Sunset view from Mauna Kea
Visiting the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island will likely leave you breathless. You'll see spectacular views from above the clouds, striking scenery and get an idea of what the world can look like during the Ice Age.Mauna Kea is the tallest sea mountain in the world, standing 33,000 feet from sea floor to summit. Experiencing this place, which has sacred significance to native Hawaiians, is best done at a slow, leisurely pace, with plenty of time to explore.
Instructions
1. Before leaving for the summit, check the conditions. You can do this by visiting the Mauna Kea Weather Center website (see Resources), or by calling. Here you can get stats on cloud cover, visibility, temperature and wind conditions and precipitation. Weather conditions on Mauna Kea range from freezing and windy to mild. Weather can change rapidly on the summit, so check the forecast. It’s best to visit when the weather is mildest, from April to November. Winter on the summit is icy, snowy and cold. If you visit without checking the weather, park rangers can fill you in at the Mauna Kea Visitor's Center, located at the 9,000-foot mark on the Mauna Kea access Road.
2. Bring water, snacks, warm clothes, hat, gloves, socks and good hiking shoes. Have a 4-wheel drive vehicle for making it to the top. Other cars cannot handle the steep, gravel road to the summit. To get to Mauna Kea, you'll take Saddle Road, which runs across the middle of the island, and is accessible from Kona or Hilo. From there, you'll take the Mauna Kea access road up to the top.
3. Stop at the visitor's center before heading to the summit. Here, you can change into warmer clothes, use the restroom, get news about weather conditions and most importantly, get acclimated to the altitude. Mauna Kea is about 14,000 feet above sea level, and the summit is 40 percent above Earth's atmosphere. The high altitude at the summit routinely impairs mental and physical capabilities, according to the University Of Hawaii Institute Of Astronomy. So, if you have health problems, particularly breathing or heart issues, take caution. Inside the visitor's center is a gift shop, stocked with Mauna Kea souvenirs, sweatshirts and other gear, in case you’ve forgotten gloves or a hat. Also, check out the big television screen, which shows space images captured by the 13 telescopes on the summit.
4. Give yourself plenty of time to make your way to the summit. Speed limits are low, and you'll want to drive slowly to take in the otherworldly scenery. Sunset is spectacular from the summit. Be armed with a camera and plenty of water. On the top of the summit, you'll notice the large domed telescopes, which capture images and information from space. Because of Hawaii’s remote location and distance from light pollution, these telescopes are some of the deepest space explorers on Earth.
5. Another gem to see is Lake Waiau, a permanent alpine lake, located about 100 feet below the summit. To get there, you'll hike about 30 minutes over rocky terrain. Because of the nature of the atmosphere on Mauna Kea, this hike can be very dangerous and is not recommended for those with health conditions.
6. After the sun sets, drive down to the visitor’s center for the astronomy show, given by a member of the Mauna Kea staff. Using a laser pointer, staff gives you a tour of the constellations of the night sky, as well as legend, lore and facts about our universe. Scattered around the crowd, you'll find a variety of telescopes where you can view planets. If you need assistance, just ask one of the staff.
Tags: about feet, Mauna access, plenty time, summit check, visitor center