FAQ

Guests ages 12 and under are not permitted due to the potential health risks of extended time at high altitude. Guests ages 13–17 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult.

Our tours follow the safety guidelines of the Center for Maunakea Stewardship.

Near the summit of Mauna Kea, at roughly 13,800 ft, the lower atmospheric pressure means your body receives only about 60% as much oxygen as it does at sea level.

Guests in the following categories may not participate:

• Those with heart or lung conditions
• Anyone who has been scuba diving within the previous 24 hours
• Pregnant guests
• Those with a BMI over 40.0

If you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor before joining the tour. We also ask guests to avoid alcohol for at least 12 hours before departure.

Even healthy people can experience altitude sickness. Common symptoms include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Unusual thirst
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Impaired judgment
• Loss of balance or coordination

Please tell your guide immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Slow, deep breathing, staying well hydrated, and avoiding sleep can help your body adjust to the altitude.

We stop at the Onizuka Visitor Center (9,200 ft) for at least 30 minutes to acclimatize before continuing toward the summit, and your guide will provide tips for adjusting to the altitude along the way.

Yes. We provide each guest with a heavy-duty hooded parka at no additional charge. Other clothing and cold-weather gear are not provided, so please bring your own.

Warm clothing and accessories are also available for purchase at the Onizuka Visitor Center. Please note that the Visitor Center is closed during Sunrise Tours.

In addition to the parka we provide, we strongly recommend bringing:

• A warm, long-sleeve sweater or sweatshirt
• Long pants, preferably made of thicker fabric
• Warm socks that cover your ankles
• Closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers

A beanie or warm hat, gloves, and thermal base layers are also recommended. Sunglasses are useful for protection from the intense sunlight, wind, and dust at high altitude.

Meals are not included. We recommend having a good meal before joining the tour.

We generally do not recommend eating a large meal during the acclimatization stop at the Visitor Center, as eating heavily just before traveling to higher altitude on a rough road may make you feel uncomfortable. We provide light snacks, and you’re also welcome to bring your own.

Hot chocolate is provided during the tour. Please bring your own drinking water; we recommend at least 1 liter per person to help you stay hydrated at high altitude.

You’re also welcome to bring other non-alcoholic bottled beverages. Alcohol is not permitted during the tour.

Choose the pickup point that works best for your location or plans for the day: Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach Resort, or the Onizuka Visitor Center.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are also available in select areas for an additional fee on the Signature Tour.

See our Pickup Locations page for details.

Yes. We do not offer pickup in Hilo or the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park area, but you can drive to the Onizuka Visitor Center and join the tour there.

The Visitor Center is approximately a 40-minute drive from Hilo and an 80-minute drive from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Tipping tour guides is customary in the U.S., but gratuity is entirely at your discretion and is not included in the tour price. If you enjoyed your experience, you’re welcome to tip your guide directly at the end of the tour.

As a general guideline:

• Signature Tour: $20–25 per person
• Private Tour: 7–10% of the tour price for the group

Yes. A minimum of three guests is required for the Signature Tour to operate.

If fewer than three guests are booked 24 hours before departure, the tour may be canceled. Guests who are already booked may have the option to pay the difference for the three-person minimum if they would like the tour to operate.

If a guest becomes ill or injured and the guide determines that continuing as planned would be difficult or unsafe, the itinerary may need to be modified for the entire group.

If a guest needs to leave the tour early due to illness, injury, or another personal reason, at least one companion, if traveling with others, must accompany them. Any return transportation must be arranged at the guest’s expense.

For the comfort and safety of all guests, animals are not permitted on the Signature Tour.

Certified service animals may be accommodated on a Private Tour. Because our guides are not trained in the effects of high altitude on animals or in veterinary care, the guest is responsible for the animal’s health and well-being throughout the tour.

Tours may be canceled due to severe weather, road closures, or other conditions that make it unsafe or impossible to operate.

If we cancel your tour before departure, you may reschedule or receive a full refund.

Weather and summit access can change quickly, and we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable viewing conditions.

If a road closure or other unforeseen circumstance prevents us from reaching the summit, we will provide a full refund or credit toward a future tour. If weather prevents us from conducting the stargazing portion of the tour, we will refund $50 per guest.

We will make every effort to contact you by email, phone, or text at least a few hours before your scheduled pickup time.

Please make sure the contact information provided with your reservation is accurate and that you can receive messages on the day of your tour.

• Signature Tour — 1–4 guests: Full refund or credit when cancellation notice is received by 12:00 noon HST one day before the tour.
• Signature Tour — 5 or more guests: Full refund or credit when cancellation notice is received by 12:00 noon HST two days before the tour.
• Private Tour: Full refund or credit when cancellation notice is received by 12:00 noon HST three days before the tour.
• Operator cancellation: Full refund or credit if we cancel due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
• No-shows: No refund.

We reserve the right to cancel a reservation if the information provided is incorrect or invalid, including an invalid phone number or email address.