Mauna Kea astronomical tour from Hilo

This thrilling adventure is the only Big Island star tour to feature nighttime astronomical observing and safe daytime solar viewing.

Start your adventure in quaint Hilo town where you’ll drive along the historic waterfront before arriving at Rainbow Falls. This iconic waterfall right off a postcard features an 80-foot tall twin waterfall system. Look for the rainbow effect that gives the waterfall its name!

Continue traveling up the Wailuku River to Boiling Pots. Explore Kaumana Caves, part of the lava tube system that brought lava 1.5 miles from Hilo-town in 1881. Take a peek inside the cathedral-like space before tucking into a quick picnic-style lunch atop the caves. Next, you’ll travel across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and most massive volcanoes on Earth. Next, your guide will set up a state-of-the-art solar telescope for your viewing pleasure and will let you safely watch the sun come alive in true color with vibrant solar flares, sunspots, prominences and any other current activity weather permitting.

Lastly, your guide will take you to one of our preferred locations on Mauna Kea for nighttime stargazing. You’ll observe deep-sky and planetary objects through a large aperture Dobsonian telescope under one of the darkest and most pristine skies on planet Earth! The Dobsonian telescopes are a true purist’s experience to view the night sky. Their fast focal ratio enables you to see sprawling wide-field views of objects. Depending on what is visible in the current sky and weather permitting, you’ll observe galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, double star systems, the moon and much more. After this, warm up with 100% Kona coffee, hot chocolate, and a delicious dessert from a local artisan baker before returning to your hotel.