8 Awesome Reasons to Visit Mauna Kea, Hawai’i

What is Mauna Kea?

Mauna Kea is an ancient shield volcano, located in the middle of Hawaii’s Big Island. At more than one million years old, Mauna Kea is awe-inspiring, standing as the tallest point in Hawaii and the second tallest mountain on Earth according to the above-sea-level elevation. By some definitions, it can even be considered the highest mountain on Earth, despite Mount Everest’s 29,032ft sea level elevation claiming that title. Whether you are walking its many trails or admiring its grandeur from afar, Mauna Kea will not disappoint.

Though today the volcano is dormant and peaceful, once it was incredibly active and one of five primary volcanoes forming what the Big Island of Hawaii looks like today. With various trails weaving throughout its rich terrain, from the Kilauea Iki Trail to the Mauna Loa Trail – there’s an adventure awaiting anyone keen enough to explore this majestic peak. Wherever your Hawaiian journey leads you might take you atop Mauna Kea; its views and accolades leave a lasting impression on each and every lucky traveler who gazes upon them!

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Which Island is Mauna Kea on?

Mauna Kea is on the island of Hawai’i, more commonly referred to as the Big Island. It’s located almost in the middle, but a little bit closer to Kona than Hilo. We stayed the week in Kona in a vacation rental home since there was 11 of us. If you’re looking for great accommodation in Kona, be sure to check out the Royal Kona Resort!

Be sure to pick up your Big Island Travel Guide or your Big Island Travel Guide for families.

How to Get to the Mauna Kea Hike

Making the journey out to Mauna Kea for the hike is quite an adventure. To reach the trailhead, situated 40 minutes from Hilo and about 1 hour from Kona, travelers will drive along Saddle Road, turning onto Mauna Kea Access Road. This road is mostly paved with some signs warning of altitude sickness and danger sprinkled throughout. After 6.5 miles of the uphill journey, hikers will arrive at the Ellison Onizuka Visitor Information Station located at 9,200 ft above sea level.

Before setting out on their Mauna Kea hike, it’s highly recommended that hikers hang out in the parking lot for at least half an hour up to two hours in order to become acclimated to this high elevation — the rest of the island only being a mere sea level! Meanwhile, be sure to stop by and fill out a free permit with the helpful rangers stationed here — this helps keep track of who’s on the trails and ensures both safety and accountability when it comes to high-altitude treks such as this one.

Visitors Center at Mauna Kea
The visitors center when you’re coming down the mountain.

Top Things to Know about Hiking Mauna Kea

Bring a lot of water and sunscreen. While the top of the mountain can get very cold, it’s also closer to the sun. Be sure to continually put on sun tan lotion to avoid getting burned. You might not feel like you’re sweating a lot because of the temperature, but you really are. Drinking water (and a lot of it) can help you on the hike, it can also help prevent altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is common and serious. You can even feel the altitude at the visitor’s center. Getting acclimated at the visitor’s center can help with this. Most of the big island is at sea level, so it is a hard adjustment. There are no emergency medical services on the mountain, so you’re climbing at your own risk.  Be familiar with the symptoms of altitude sickness and descend if needed. It can hit you no matter your fitness level, so don’t feel bad! 

You won’t hike to the true summit. There is a sign that asks hikers not to climb to the summit due to the historical, cultural, and environmental importance of Mauna Kea. You can see it from a distance, but please respect the local rules. For ease, this article uses “summit” as a general location, not the true summit.

Be sure to pack some great hiking boots as this is quite a long hike! Even if you’re planning on a visit to the Visitor’s Center to walk around, sturdy shoes are recommended!

Mauna Kea Summit Sign
The summit of Mauna Kea. Please be respectful – Mauna Kea is very sacred to Hawaii.

8 Reasons to Visit Mauna Kea

1. Hawaiian Culture Experiences

Often deemed both spiritual and historical roots reaching back thousands of years ago – visiting Mauna Kea allows guests to immerse themselves into ancient Hawaiian culture by participating in or witnessing tasks such as Huaka’i (land tours) or Makahiki (harvest parties) events – where they can learn a little bit about traditional beliefs dating back centuries ago passed down from ancestors within certain communities living along the mountain slopes & villages nearby areas at its base too! Mauna Kea is an important part of Hawaiian culture, so please learn about its significance and be respectful.

2. Panoramic views

Mauna Kea, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is home to some of the most spectacular panoramic views in the world. From its summit, you can see five different Hawaiian islands and up to 49 miles away on a clear day. From this vantage point, visitors get an incredible perspective of the cloud-covered hillsides, crystal blue waters, and stunning sunsets.

The unique landscape is one of the top reasons to visit Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Being on the mountain feels like you’re on another planet.

3. Stargazing opportunity

The Mauna Kea summit is renowned for having some of the clearest skies in the world. Due to this clarity, it has become one of the best stargazing locations in Hawaii. With no light pollution present and summit elevation reaching 14,000 feet above sea level, visitors are able to have unparalleled observations at night time where constellations sparkle with more brightness than ever before experienced by most people. Hiking is only allowed during the day, so you’d have to book a tour for stargazing.

This Sunset and Stars tour comes with free astronomy photos!

4. The hiking is (literally) breathtaking

Mauna Kea’s hiking trail is definitely not a stroll in the park. With an out-and-back trip of 12 miles, you’ll be taxed both physically and mentally. Just beginning near the Visitor Information Center, it takes eight to 10 hours to finish and requires 4,600 feet of gradual climbing. However, the rewards for completing such a challenge are more than worth it – think incredible landscapes and an extraordinary view of Lake Waiau from the summit. 

A lake on Mauna Kea.

5. Unique Flora and Fauna

On your journey up Mauna Kea, you will come across endemic flora & fauna that cannot be found anywhere else in the world but here on these rugged slopes. Since the atmosphere is so thin up here, the flora has adapted and usually can’t survive near sea level. Some of these include ‘Ahinahina, or Mauna Kea Silversword or Hawaiian Strawberry. The most common wildlife on the mountain is insects, but at lower altitudes, you might see birds and bats flying around! 

This guided hike up the mountain is a great way to learn about the local flora and fauna.

6. Drive-up Summit Option Available

Visitors who do not wish or physically cannot do a full hike can also opt for just driving themselves directly up top using their own vehicle against easy access 4WD/AWD roads that surround much lower peaks around Mauna Kea’s summit area – allowing them equal access to reach overlooking stunning mountain blues without having to tackle much longer foot based walking paths below!

If you don’t have a car, you can still take this stargazing tour from Kona or this stargazing tour from Hilo.

7. Hawaiian Culture Experiences

Often deemed both spiritual and historical roots reaching back thousands of years ago – visiting Mauna Kea allows guests to immerse themselves into ancient Hawaiian culture by participating in or witnessing tasks such as Huaka’i (land tours) or Makahiki (harvest parties) events – where they can learn a little bit about traditional beliefs dating back centuries ago passed down from ancestors within certain communities living along the mountain slopes & villages nearby areas at its base too! Mauna Kea is an important part of Hawaiian culture, so please learn about its significance and be respectful. 

Learn about the natural history at Mauna Kea. Please stay on the trail – it is a sacred site!

8. Catch a Sunrise or Sunset 

Unless you’re an incredibly fast hiker, you’ll have to do a tour to see the sunrise at Mauna Kea. (I’m just kidding you’re not allowed to hike at night.) Watching the sun rise or fall from above the clouds is truly a bucket list experience. 

Whether you drive or hike Mauna Kea, a visit to this sacred volcano is a must-do! Whether you drive Saddle Road, visit the Visitor Center, or hike to Mauka Kea Summit, you won’t be disappointed. 

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Reasons to Visit Mauna Kea Hawaii
Reasons to Visit Mauna Kea Hawaii
Reasons to Visit Mauna Kea Hawaii

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