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Looking for Stars Forget Hollywood, Head for Hawaii  When
you visit Mauna Kea, you may not see Madonna but you will get a first class
view of the Milky Way. Visitors looking for a truly unique Big Island
experience should set their sights on the stars - along with the
planets, moons and satellites - from the summit of Mauna Kea, one of the
best places in the world to view the night sky. There are few places as
ideal as the 13,796-foot Mauna Kea peak for marveling at the heavenly galaxy
in a pristine location. It is here where the world's top scientists and
researchers spend their time discovering and learning about the universe,
utilizing the most advanced telescopes in the world. Hawaii Forest &
Trail, well known for its guided nature adventures into remote areas of
the Big Island, now offers an educational, extraterrestrial experience, the Mauna
Kea Summit & Star Adventure. After
a scenic journey along the Kona-Kohala coast and up a winding mountain road,
adventurers arrive at the Mauna Kea summit at just the right time: as the
sun begins to set. Standing on the eerily barren rock of Mauna Kea
amidst the brilliant red, orange and blue sky, looking out at the peaks of
Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Maui's Haleakala poking through the thick layer of
clouds below, and surrounded by 13 enormous multi-million-dollar telescopes,
guests may feel like they are on a different planet. Suddenly, as the sun
dips below the horizon, new movement may be detected: the telescopes begin
to come to life. As their shutters and windows open, the gigantic telescopes
may rotate in unison, casting their scopes upon the night sky.
If You Go
Edited by Dave Shultz Photos courtesy of Hawaii Forest & Trail |
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TM
Once
the awe of the summit experience wears off, visitors climb back into the van
and warm up for a short descent back down to a secluded spot below the
Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Center at 9,000 feet, for
the stargazing part of the 
Participants should wear sturdy
closed-toed shoes or boots and long pants. Guests are provided hooded parkas but should also bring a
light jacket or sweatshirt. The summit area is high altitude with cold temperatures and
sometimes high winds. Weather can change quickly. The summit road can be closed on
short notice affecting the tour.