Pu'u Kalepeamoa — Attraction in Hawaii

We were trying to watch the sunset from the summit but it ended up to be too much of a hassle (we only had a few days, all tours were booked and we had a hard time finding a short-term 4x4 rental). Instead, we drove to the Visitor Centre (about a 40 minute drive from Hilo) and then hiked to this location. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous, above the clouds. Make sure to bring layers of clothing - I left my winter jacket in the car and only wore a hoodie and regretted it bitterly after the sun set. Stargazing after the sunset is also great, by the way, but need to wait for...

Pu'u Kalepeamoa, or Sunset Hill, is a cinder cone near the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (MKVIS) that serves up big views of the Saddle Road region and can provide incredible sunset views looking west toward the Kona coast. It's possible to just hike up to Pu'u Kalepeamoa and back to the MKVIS for a nice, short outing, but we present a longer loop hike that allows you to visit the area around the MKVIS. If they are blooming, you can also visit the ʻāhinahina (Silversword) Enclosure near the parking lot to round...

This short, but extremely steep hike to the top of a cinder cone will leave you breathless at 9,000 ft altitude! But totally worth it for killer views at any time of day, especially sunrise. It's definitely the best spot to watch sunrise on the island. Temperatures here can go down to the 30's, and it can be quite windy, so dress warmly and wear ear protection. It's open 24/7. Also an amazing place for star gazing! (Or to watch Mauna Loa erupt if you are lucky enough...