TourTruth score 7.1 out of 10
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Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing
TourTruth score 8.8 out of 10
Very goodTop 8% in Big Island of Hawaii
72 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Big Island of Hawaii
- Updated November 2, 2026
Watch sunset above the Pacific, then explore Mauna Kea’s star-filled skies through a professional telescope with hot chocolate and local snacks.
About this tour
Watch the Pacific sunset from the heights of Mauna Kea, then turn your gaze to a brilliant canopy of stars. This Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing tour pairs dramatic mountain scenery with a closer look at the night sky.
Meet at Queen's Marketplace in Waikoloa Beach Resort; contact the provider for your pickup time. At the summit, take in the changing colors over the ocean and learn about Mauna Kea’s cultural significance. After sunset, explore the stars through a professional telescope with private stargazing. A heavy-duty hooded parka, local snacks, and hot chocolate help keep you comfortable in the high-altitude chill. The tour has operated since 1989 with trained guides and luxury 4WD vans, according to the provider.
Prepare for the altitude by bringing water and warm layers, wearing closed-toe shoes and long pants, and eating a full meal beforehand. A $20 per person stewardship fee supports the care of the mountain’s natural and cultural resources. Choose this Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing experience for a memorable evening above the clouds, where sunset views give way to a telescope-assisted journey through the stars.
Highlights
- Watch the sun sink below the Pacific from Mauna Kea’s summit
- Explore the night sky through a professional telescope
- Hear about Mauna Kea’s cultural significance and the universe
- Warm up with hot chocolate and local snacks
What's included
Included
- $20 per person fee for the Center for Maunakea Stewardship
- Private stargazing with a professional telescope
- Heavy-duty hooded parka
- Local snacks
- Hot chocolate during stargazing
Not included
- Warm layers, including a sweater or hoodie, warm socks, beanie, and gloves
- Closed-toe shoes and long pants
- Drinking water
- Guide gratuities
- Meals
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
4.99 / 5 · 72 reviews
Important information
- Guests must be ages 13–80; guests ages 13–17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult
- Moderate physical fitness is recommended
- Guests with heart conditions, lung disease, serious medical issues, or pregnancy cannot participate
- Guests who have scuba-dived within 24 hours and guests with a BMI over 40 cannot participate
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- Alcohol and intoxicated guests are not allowed; pets, including service animals, are not permitted
- Eat a full meal before the tour; bring water and warm layers, and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants
- Meet at the shuttle bus stop by the curb at the back of Queen's Marketplace in Waikoloa Beach Resort, near the large yellow umbrellas; contact the provider for pickup time
- A minimum of 3 guests is required; if fewer than 3 are booked 24 hours before departure, the tour may be canceled unless guests agree to cover the difference
- Weather or road closures may cause cancellation; a new date, full refund, or credit may be offered depending on circumstances
- Guests who cannot continue due to illness or injury must arrange and pay for their own return transportation; a companion must accompany them when applicable
- Request an XL parka at booking if needed
Frequently asked questions
Where is the meeting point?
Meet at the shuttle bus stop by the curb at the back of Queen's Marketplace in Waikoloa Beach Resort, near the large yellow umbrellas. Contact the provider for your pickup time.
What is included?
The tour includes private telescope stargazing, a hooded parka, local snacks, and hot chocolate. A $20 per person fee supports the Center for Maunakea Stewardship.
What should I bring and wear?
Bring water and warm layers, including a sweater or hoodie, warm socks, a beanie, and gloves. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and eat a full meal before the tour.
Who can join the tour?
Guests must be ages 13–80. Guests ages 13–17 need a responsible adult. Guests who are pregnant, have certain serious health conditions, scuba-dived within 24 hours, or have a BMI over 40 cannot participate.
What happens if weather or road closures affect the tour?
The tour may be canceled before departure, with a new date or full refund offered. If the summit is unreachable due to closures or unforeseen issues, a full refund or credit is available.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.99 from 72 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 8.8. Top 8% in Big Island of Hawaii means it ranks in the top 8% of tours in Big Island of Hawaii by this score.
Provider rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii
How many tours in Big Island of Hawaii have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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