describe how in awe I am over the absolute beautiful of God's work! We often are so busy with our daily activities that we never take the time to stop and look at all the beauty that surrounds us. Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state of Hawaii and the worlds second highest peak of an island on earth. We didn't have a 4WD so we didn't make it to the summit however arrived at the Visitor Center which sits at 9,200 ft. Before embarking on a 20-minute hike up the mountain to view the sunset we had to sit at the visitor center altitude for 30 minutes to adjust to the change in altitude. They have a gift shop but due to COVID you have to check in and add your name to the list since they are limiting the amount of people inside. Be sure to use the restroom while there and before taking your hike for viewing of the sunset. After arriving at the top of the mountain, we were above the clouds and experienced the most incredible sunset! Although I'm petrified of heights and froze a few times during the climb, I made it! This is absolutely one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and I hope my daughter never forgets it either! After viewing the sunset, we hiked back down and headed to the car area to stay for star gazing. This was another exceptional experience!! Yes the pictures I attached are stars that we experienced first hand!! It is the absolute most beautiful thing I've ever seen! I wish we had a camera and video to record our experience! Pictures do not tell the full story and cannot capture the beauty here. The pure beauty just make you tear up in awe of the magnificence of God and all his glory and creation. A reminder that despite the beauty of something like this, still God loves us more than this. We saw Jupiter and Venus and the Milky Way to name a few. I still want to know what the question mark looking constellation is!! It would glow on and off and I was obsessed!! The night sky just looked like a canvas that was laid over us. So beautiful and absolutely grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to experience this.

    Vivian W.

    We were debating whether we shall drive all the way up to the summit, so we decided to stop at the visitor center. The staff is very friendly, and there are a lot of reminder that only 4wd car can go up to the summit. There is a hiking trail you can go down to a lake but the shortest one way hike is like 4.8 miles. I don't think I'm doing the hike but still not sure whether we shall do the drive. It's attempting

    view from the visitor center
    Hosanna F.

    Visiting Mauna Kea aka the tallest mountain in the world from sea base level, was hands down one of the most surreal and beautiful experiences I have ever had. I was very lucky to be able to make it up to the summit two times on two separate trips last month. The first time made my second experience even better. Here are the tips you need to know for a smoother experience. 1. You don't need to book the tour to be able to visit the summit, you just need to have a 4WD vehicle. Maybe we didn't do hard enough research for the first time, but my initial understanding was that the only way to make it up to the summit was by booking the tour which was sad because it was so expensive. However, that is NOT TRUE! Fortunately, we happened to have a 4WD rental which was a pleasant surprise when we initially went up to the visitor center. 2WD vehicles are able to drive up to the visitor center, but there is a checkpoint where rangers will make sure your vehicle is 4WD before they let you advance up the mountain. At this point, rangers will also go over how to use your vehicle and give you instructions for going up and down the mountain. 2. Make sure you acclimate for at least 30 minutes at the visitor center. The visitor center is at 9,200 feet and you can definitely begin to feel the side effects of high altitude at this point. This is the perfect time to walk around, check out the visitor center, shop and grab some merch or snacks, fill up any water bottles and have a bathroom break. 3. The best time to go up to the summit is for sunset and end your day stargazing from the hill across the street from the visitor center with just a short hike up. With this in mind, be prepared to block off 6-8 hours for the full experience. For the itinerary that worked for me - we left around 4 PM from our hotel in Kona to be able to make it to the visitor center around 5 PM. Considering the 30 minutes to acclimate and the drive to the summit, that brings you around or slightly past 6 PM which is just in time for sunset. Take all your photos, enjoy and take in all of the beauty before you leave. I would recommend to make your way back down the mountain before it gets dark for safety reasons. It's completely dark about an hour after sunset so expect to start stargazing around 8-9 PM. 4. Make sure you are driving down the mountain in 4WD low. This is so you maintain a speed under 20-25 mph and keep you from needing to use your breaks so often. There's another checkpoint as you come back down to the visitor center where the rangers will check your brake temperature. 5. Listen to your body and know your limits. Altitude sickness is serious and not something you want to deal with. Between the two experiences I had it was different each time. The first time as we drove up we could definitely tell a difference in how we felt but we felt good enough to continue. We took quick pictures and left not truly being able to take in the experience. The second time I went up (maybe because it was only 3 weeks apart) I felt great the whole drive up. I'd like to think it was because my body acclimated to high altitudes. We stayed much longer, took photos and walked around a lot more. It wasn't until I finally sat down on the Jeep after all the walking where I immediately felt very dizzy and lightheaded. I immediately told my date that we needed to leave at the fear that I was about to pass out. Unfortunately, I never got my Jeep photo but it was the right thing to do. Needless to say, if you're feeling sick at any point it's always best to turn around. Each time I went, we made a pact that if one of us felt sick we would turn around regardless of making it up to the summit or not. I think that's a good rule of thumb to have. Also a reason why you should definitely have a buddy system going up in case you get sick and are unable to drive. 6. Be prepared and bring the essentials. Dress warm because it's very cold. If this is on your itinerary, make sure you pack one warm outfit. Check the weather before, for the day you plan on going. Conditions and visibility may or may not be great but at least you're aware of what to expect especially if you want to try to see the Milky Way. Unfortunately, it was cloudy the times we went but the stargazing is still so worth it. Bring water and snacks. Staying hydrated is important especially if you begin having a headache from the altitude, keep that oxygen flowing in your blood. I also recommend buying a can of boost oxygen because you never know when it might come in handy. Make sure you have a full tank of gas before you start making your way to the visitor center. You will see how quickly 4WD will drink your gas for this trip. Hopefully this guide helps you on your trip to Mauna Kea as this is everything I wish I knew as a first timer. This was a very rewarding experience & makes the perfect date night activity!

    Sammy B.

    I joked with my friends that this was the one thing I had to do when visiting the Big Island. Mauna Kea is known as being one of the best things to experience when visiting Hawaii. However, Hawaii is also a good instigator for you to relax and do nothing. That's the reason why planning your itinerary and timing are so important. Ultimately going to the summit of Mauna Kea became too difficult when balancing a packed day earlier in the morning. To go up to the actual summit you will need either a 4 x 4 vehicle or be part of a tour that specifically goes up to the summit. If you are neither equipped with that type of vehicle or booked for that kind of tour the next best thing to do is take your regular vehicle and drive up to this visitor center. Before you go I do recommend a few things. Firstly, this visitor center is a perfect location to see the stars away from all the light pollution you would find in the cities. Because it is so high up you might get a little bit of altitude sickness. Luckily there is a ranger located at this visitor center as well as a few staff members who work in the gift shop. Not to mention the visitor center also has an indoor bathroom. This means that if you do feel a little queasy there are facilities as well as staff to help you. Secondly, although the island can be pretty warm and humid just about anywhere you go when you come to this area because you are so high in altitude the weather is going to be cold. Make sure to bring either a jacket, sweater, and/or pants so you don't freeze. Thirdly, I would also recommend get a thermos so that you can bring with you a hot beverage to enjoy while looking at the stars. Lastly, whether you are coming from Kona or from Hilo just know the drive to this area is going to be about 1 to 1 1/2 hours long. Be mindful of the time so that if you do want to come up to watch the sunset you plan your leave time accordingly. As beautiful as the stars are at night the sunset is even more so. It cost nothing to visit this place but I do recommend leave a donation to help sustain such a wonderful area. If you do you get a chance to speak with the workers or the Rangers that work here please do so. They have great stories, great tips on viewing, and are overall just great people. Enjoy the night sky and the gorgeous views above.

    Mauna Kea summit
    Ju L.

    Being up on the summit of Mauna Kea was hands down one of the best experiences in my life. Mauna Kea is the highest sea mountain in the world and measures 14,000 ft above sea level. My husband planned for us to be up there to watch the sun set, which I highly recommend. Before driving up to Mauna Kea, you will have to wait 30 minutes at the visitor's center (@ 9,200 ft) for your body to adjust to the high altitude. If you do choose to go for the sunset, make sure to arrive with enough time for the 30-45 minute drive, and the 30 minutes for your body to get used to the altitude. Anyone who is pregnant, has heart or respiratory problems, or has gone scuba diving within the last 24 hrs should not go up to the summit. The park rangers on site will ask you these questions and provide instructions on how to drive up to the summit. Most importantly, you absolutely MUST have a 4WD car or you will not be allowed to drive up the mountain. If you decide that you do not want to drive up Mauna Kea, there are companies that offer shuttle services up and down Mauna Kea, but they are very expensive and needs to be booked in advance. The clouds were literally next to us as we drove up. At the top, you are above the clouds. Watching the sun set from above the clouds was truly a sight to behold. About an hour after the sun sets, the park rangers will kindly ask you to descend Mauna Kea. At the visitor's center parking lot, you may enjoy star gazing. We were able easily see so many stars with the naked eye.

    Sunset

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    Standard visitor center, but at least it was kinda warm inside. They sell Nene Goose dolls.

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    Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

    Can we bring kids to the summit, 8 and ten years old?

    I have not seen any restrictions posted and saw kids there when I went last in January.

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    Review Highlights - Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

    Next time we come back, we will take a 4 WD just to get to the summit to watch the sunset and the stars!

    Mentioned in 63 reviews

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    Observatory at Mauna Kea

    Observatory at Mauna Kea

    4.7(9 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    It's worth every bump you hit! In our last visit we were…read moreunaware we needed four wheel drive and didn't attempt with 2 wheel. This time we made sure to take 4 wheel drive up to the observatory. Please bring warm clothes including earmuffs and mitts. You will be thankful to yourself for getting it. It may be cloudy when you drive up with ring of clouds around both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa but many a times sky above at 13k is clear. You would also see Haleakala in west in distance if its clear. - BONUS! At 9k visitor center there is a restroom and then there are porta potties where observatories are. The road is 25% grade so be kind to your breaks and use 4L with m2 to drive up and 4L +drive while coming down. The rangers checked tank plus if the car is 4wheel and have instructions. Mind you! They also checked break after we reached down. That's good for you and your car! Now up at the summit you might be lucky to see the observatories rotating and opening for their nightly duties. They used to allow admissions in the past and sky gazing program at visitor center but not anymore. So you might have to check with them. No drones allowed - fyi! The rangers will also be everywhere and make everyone leave 10 minutes after sunset. Key point- bring enough water for all the members with you. Water has oxygen which helps you breathe and keeps you hydrated. Coming back to experience... The views are ethereal. This was one of the topmost points in my list ( pun intended) in big island. Sunset hues are out of the world. If you go on moonless nights and clear days you might get to see more stars and planets.

    I don't like cold. I don't like snow. It was not my idea to come here. I could only be out of the…read morecar for 3 min. Being in Hawaii on the tallest mountain in frigid conditions is not what I want in a Hawaiian vacation. You have been warned, come prepared. It was pretty but if you're not prepared you will not like it. Bring snow pants and a parka with thick gloves. I could have skipped this excursion entirely but my husband wanted to go and he can wear shorts in a blizzard. The drive up and drive down is tedious. I had no idea that this would take 5 to 6 hours. You can only go up in all wheel drive or four wheel drive. If your brakes are too hot on the way down you have to pull over at the visitors center and wait over 30 minutes to leave. It was one of the worst times I've had on vacation. I may have a bad attitude but people should know the reality of it. I'm a big fan of looking at pictures of this place rather than actually going.

    Photos
    Observatory at Mauna Kea
    Observatory at Mauna Kea - The ring of big scientific telescopes sits slightly below Mauna Kea's true summit at Pu'uwekiu; which is 13,796 feet high.

    The ring of big scientific telescopes sits slightly below Mauna Kea's true summit at Pu'uwekiu; which is 13,796 feet high.

    Observatory at Mauna Kea

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    CanoeHouse - Scallops

    CanoeHouse

    4.1(822 reviews)
    29.7 mi
    $$$$

    Amazing food and wonderful experience. We were staying at the Mauna Lani, and had to try its…read moresignature restaurant (especially since a few in our party were big fans of Chef Rhoda in Top Chef). Each dish we tried had an amazing mix of flavors. Everything was fresh, even the pull apart bread. I opted for the Ahi Tuna, and it was cooked to perfection. The oysters were excellent as well. We also LOVED the ambiance. It seems most tables, whether indoors or outside, faced the ocean with an open concept. Therefore, even the indoor tables are technically outdoors. This was the perfect set up to watch an amazing Hawaiian sunset during dinner. As expected the service was very friendly and attentive. This is one of those must visit spots on the big island. Even if we don't stay at the Mauna Lani next visit, we're definitely going to still visit this place.

    My wife and I got last minute reservations to Canoe House on a Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. Despite…read morehaving missed the sunset, we still had a very lovely dinner. We saw from Yelp photos that Canoe House offered a tasting menu at some point in time, but during our visit, it was more of an impromptu tasting menu of sorts -- created by our server, rather than an official one with a set beverage pairing. In any case, we still had a wonderful experience ordering items a la carte. Before diving into the food, I wanted to call out the outstanding service at Canoe House. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and our server started and ended the meal with a round of congratulations. Throughout our meal, our server was super attentive and there was never a moment when our water cups were empty. Empty plates were promptly cleared, cutlery was refreshed when it was needed, and whenever a dish was brought over, he would carefully slide things around on the table so dishes were accessible and not overcrowding. Friendly, professional service of this level is honestly hard to find these days outside of Michelin dining establishments. My wife and I started our meal off with the large loaf of pull-apart milk bread ($18). The milk bread was incredibly fluffy and the outside was finished with some honey and sea salt. The sweet cream butter was rich and had the perfect spreadable consistency. As tempting as it is to want to finish the loaf, you'll definitely want to safe your stomach for the rest of the meal. The next items that we ordered were two chilled oysters ($7/piece), and a hamachi + uni citrus salad ($14). Since we were dining as a couple, our server informed us that we could actually order half-portions of some of the dishes. This was a perfect way to not fill-up before our mains arrived, so we did that for both the salad and the gyozas. The uni in the salad was melt in your mouth tender and had a delicious sweetness to it. I thought the hamachi in the salad was a bit unremarkable: it was certainly fresh and there were two generously sized pieces in the dish, but the fish definitely needed a bit more salt to it. Our next and last appetizer to arrive was the beef and foie gras gyoza ($7/piece). The chili garlic ponzu sauce the gyoza is resting leans towards the sour side, but that's my personal preference when it comes to dumpling sauces so I really enjoyed it. The filling inside the gyoza was on the leaner side compared to your typical pork and cabbage dumpling, but I didn't mind this too much since there was so much sauce in the bowl to accommodate the dumpling. The next four items we ordered all arrived together: the garlic fried rice ($32), the Kona kanpachi ($67), the Iberico char siu pork ($65), and the side of sugar snap peas ($22). Of these items, my favorite bites were the Iberico pork followed closely by the garlic fried rice and the sugar snap peas. If we could've ordered one fewer dish, it definitely would have been the Kona kanpachi. While the fish was flakey tender and the the skin was cooked to be perfectly crunchy, the portion size was far too large for two, and I thought the coconut ginger sauce felt a bit diluted and not as flavorful as advertised. I wish our server warned us that we had ordered way too much food, because we brought 85% of this dish home as leftovers. While I don't necessarily mind having leftovers, having leftovers on vacation -- with less than ideal heating methods available (i.e. hotel microwave), is not great. Overall, I couldn't help but feel this dish was somewhat a waste of money for the two of us. On the other hand, the Iberico char siu is a dish I'd order again and again if I were to come back. The pork was lean and grilled to perfection. The charred end pieces were some of my favorite bites of the night. I didn't miss the fatty bits that are typically present on a piece of char siu pork, and the mustard that accompanied the dish was not over the top spicy like some of the mustards you find at dim sum restaurants. The garlic fried rice was packed with so much garlic flavor. One criticism I had with the dish though is I wish the hot sizzling plate the dish was served on was even hotter. The rice that was in contact with the plate didn't crisp up in the same way that it would with a Korean bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl, or the socarrat at the bottom of a Spanish paella. Nonetheless, the dish was well-seasoned. If you want to save a bit on carbs and not fill up, you might want to skip this dish. Overall, the dining under the stars experience at Canoe House is hard to beat. The service is incredible, the included validated valet parking experience is seamless, the ambience of the hotel where the restaurant is located is breathtaking, and Chef Rhoda has really done an wonderful job with the vast majority of the items we tried. I would not hesitate to recommend Canoe House for celebrating a special occasion if you're visiting Hawaiʻi.

    Photos
    CanoeHouse - Lobby area

    Lobby area

    CanoeHouse - KONA KANPACHI with yuzu kosho, dashi, lime, mitsuba, ali'i mushroom

    KONA KANPACHI with yuzu kosho, dashi, lime, mitsuba, ali'i mushroom

    CanoeHouse - CanoeHouse

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    CanoeHouse

    Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection

    Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection

    4.1(315 reviews)
    29.4 mi
    $$$$

    My truly grateful, bucket-list experience happened on 12/2025, I can cross this off my list and/but…read morehope to visit get to stay again ( crossing fingers) Super excited while we drove along the Kohala Coast, Once we arrived at the front, there's a security at the gate, to check you in and will hand you a parking pass, I feel safe already. I am overwhelmed with joy, having the ultimate experience of staying at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, is truly a dream come true! My upgrade request to a deluxe room with ocean view and balcony had been confirmed and I'm overflowing with gratitude! The seamless check-in process, Thank you to front desk staff Lauae- she was super friendly and patient checking us in and sharing all the important details about Mauna Kea Hotel, we also got a welcome leis, wet cloth and champagne at check in. My request for late check out at 4 pm ( perks of Titanium status) has set the tone for an unforgettable stay. The thoughtful gifts, in my spacious and stunning ocean view room are the perfect touch. I am soaking up every moment of my amazing staycation, from check in til we checked out @ 4pm on the dot, creating Mauna Kea memories with the love of my life. Our rooms are renovated, super spacious and modern. I love the the simple touches they added to the room. There a water filter fill station in the rooms, the lights turns on and off with a click of a button on the wall, charging device are up to date. I loved the toiletries brand provided- so soothing! Omg. The view from our balcony, just WOW! We had our alcoholic drinks, take out, snacks, all out there on the balcony and we just really enjoyed each other's company relaxing and taking it all in. The beds are so comfy, the toilet are toto brand, and I loved taking shower with the ocean view too, hehe. The only time we left the room was for breakfast, for our walk to explore the premises and for the pool. I loved the pool especially the adult, infinity pool- really enjoyed the peace and quiet here, then we headed to the other pool for a swim and jacuzzi. Although the beach was All in all, Thank you. Thank you Marriott gods for this incredible upgrade and late check out, thank you for the tote bag and water bottles, this all exceeded my expectations! We sure did enjoyed every single moment here! Although it is not cheap, I think you should go for it, check it out- just do it, life is too short, life it and enjoy it to the fullest.

    This was the most amazing stay!! Everyone was so friendly, our service was always fast, and there…read morewas a bunch to do! We got a complimentary paddle board for an hour and towels for the day. They gave us reusable water bottles to use for our stay to reduce waste they gave us leis upon arrival. They had made a manta out of towels that they placed on the bed- so fancy! They also provided banana bread, Nutella, and shortbread cookies on the table of the hotel room. The view was AMAZING and the ocean is perfect to swim in at any time of day. Many free activities offered daily. There are some nice restaurants on site- serves breakfast and dinner (at the Manta). I hope to get to come back someday.

    Photos
    Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
    Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
    Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection

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    Manta - Chocolate Mille-Feuille

    Manta

    3.8(427 reviews)
    29.4 mi
    $$$$

    Another fabulous Christmas dinner at Manta at the Mauna Kea!…read more It began on a weird note as for the second year running we were relegated to a side table right next to a walkway while all the tables towards the ocean were empty - as we were celebrating a milestone birthday and anniversary we asked if we could be moved and they did kindly accommodate us ! Service was fabulous throughout the dinner which made for a great meal! We began with some cocktails and champagne and a couple of appetizers- the ahi sashimi and the ahi katsu - exceptionally fresh ahi but the sashimi could have been a little cooler and both needed a tad more seasoning! Mains were the standout - I had the Kampachi which was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection served with wasabi gnocchi, my husband had the catch of the day - a snapper, also fabulous. The kids had the seared ahi which was melt in your mouth served with Bok Choy which they loved and a taro mash which was not good and we could have done without! Ordered the chocolate soufflé which was perfection and the Alaskan Bombe which has a delicious macadamia base! So good! A great was to celebrate Christmas and a fabulous meal !

    Wow, what a nice treat dining here at Manta for their breakfast buffet on a Sunday during my…read morestaycation at Mauna Kea Hotel. They got busy quick, the reason for the 4 stars and not 5, I checked in with the hostess and she asked me to wait on the side, we waited close to 20 mins. until I wonder why others that came after me were seated, another staff came by to ask for our name, come to find out we were not on the list to be called for table. Luckily the views were amazing & I didn't mind waiting. We got outdoor seating and wow just loving the ocean view, while enjoying our breakfast at the same time. The wait staff were on top of it, checking on us to see if we needed anything else. I took my time just enjoying every bite and the views. The breakfast buffet ($50.) so much food, so many choices, some of the offerings were: hot foods = has breakfast meats, eggs, corned beef hash, Japanese theme with make your own miso soup, salmon & fish, abundant of sweets, pastries, breads, fresh waffle and omelet section. Out of all items from the buffet line, I made a plate of sausage, corn beef, rice and omelet X 2 and waffle. I was stuffed and couldn't go for the other stuff. hehe. Although I wish I made room for miso soup and fish. I really enjoyed my omelet choice requested for fresh eggs. Not every time I get to eat omelet so that was hits. The omelet line does get long, the only guy cooking handles 3 pan, that is talent! The staff at check in mentioned about seeing the Manta Rays here, If you see the light shining at night, that's the Manta. We missed that. So cool that the restaurant named "Manta" for Manta Rays. All in all, such a great experience, lovely breakfast enjoyed by me & my love, at the Manta and we are ready for Sunday's adventure, a day filled with walking, exploring the property and swimming! I would love to check out dinner during my next visit, maybe for our 30th anniversary, hope to spot some Manta Rays- Truly grateful moments!

    Photos
    Manta - Lobby of hotel as you walk in.

    Lobby of hotel as you walk in.

    Manta - Locaol Oxtail Pappardelle

    Locaol Oxtail Pappardelle

    Manta - Poi Pounder

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    Poi Pounder

    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Hike Kilauea Volcano to find red hot lava!

    Hawaii Forest & Trail

    4.8(368 reviews)
    36.9 mi

    I cannot say enough wonderful things about Wilson and the Mauna Kea Summit & Stars excursion…read more Wilson was incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable and I learned so much! He did all of this while navigating steep roads (not all paved) and feeding us amazing chicken stew, cookies, and hot cocoa. This was a truly memorable and magical trip and the weather was just perfect! Everything was well organized and I cannot recommend them enough

    We went on an almost 100% full (flower) moon. It was special to see the terminator line on the…read moreCelestron telescope - it had such great definition! The color of Mauna Kea with the moon shining on it was so magical all around us. There were some clouds that cleared pretty well by the end of our star gazing. We were the last ones up there so it got dark enough to see more than you'd expect with the moon. Jeff, our awesome tour guide, used a laser pointer to help us see the constellations we usually can't back at home. The images on the digital telescope like nebulas, the moon & star clusters were an amazing addition to have as keepsakes. My husband and I felt he made the tour a great balance of learning and fun. He had the group feeling like family before we even left from the pickup lot. Things to consider: I do recommend following the moons cycles booking this tour/your trip if this is especially important for you to see as many stars as possible. The sunset and views of the observatory's make it awesome anyways :) I struggled with altitude sickness around 12,000 ft. Jeff had made sure to let us know beforehand if we experienced any issues to speak up. I was hesitant as I know it would mean turning the whole tour around, but some tingling turned to dizziness and then a brief fainting. He immediately stopped the bus and helped ground me and make sure I was completely okay & coherent before letting me know our options for the tour. We made it up to the top with 2 more (included in tour) stops and I felt better with each one having more time to acclimate :) Thank you Jeff!! You handled this so professionally and I appreciate your check-ins for the rest of the trip. It's cold even with parka and gloves. It's so worth packing warm shoes and layers. The bus had ac and heat so that was great! Do it if you can! Awe-inspiring! Such an unreal environment that makes you wonder about so many things. Just take the precautions seriously, move slow and breathe deep.

    Photos
    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Take a dip in a private waterfall on our Hilo Tropical Waterfall Tour.

    Take a dip in a private waterfall on our Hilo Tropical Waterfall Tour.

    Hawaii Forest & Trail - Explore pristine lava tubes when you venture with Hawaii Forest & Trail.

    Explore pristine lava tubes when you venture with Hawaii Forest & Trail.

    Hawaii Forest & Trail

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    Mauna Kea - 8.11.2023

    Mauna Kea

    4.9(20 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    Going to Mauna Kea was a must-do on our trip to the Big Island. We planned for our visit to line up…read moreperfectly with sunset. The visitor center is cool. Lots of good info. There's quite a bit of parking. It was super busy for a Sunday evening. We were in an all-wheel drive vehicle (Ford Edge) and the ranger gave us the green light to go up, even though all of the signs say 4-wheel drive only. They said they can no longer turn all wheel drive vehicles away. He recommended we stop every so often on the way down to let our brakes cool. The road is rough. Not paved. It's basically gravel and dirt the whole way. We only made it a mile of the 8 before turning around. The sun was so bright in our eyes we weren't able to see the road at some points and there is definitely some steep terrain going up. Our vehicle was already needing to have the gas all the way just to make it up. The thought of going down 8 miles of that sounded quite anxiety-inducing. So, we got back to the visitor center in time to hike the trail up the mountain across the road and catch the sunset. It's spectacular. The altitude change is no joke. I could feel how much harder it is to breathe with just a few steps into the hike. Be careful! The views are stunning though. So pretty. Definitely an experience worth checking out.

    Unique place to explore, experience your lung and enjoy the view of sunset above the cloud. Make…read moresure you have 4wd or AWD car with LO gears option and a full tank of gas. Everybody has to stop at the visitor center (9200 ft) for 30 minutes acclimate time and Pitstop. After that you can continue the drive up to the top after a small talk and car check with the ranger. There is a bout 4.5 miles of rough terrain and the rest 4 miles is smooth sailing. Total time about 30 minutes. The view is breathtaking. The air is really thin so you have to take more breath you can stay to enjoy the sunset above the cloud and that is all the difference, but you cannot linger till the sky is dark. Everybody has to leave 15 minutes after sunset. Recommended to stop at the visitor center in the way down, stay longer and see the Milky Way by your naked eyes. Remember to keep warm.

    Photos
    Mauna Kea
    Mauna Kea - 8.11.2023

    8.11.2023

    Mauna Kea - 8.11.2023

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    8.11.2023

    Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station - visitorcenters - Updated May 2026

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