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Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KONA

star-464 Reviews
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Waikoloa, United States
Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KONA
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Maunakea Stellar Explorer from KONA
Night Sky
Night Sky2
Milky Way
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From $239.79

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icon6 hours 30 minutes  (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

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Overview

Hawaii’s natural wonders aren’t only on land and in the sea—the Big Island is also a prime spot from which to admire the wonders of the solar system. This tour is the only one that includes both afternoon solar viewing and nighttime stargazing, accompanied by astronomy experts. Visit different destinations and use a state-of-the-art solar telescope and Dobsonian telescope to spot solar flares, galaxies, star clusters, and planets.
  • Spectacular solar and astronomical sightings through high-powered telescopes
  • Delicious Hawaiian-style dinner with a view over Kailua Bay
  • Learn more about astronomy from expert guides
  • Hassle-free hotel pickup and round-trip transport
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From $239.79

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Bottled water
Driver/guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Jackets
Dinner
Gratuities
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3:30 PM
Please call the phone number on your ticket/voucher for your pick up time and schedule.
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 26 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Kapohokine Adventures
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
I am a vegetarian / I have allergies / I am gluten or lacto free.
A:Just let us know any dietary requirements in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.
Jul 2019
Q:
What is the pick up location?
A:We offer pick ups from most hotels. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.
Jul 2019

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Traveler Tips

  • "Notwithstanding everything else, i would recommend this tour if you have any interest in the night sky!" See review

Reviews by Viator travelers.  We perform checks on reviews

Reviews

4.0
star-4
64 Reviews
5 stars
34
4 stars
11
3 stars
6
2 stars
2
1 star
11

Reviews by Viator travelers

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 64 reviews
star-5
A TRANSCENT EXPERIENCE
Krysten_G
, May 2022
KRYSTAL WAS AMAZINNGG!!! This was honestly a life changing experience for me. My stay in Hawaii was for almost a month and out of everything I did even island hopping between Oahu and Kona, this was the highlight of my entire trip! Dinner was tasty, the trip there was scenic and Krystal was very knowledgeable. Not only this the star gazing along with Krystal's expert knowledge made this the experience of a lifetime! I almost cancelled because I injured my leg the day prior but they were able to accommodate me. Thank you so much Krystal! This was amazing!
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star-5
Oh that's what it looks like.
Jim_S
, May 2022
Your in the area of the greatest star gazing in the world. Great tour to learn what is above you. Coming from the mainland and city living the world above is not seen. Our galactic guide Marcus did a great job . Against the movie DO LOOK UP!
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star-4
Rained out Skies.
Richard_B
, Apr 2022
We had an excellent driver/guide. Really enjoyed his stories. We were rained out but he made the most of what he could control. Not his fault as he was good but didn’t control the sky. I took a chance but it didn’t work out.
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star-1
Disappointed!
Nancy_D
, Feb 2022
We saw no stars. This company does not drive above the clouds. There was no compensation for seeing no stars. Very expensive van ride with a fish taco dinner!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-4
It was good stargazing...
Emily_C
, Jan 2022
It was good stargazing (the best view of sirius and the moon I've ever had), and our guide was knowledgable about astronomy, and good at keeping up an educational dialogue through the trip, and helpful/ensuring everyone's comfort. However, the description on Viator says that there are two stops going up Muanakea, and I think this is misleading. All we did was cross the street, and it was a location I had already been to on the island (across from a popular rest stop), so it doesn't seem that exceptional. The good news is that you have an easy bathroom opportunity. I thought we would be going higher up the mountain (although I knew this was not a summit tour). I would also like the company to incorporate more Hawaiian/indigenous stellar history/stories. For example, the constellations we learned about came largely from a western/European perspective. Since this tour mentions not going to the summit our of respect for Hawaiian concerns, it would be nice to incorporate more of their history/beliefs/culture into this tour.
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star-4
Fun experience
Gregory_G
, Jan 2022
Marcus is informative and an excellent guide. Clouds limited the experience And viator suggested the worst pick up location
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star-3
Pick a clear night
ashimmy
, Jan 2022
You need to be able to see the stars. We had a not great experience because it was rainy with dense clouds and there were no stars or planets to see. The food is not great and they shorted us one meal. On the positive the tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept trying her best to find us a place to see the stars. It wasn’t her fault.
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star-4
Tour Is Great, But Not To The Top
Kelly_A
, Dec 2021
I was under the mistaken impression that this experience/tour went all the way to the top of Mana Kea, not a grass strip at 7,000ft ASL. It wasn’t until our guide Marcus, who was great by the way, mentioned we were going up to only 7,000ft that it became apparent this wasn’t a stargazing trip to the top of the mountain, nor even to the Visitors Center at 9,000ft. That needs to be stated in the description up front, not as the last sentence. Marcus was great, and made the best of the situation. He was very knowledgeable in astronomy.
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star-5
A wonderful educational experience
Shahid_R
, Dec 2021
Marcus, our guide, was passionate about astronomy. He had good knowledge base and took time to explain various stars and why their positions change at various times and months. In spite of some clouds he showed us several stars and galaxies using his large mirror telescope. Hot cocoa and jackets were provided at the right time. It was a small group. I believe everyone enjoyed the experience. If you are remotely interested in Astronomy or space science, you will enjoy this your.
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star-5
Stargazing
Debra_P
, Nov 2021
Richard was very nice and knowledgeable. The stars were awesome. Thank you to Richard for this great trip
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-1
Appalling
Nelly_M
, Nov 2021
Trip was worth about $20 in my eyes our tour guide Marcus was amazing he should have got the $240 not the company providing the service
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star-3
Pathetic dinner provided
Melad_G
, Nov 2021
Your guide was great but the dinner provided was pathetic . With the price of the tour, you should provide a descent dinner in a descent restaurant and at least some drinks (soda , coffee, etc.)
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star-5
Well Worth It!
Anthony_E
, Nov 2021
Absolutely AMAZING! Marcus was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly and personable. The shuttle was comfortable, food was good and stars were fantastic! Thank you! One suggestion... We appreciated the jackets, snacks and hot cocoa but maybe bring some beach chairs for guests too? Several hours of looking up and standing can be tiresome and potentially disorienting.
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star-4
Great stargazing
Michael_S
, Oct 2021
Stars and planets were cool. Guide was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout the experience. Yeah!
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Very cool
Samuel_D
, Sep 2021
Rich was a fantastic guide. Super nice, funny, and very knowledgeable. Got to see and incredible number of astrological objects.
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star-4
Stargazing
Karen_M
, Sep 2021
Our guide was the best ever, he was knowledgeable, good communicator, engaging… he made the tour very nice. I believe he's name is Mr. Richard Berner The one thing we did not like is the amount of hours in car picking up other people in hotels, not good and too long.
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star-2
Not Covid Safe
Gregory_J
, Aug 2021
This was incredibly disappointing. The weather did not cooperate so we just drove up then back down. This trip is not Covid safe. There were 13 people in a van and the driver did not enforce masks. I had to ask him to remind people to wear a mask, he did once and they took them off immediately after. So much time was wasted picking people up, some were staying 45 min away. Also the trip is misleading. You are not going to the observatory at all. You go up to a park 7000 feet up and park by a playground. We then tried to other locations which were a bust. I’m giving two stars because the guide was very friendly and told a lot of stories about Hawaii. I applied for a partial refund, so I hope I get it and at least didn’t pay $240 for an over crowded van ride.
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2 travelers found this review helpful
star-5
Saw a Moon Bow!
James_A
, Aug 2021
Marcus, our tour guide and driver, was able to find planets and star clusters for us to view despite the bright moonlight and clouds. We viewed a moon bow—created from the moisture in the air and the bright moonlight.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Wonderful experience
Cheryl_K
, Aug 2021
Marcus was a great tour guide. He is very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the island, the vegetation, the microclimates, the volcanic activity, and full of suggestions for places to go. The star gazing through the telescope was amazing. We saw the rings of Saturn and nebulae and constellations. This is a great experience for all ages and definitely worth the money. Highly recommend.
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star-3
Not great
Laura_H
, Jul 2021
Our guide was knowledgeable. We were under impression we'd be going to the observatory ABOVE the clouds which we DID have. The food was OK at best, facility was dirty & no bathroom service. We observed stars from a military base parking area where active combat firing drills occurring. Not something I liked hearing
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2 travelers found this review helpful
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