Amazing view, impressive telescopes, and educational tour
Many companies offer stargazing on Mauna Kea, but we’re so glad we went with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures—they made the night unforgettable! 🌌 First off, they’re the original company doing this, with decades of experience—and it shows! Not only do they have impressive telescopes, but their guides are so knowledgeable, turning a simple stargazing trip into something truly special. We were picked up in Kona by our guide, Fernando—such a great start! The drive to the summit was totally pleasant, because Fernando shared tons of interesting stories and facts about the geological formations and landmarks we passed 🗺️. No boring silence here—we learned so much before even reaching the top! We stopped at the visitor center for a hot meal (vegetable lasagna!) and a brownie—perfect, because it was pretty chilly out, and that warm food hit the spot 🥘. I had time to throw on a base layer and take a short walk to see native plants too—little moments that made the trip feel relaxed, not rushed. The sunset at the summit was crowded, but still so enjoyable! Being above the clouds meant we got this incredible view of the sun setting into the soft cloud cover—pure magic 🌇. It was also fascinating to learn about each telescope’s purpose and watch some of them open up for the night—like getting a behind-the-scenes look at astronomy in action 🔭. By then, the temperature had dropped significantly, but the parkas and gloves Fernando provided kept us nice and warm 🧥. The best part? Stargazing with that fancy telescope! Everyone has to leave the summit 30 minutes after sunset, so we set up the telescope by the visitor center. Fernando showed us all sorts of amazing things through it: nebulae, galaxies, red giants—each one more awe-inspiring than the last ✨. We took turns looking, and he also taught us how the universe moves, how stars are created, and how to spot constellations. He even answered every single one of our questions—fun and educational, which is the best combo! To top it off, Fernando brought hot coffee, chocolate, and cookies to keep us warm while we gazed up at the sky ☕. We felt taken care of from the second we were picked up—no detail was missed. I highly recommend Mauna Kea Summit Adventures! If you’re into science, history, or astronomy (or just love beautiful views), you’ll absolutely love this experience. It’s a night we’ll talk about for years! #MaunaKeaStargazing #AstronomyAdventure #FernandoTheGuide #AboveTheCloudsSunset #HighlyRecommendTours
