2 curated experiences
Mauna Kea
At 13,796 feet, Mauna Kea is one of the world's premier astronomical sites — the Milky Way looks painted on. Two very different experiences: (1) The Visitor Information Station (VIS) at 9,200ft — free, no 4WD required, open nightly 6–10pm, telescopes available. VIS staff run a free public stargazing evening with larger telescopes once a month (reservation required; check ifa.hawaii.edu/vis). This is excellent for anyone without a 4WD vehicle. (2) Summit at 13,796ft — requires a 4WD vehicle above the VIS; rental cars are neither permitted nor insured on the unpaved summit road. Mandatory: acclimatize 30+ minutes at the VIS before going higher. No children under 13 above 13,000ft recommended. Temperature at summit: 30–45°F with extreme wind chill regardless of the coast forecast.
Mauna Kea
Free sunset viewing and naked-eye stargazing with staff-led sky talks at 9,200 ft; there have been no public telescopes since 2019 (safety/overcrowding), so this is not a telescope-viewing stop.
49 on the calendar
2026-01-01
2026-01-03
The Quadrantids are one of the year's strongest meteor showers, with a brief, sharp peak in early January that can produce 40 or more meteors per hour under dark skies. Because Hawaiʻi has some of the clearest, darkest skies in the U.S., the islands are a superb place to watch. Look in the hours before dawn, away from town lights — a high-elevation spot or a dark leeward beach is ideal. No telescope needed; just let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes.
2026-01-18
2026-02-28
2026-03-29
2026-04-04
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