Maunakea Stellar Explorer Kona

A 6-hour guided stargazing and solar viewing adventure departing from Kona. This is the only Big Island star tour to feature both nighttime astronomical observing and safe daytime solar viewing, with all ages welcome. The evening begins with dinner, followed by a setup of a state-of-the-art solar telescope for live views of solar flares, sunspots, and prominences in true color. The tour then travels across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with a National Park Service-trained guide providing narration on the area's volcanology, geology, lava flows, and native flora and fauna. At a preferred stargazing location on Maunakea, observe deep-sky and planetary objects through a large-aperture Dobsonian telescope under some of the darkest skies on Earth - galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, planets, double star systems, and more. KapohoKine's in-house stellar explorers include the creator of the original Mauna Kea Visitor Center and contributors to astronomy publications. Warm jackets, 100% Kona coffee, and hot chocolate are provided. This tour does not visit Maunakea's summit out of deference to Native Hawaiian concerns. Pickup from Kona-area hotels. A 48-hour cancellation notice is required.