KapohoKine Adventures – Maunakea Stellar Explorer (From Kona)

Watch the Big Island sky transform from brilliant daylight to deep starlight on a tour that combines safe solar viewing with nighttime astronomy. The experience begins with a Hawaiian style dinner, followed by a close look at the sun through a state-of-the-art solar telescope. Weather permitting, you may see vibrant solar flares, sunspots and other current activity in true color.

The journey continues across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and most massive volcanoes on Earth. Along the way, your National Park Service trained guide shares fascinating information about the island's volcanology, geology, history, lava flows, flora and fauna.

After dark, your guide selects a preferred location on Mauna Kea for stargazing beneath one of the darkest and most pristine skies on Earth. A large aperture Dobsonian telescope provides wide views of deep-sky objects that are not possible with many smaller telescopes. Depending on weather and other conditions, you may observe galaxies, star clusters, nebula, planets, double star systems, the moon and more.

After stargazing, warm up with a cup of Kona coffee or hot chocolate before returning to your hotel.

Tour Highlights

• Solar telescope viewing
• Views of Saddle Road, Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa
• Stargazing on Mauna Kea

Tour Inclusions

• Hawaiian style dinner
• Coffee or hot chocolate
• Warm jackets provided
• Use of Dobsonian telescope

Note: This tour does not visit the Maunakea Summit out of deference and honor to Native Hawaiian concerns.