Mauna Kea ("White Mountain") is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, the largest and southernmost of the Hawaiian Islands. The highest point in the Pacific Basin, and the highest island-mountain in the world, Mauna Kea rises 32,000 feet from the ocean floor to an altitude of 13,796 feet, which places its summit above 40 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.

The summit of Mauna Kea hosts the world's largest astronomical observatory, with telescopes operated by astronomers from eleven countries. The combined light-gathering power of the telescopes on Mauna Kea is fifteen times greater than that of the Palomar telescope in California -- for many years the world's largest -- and sixty times greater than that of the Hubble Space Telescope.

You will picked up at the pier in Hilo by our certified, professional driver in a four-wheel drive van. During the 1 1/2 hour drive to Mauna Kea, your driver will stop along the way so you can purchase snacks or a light lunch. Before making the drive to the summit you will stop for approximately 30 minutes at the Visitor Information Station in order to acclimate to the extreme altitude change. Visit the gift shop, learn more about the history of Mauna Kea or use the facilities while you wait. Once acclimated, the tour continues up to the summit of Mauna Kea, where you will have approximately 30 minutes to explore the broad volcanic landscape which is made up of cinder cones on a lava plateau. Take in the spectacular views as you experience the feeling of being literally "on top of the world".