TourTruth score 8.4 out of 10
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Hilo Maunakea Stargazing Tour 7 hr
TourTruth score 5.0 out of 10
Average
189 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score
- Big Island of Hawaii
- 7 hrs
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore the Big Island’s skies with daytime solar viewing and nighttime astronomy on this guided Maunakea tour from Hilo.
About this tour
See the Big Island’s skies in a new light on the Maunakea Stellar Explorer, a 420-minute experience departing from Hilo. This tour pairs nighttime astronomical observing with safe daytime solar viewing, offering two distinct ways to explore the sky.
Experienced guides share their knowledge as you observe the stars and learn about the Sun. The team includes astronomy specialists with backgrounds in observatory work and astronomy writing. Hotel pickup and drop-off, dinner, beverages, coffee or tea, and bottled water are included, so you can focus on the views and the stories behind them. The experience is designed for all ages, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
Maunakea Stellar Explorer does not visit the summit or Visitor Center, in deference to Native Hawaiian concerns. Book this Hilo stargazing tour for a memorable look at the skies above the Big Island.
Highlights
- Observe the night sky with experienced astronomy guides
- View the Sun safely during daylight
- Enjoy a tour designed for all ages
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Driver/guide
- Bottled water
- Dinner
- Beverages
- Coffee and/or tea
Not included
- Gratuities
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
-
View on ViatorViator
4.45 / 5 · 107 reviews
-
View on GetYourGuideGetYourGuide
4.44 / 5 · 82 reviews
What reviewers mention
Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.
Often praised
Important information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- The tour does not visit the Maunakea summit or Visitor Center
How this score is calculated
This tour scores 4.45 on Viator and 4.44 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.
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 5.0.
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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4.0
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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