Big Island of Hawaii | Mauna Kea Sunset and Stargazing

It’s truly worth a visit!! It was raining at the foot of the mountain, but the summit was incredibly beautiful, with the most stunning sunset I’ve ever seen. 🌄✨ ✅ Make sure to check the sunset time; you can’t go up anymore half an hour before sunset, and they clear the area after sunset. ✅ Rent a 4WD vehicle with at least half a tank of gas, and you can make it to the top. Don’t listen to the airport car rentals saying you can’t go up; they claim private cars aren’t allowed. We booked a tour, and the tour to the summit was $260 per person… it’s a pure money-making scheme… ✅ The speed limit on the mountain road is very low; it’s not difficult to drive, just bumpy. We rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it was fine. It takes about 30 minutes to drive up because you go slow. There’s a gear mode switch for descending that provides assistance. The ranger does a check and gives instructions before you go up. ✅ For stargazing, return to the visitor center after sunset. Before the moon rises, staff will give a star talk using laser pointers. It was the first time I’ve seen so many stars so clearly; it was absolutely worth it! 🌌👀 #SunsetAndStargazing #BigIslandHawaii #MaunaKeaObservatory