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You are here: Experts > Cultures > Hawaii/South Pacific for Visitors > Hawaii > Big Island Mauna Kea Observatory
Hawaii - Big Island Mauna Kea Observatory
Expert: Malia - 10/25/2009
Question
We are in our late 60's, and will visit the Big Island the end of February 2010. We're staying in both Honolo and Honuapo areas. We want to visit the Mauna Kea Observatory and see the night sky at that elevation. Are there helicopter tours that incorporate this? And when rough rocky terrain is mentioned by ground tours, could you elaborate on distance and difficultly? In other words, if you were our age, how would arrange spending an evening at the observatory?
Thank you kindly!
Answer
Aloha,
You may contact the Mauna Kea Observatory directly to get infos on tours. Most people take tours by car or van to go up to the summit.
Helicopter tours cover the active lava flows, not the observatory or night sky vision. You cannot take a helicopter that takes you to the summit either, that doesn't exist.
You have to go up as in driving up.
The terrain is rough at times, an it gets cold and it's always or almost always covered in snow.
It is also very dark going up obviously.
If you are in good health, take a tour and go up, see if they stay later and I believe there is an inn on the way up where you can stay.
The only thing to be careful about is the lack of oxygen. If you can't deal with heights, you may need to take a one day break going up.
Contact the Observatory and the University of Hawaii in Hilo, they can give you all details.
And let me know if you have any more questions
Malia
PS: You will love it up there :-)
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