Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing
Watch a breathtaking sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea nearly 14,000 ft above the Pacific Ocean. Explore the amazing star-filled night sky from where ancient Hawaiians believed the earth meets the universe.
$265.00 + tax & fees
Book online
Truly Stunning Sunset
Mauna Kea offers a breathtaking view that is hard to match. Located in the center of Hawai’i Island, Mauna Kea has an unobstructed view of the horizon and the sky. This view, coupled with its famously clear skies and dry crisp air, creates the perfect condition for truly stunning sunsets.
The Best Stargazing Experience
After sunset, it’s time to explore the star-filled night sky from one of the best stargazing spots in the world. Our guide will show stars and constellations using a green laser and a computerized telescope.
Tour Details
| Price | $245 (plus tax & fees) |
| Availability | Daily (weather permitting) |
| Age Restriction | 13-84* |
| Minimum Participants | 3** |
| Maximum Occupancy Per Vehicle | 12*** |
| Departure Time | Early afternoon (time varies with season) |
| Returning Time | Late night (time varies with season) |
| Tour Duration | 7-8 hours |
| Time Spent at the Summit | Approx. 1hr during sunset |
| Stargazing | Approx. 1hr guided with a computerized telescope |
| Gear Provided | Heavy-duty hooded parka |
| Food Provided | Light snacks and hot chocolate |
| Vehicle | 4×4 passenger van |
*Children 12 or younger are not allowed on our tours due to the high altitude. Seniors 85 or older may only participate in our Private Charter Tours for our guides to be more attentive to their health during the tour.
**If the number of participants does not reach 3 by 24 hours before the tour departs, the tour will be canceled. Customers who have already applied will have the option to pay the difference to avoid cancellation.
***Maximum occupancy per vehicle is subject to change due to the Covid-19 regulations by the State of Hawaii and the County of Hawaii.
What to Bring
- Warm clothes such as long pants, sweater/hoodie, warm socks, and closed-toe shoes are must-haves. (A heavy-duty hooded parka will be provided)
- We strongly encourage you to bring your own water. Drinking water will reduce the risk of altitude sickness and prevent dehydration in the dry climate of the summit area.
Please Note:
- This tour does not include meals. Please have a large lunch before joining the tour. We do not recommend having a big meal during the long break at the Visitor Center because eating heavily just before ascending to a high altitude on a rough road may make you feel sick. Instead, we provide light snacks and you are welcome to bring your own.
You may get hungry after the tour, therefore we recommend preparing something for when you get back to your accommodations. There are a few 24-hour stores in Kona in case you weren’t able to prepare beforehand. Please ask your guide for more information. - Alcohol beverage is not allowed during the tour.
- Please do not bring in large luggage such as suitcases.
- $6 commercial tour passenger fee for the Office of Mauna Kea Management is included in the tour price.
- Gratuity is not included in the tour price but tips are much appreciated by your guide.
Learn more about our Mauna Kea Tours.
Isaac and Jenna B
November 28, 2023.
The best tour!
Do it! Book through Taikobo Hawaii. A lot of unfortunate events with our airlines caused us to miss our tour departure date. We communicated the morning-of and they were so accommodating and moved our tour to the next day. Our tour guide was Shin and he. was. AWESOME! I felt safe going up a mountain that steep, winding and unpaved in places. He knew and shared a lot of facts about the island, the mountain, and Hawaii. Star gazing was his jam. He was very passionate about stargazing and teaching us about stars. We didn’t have the clearest night to observe in the dark, but Shin made a great effort in showing us the planets and stars when the clouds would part.
Shashank Garg
November 26, 2023.
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
Absolutely amazing sunset views and stargazing tour!! John was very knowledgeable and took real good care of us! He has all the right equipments to make sure the tour is amazing, comfortable and enjoyable. Would definitely recommend this as this is a must do activity when on big island!
So E
November 23, 2023.
Wonderful Mauna Kea’s tour with Shin-san!
We went on this tour for a family trip and had an absolutely wonderful time. Even though we didn’t prepare anything other than clothes, our guide, Shin, provided us with a wealth of knowledge about both Mauna Kea and space, and we learned so much. The stargazing tour, in particular, was eye-opening and overwhelming. We could see much more than we expected. Looking up at the sky, I had the feeling that countless stars were falling on us. From now on, I will remember this tour every time I see the sky. I appreciate that we had this tour; thank you so much, Shin-san!
Oscar S
November 14, 2023.
Excellent tour, John is the nicest guy!
Incredible experience, specially if you are a star freak! Really one of the coolest nights of my life, can’t wait to do it again!
Curiosity30341920812
November 14, 2023.
Excellent experience!
I have done the Sunset and Sunrise tour in the past. This was, by far, the best experience I've had! John was an amazing guide! I loved his explanations of Hawaiian culture and especially loved the Hawaiian chant he did before we went to the top of Mauna Kea. It was extremely moving and brought me to tears. He was also an excellent guide to the stars during the stargazing portion of the evening. This tour was top notch and I would highly recommend John as a guide!
823jackh
October 14, 2023.
Phenomenal night sky adventure
We signed up for this trip primarily for the sunset experience - which was indeed everything we hoped for. But this treat was to some extent surpassed by the night sky tour that John led us through with the help of his laser pen and telescope. His knowledge of the heavens above was extensive and he explained everything in a detailed manner with a touch of humour. Can’t fault anything about the arrangements, highly recommended.
Keito
October 10, 2023.
Star gaze tour
The view was amazing. And the tour guide showed us all kinds of stars. It was fascinating to hear them. 参加者が全員日本人だったこともあり、 日本語でのツアーでした。 ジョークも交えた喋りと、ハワイの文化に敬意を表しながらのツアーで、楽しくハワイの歴史や文化を触れることができました。
Scott C
September 16, 2023.
Breathtaking experience - Top notch guide!
We are so glad we were able to book a last minute trip with Taikobo during our short stay on the big island. It is an absolute must do experience and I would highly recommend it to everyone. Our guide Shin was not only very knowledgeable about the culture, Hawaii, Mauna Kea, the various observatories and the stars, he was also very passionate about the experience making sure everyone was feeling well and having a great time. He made sure to check in with us frequently and took many photos of us at various points of interest during our ascent and sunset. The stargazing was spectacular the night we went up. Not only were the conditions great but we also had a red glow visible from Kilauea in the distance. Shin spent plenty of time pointing out various constellations visible with the naked eye including the milky way and also a star, galaxy and Saturn through his amateur telescope that he brought with him. We were probably the last van to leave the mountain after stargazing. Shin went above and beyond with the experience and took beautiful photos of us with his more advanced camera that was able to capture both the milky way and the lava glow in the same frame. If you are on the fence about doing an excursion like this I would highly recommend it. Shin will make it an unforgettable experience.
Elke G
September 14, 2023.
Awesome Experience!!!
My husband and I loved this tour to Moanakea. Or tour guide Shin was the best! He was caring and always concerned about our welfare due to the potential for altitude sickness. We did fine, however and had no problems. Shin is quite a photographer and took many pictures for us and the other guests. We especially enjoyed the Stargazing and the pictures he took of us with the Milky Way behind us! - Shin made it interesting and shared a lot of knowledge about the stars and skies. We highly recommend this tour - don't miss this great experience!
Josh C
September 4, 2023.
Amazing!!!
This tour exceeded all of our expectations. Shin is by far the best tour guide we have ever had and Mauna Kea is the most memorable experience we had while on the island. The beauty is indescribableI I can see why it’s a sacred place.