Mauna Kea stargazing: tours, prices and what to expect

For the lowest starting price among the Mauna Kea tours we list, start with the Epic! Tours experience. Epic! Tours' Mauna Kea Stargazing Experience + Free Photos starts at $259 per person and lasts 2 hours. Hawaii Island Holidays' Hawaii's GOAT Experience starts at $289 per person, and Wasabi Tours Hawaii's Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour starts at $299 per person. Your choice turns on price, how long you want to be out, and whether you want a full day.

What should you know about Mauna Kea stargazing?

Epic! Tours and Hawaii Island Holidays both operate from Hilo. Wasabi Tours Hawaii runs its Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour from Kailua-Kona.

Weather and cloud cover decide what you see, so no tour here can promise a clear night. Check the forecast before any night tour.

How do you choose?

Choose by price first, then by how long you want to be out. Duration is the second split. The Epic! Tours trip lasts 2 hours. The Wasabi tour runs 12 hours and includes meals.

If you are staying in Kona or Waikoloa, the Wasabi tour's meeting point is major hotels and resorts there. If you are staying in Hilo, note that Epic! Tours meets in Waimea, not Hilo.

How much does it cost, and what is included?

Prices start at $259 per person for the Epic! Tours experience, $289 for Hawaii's GOAT Experience and $299 for the Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour. Epic! Tours includes Milky Way group portrait photos, the GOAT Experience includes sunset viewing at Mauna Kea, and the Wasabi tour includes meals.

What should you expect: how long it lasts and where it starts?

Epic! Tours' experience lasts 2 hours and meets at 44-5400 Daniel K. Inouye Hwy, Waimea, HI 96743. Plan your own way to that address.

Wasabi Tours Hawaii's tour departs at 9:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. and lasts 12 hours. Set aside a full day for it.

Hawaii Island Holidays' GOAT Experience lists Hilo as its meeting location.

Who does it suit, and who should skip it?

The Epic! Tours experience suits travelers who want stargazing and photos without a full day. Travelers who want a longer day with meals and a volcano visit should choose the 12-hour Wasabi tour. Skip the Wasabi tour if you want a short outing, since it runs 12 hours.

Wasabi Tours Hawaii's tour has a minimum age of 5 years, so children under 5 are not eligible.

What are the tours to book?

Book the Epic! Tours experience for a 2-hour outing with Milky Way group portrait photos.

Hawaii’s GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars from Hawaii Island Holidays includes sunset viewing at Mauna Kea.

Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour, run by Wasabi Tours Hawaii, starts at $299 per person and runs 12 hours. Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour from Wasabi Tours Hawaii suits a traveler who wants meals included.

How do booking, cancellation and weather work?

Epic! Tours gives a full refund up to 24 hours before Mauna Kea Stargazing Experience + Free Photos from Epic! Tours starts. Hawaii Island Holidays gives a full refund or credit with 48 hours notice of cancellation. Wasabi Tours Hawaii's cancellation window is 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Is a clear night likely at Mauna Kea?

Not on any single night: clouds and weather decide what you see, and no tour here can promise a clear sky. If your plans may shift, note that Epic! Tours and Wasabi Tours Hawaii have 24-hour cancellation windows and Hawaii Island Holidays has a 48-hour window.

How much does Mauna Kea stargazing cost?

The three tours we list run from $259 to $299 per person, with Epic! Tours the lowest and Hawaii's GOAT Experience at $289.

How long does Mauna Kea stargazing take?

Epic! Tours' experience lasts 2 hours.