Big Island Stargazing Tour

A Fun Evening Adventure For The Whole Family

5/5 (153 Reviews)

Journey with us through the highlands between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. This dry area makes for clearer skies and better stargazing. We will find a place where we can relax and enjoy the night sky, high above the Kona coast. This evening stargazing adventure includes hotel pickup just before sunset and a full hour of stargazing from various areas.

Starting At
$358 USD
Duration
4-hour
Location
Big Island, Hawai’i

What's Included
- Local, professional adventure guide
- Pickup and return to your Hilo or Kona resort
- Seat in a small group tour vehicle

From: $179^.00

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4-Hour Big Island Stargazing Tour From Hilo Hotels

Starting at
$179^.00
per guest

Guests

$ 179^.00

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Pick-up Location

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Any hotel or accommodations not part of Hilo the assigned Pickup Area is always: Liliuokalani Gardens: 189 Lihiwai St #151, Hilo

Pick-up Location

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Liliuokalani Gardens: 189 Lihiwai St #151, Hilo

Pick-up Location

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Grand Naniloa Hotel.

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Keoukaha General Store: 11 Silva St, Hilo.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Hilo Bay Hostel.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of SCP Hilo Hotel.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Wild Ginger Inn Hotel & Hostel.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Hale Kai Hawaii Suites.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Hilo Beach House Inn.

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Outside the lobby, at the entrance of Orchid Tree Bed & Breakfast.
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Starting At: $0 USD
With taxes & fees: $392.01

Big Island Stargazing Tour Features

Big Island Stargazing Tour Viewing The Stars From The Clear Skies Of Mauna Kea On The Big Island Stargazing

Big Island Stargazing

To really appreciate the night sky, you need to get to a place away from other lights. On this tour, your guide will find the best spot to enjoy the night sky high above the Kona coast on the slopes of Mauna Kea. This is a relaxed sky-watching experience with local guides, comfortable outdoor seating, and fascinating stories about Polynesian voyaging.

For guests looking to go to the summit (13,000’) to stargaze, please choose this Summit & Sunset tour for guests 15+.

For guests looking for an in-depth stargazing tour with a large telescope provided by an astronomer.

Big Island Stargazing Tour Stargazing Mauna Kea Guests

Feature Big Island Stargazing Tour Mauna Kea Stargazing Kapohokine Van

Feature Hawaii Forest And Trails Stargazing Telescope Big Island Of Hawaii

Guide To The Sky

Your adventure guide will point out constellations and other important celestial bodies. For centuries, sailors worldwide used the stars to navigate without today’s technology. The ancient Hawai’ians navigated all over the Pacific Ocean by observing the sky, clouds, and ocean currents. We can show you the stars they used (and even Maui’s fishhook). Your guide will share stories about Hōkūleʻa, a Hawai’ian voyaging canoe that has sailed over 140,000 nautical miles across the Pacific without modern navigation systems.

Mauna Kea Conservation Area Hawaiian Marker

Sunset and Sightseeing

Your adventure starts just before sunset, so you will have some time for sightseeing with your local tour guide before heading higher up to the stargazing location. We will stop at several scenic viewpoints that will change based on your group’s preferences, including a brief picture stop at a lava field and upcountry ranch views.

Big Island Stargazing Tour Details

Highlights

Pickup And Return To Hilo Accommodations
Tour Of Sky By Your Small Group Adventure Guide
Learn To Take Photos Of The Night Sky
Have Some Fun Doing Light Painting

Enjoy A Hot Drink (Cocoa, Tea & Coffee)
Outdoor Seats & Blankets For Your Comfort
Discover The Sky With Our iPad Star App
Make Sunset And Multiple Scenic Stops

Description

Go stargazing/sky-watching with a local guide, and be amazed by the incredible night sky. This tour is great for the family and is a fun introduction to the celestial bodies above us while being an awesome way to spend the evening. As the sun falls below the horizon, the lack of light pollution here makes the slowly emerging stars look at the more vivid, and there are so many more of them than you are used to seeing!

Your guide will pick you up just before sunset and take you to a place to enjoy the setting sun and the beautiful colors before heading up toward the valley between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.

While the sky gets darker, we explore a little bit of this area high above the Kona coastline. At around 6000’, the air is much cooler, the sky is clearer, and the landscape takes on a new look, with the cinder cones making long shadows.

Your guide will find the best spot that evening to enjoy the sky and set up chairs with blankets so you can cozy up and enjoy trying to spot asteroids, meteors, and even satellites. We will have phone apps and other fun tools to make your experience even more special.

Your guide will show you how to take great pictures at night. Light paint your way to epic photos that will be amazing to share with the world.

Warm drinks like instant hot cocoa, coffee, or tea will be available. Your guide will be there to answer all your questions (even if they don’t know the answer) and keep you entertained. After spending a good amount of time hanging out under the stars, we will return you to your hotel for a great night's sleep. You will love your time with us.

This tour does not include a high-powered telescope or is astronomer-led. Please choose this tour for a more in-depth stargazing option.

Price & Availability

4-Hour Big Island Stargazing Tour From Hilo Hotels

Guests

$179^.00

Itinerary

Kona - currently not available:

4:40 PM - Pickup Of South Kona Guests
5:20 PM - Pickup Of Waikōloa Guests
6:00 PM - Enjoy Overlook Stop For Sunset
6:30 PM - See Various Sites Of Upcountry Kona
7:00 PM - Stop For Stargazing
8:20 PM - Leave Upcountry Kona
9:10 PM - Return To Waikōloa Resorts
9:50 PM - Return Of South Kona Guests

Hilo:

5:20 PM - Pickup Of Hilo Guests
5:30 PM - Gardens & Historic Hilo
5:50 PM - Rainbow Falls
7:00 PM - Stop For Stargazing
8:20 PM - Leave Upcountry Kona
9:20 PM - Return To Hilo Resorts

Times will fluctuate through the year by about 1 hour. Exact locations and timing will change based on the group and weather. The guide knows several locations where stargazing can occur and weather at 6000’ changes frequently so conditions can change rapidly.

Included

Local, professional adventure guide
Pickup and return to your Hilo hotel
Chairs and blankets for stargazing
Hot instant drinks (cocoa, coffee, tea)
Star viewing tools to use including binoculars and app
Seat in a small group tour vehicle
Guided tour of the night sky by your guide

Food & Drinks

There are no meals included in this tour. We will have a variety of hot water drinks available for guests while stargazing, including instant coffee, tea and cocoa.

Instructions

We will no longer provide car seats for children on our Big Island tours. Guests traveling with young children must bring their own car seats.

Cancellation

The guide will determine the conditions on the mountain for the tour to proceed. The guide knows a number of locations where stargazing can occur and the approximate weather at 6000’. Mountain weather changes frequently so conditions can change rapidly from bad to good.

The tours will be rescheduled if there are forecasted weather events with full credit towards another tour. There are no cash refunds for cancellations within 72 hours of the tour. There are no refunds for no-shows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a telescope we can use?

This tour does not use a telescope but we do have high-powered, astronomical binoculars for your use. The astronomical binoculars combined with a holder and a photo app, allow you to see things very clearly and with great detail. You will be able to see the planets of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn if those planets are in view. We have found that the level of experience that can be provided by a standing telescope that we can use on our stargazing tours, does not meet our guest's expectations.
What app do you use on this tour?

We encourage guests to download StarWalk at their accommodations prior to the tour as the cellular service may be limited. You are encouraged to download a night camera app and other tools so you can get some great pictures too.
Are there meals provided on this tour?

We do not include meals on this tour and we encourage guests to eat prior to tour pickup. You may bring snacks and drinks. Your guide will provide some hot drinks and other things as part of the personal touches they bring to the tour.
What does this stargazing tour involve?

This stargazing tour is a little different than the others. You are on this tour to enjoy the night sky, spend time hearing some stories, and take some nighttime photos. You will relax in zero-gravity chairs that lean way back so you can look right up. You will cozy up in blankets next to loved ones. We serve some simple hot drinks like cocoa and coffee to keep you warm. For those looking for a more in-depth astronomy and night-sky tour, you should choose one of our other star-gazing tour options.