Mauna Kea Arnott's Adventures

This tour was fantastic and the view even before sunset is unmatched. And that's not it, if you're the type to be interested it's amazing to see the change from sea level then through the clouds where visibility seems to be near 0 and finally up above the clouds with an unobstructed view all the way to the horizon. Our tour guide was a fountain of knowledge for not just of matters of the tour but also for the area and Hawaii in general. He was very kind and kept checking on our wellbeing for any altitude related ailments. All in all an excellent tour for the price.

The tour was paced well with a stop at the visitor center to make sure that everyone adjusted the altitude. Warm jackets were provided on the top of the mountain.

Going to the top of Mauna Kea has long been on my bucket list. Went with this tour because it was relatively inexpensive and I didn't need dinner included. The guide, Andres, was very knowledgeable but could be a bit brusque, almost to the point of being rude. From reading the other reviews, it looks like Donna is the guide you'd want.

Mr. Arnott conducted a very organized and informative tour. The Mauna Kea summit experience was really fun and beautiful. I am so glad we accepted the offer to wear the freely-provided parkas; it was quite windy and cold at the summit, with freshly-fallen snow to add to the dramatic sights we saw ar sunset. The stars were beautiful and seemed so nearby that I imaged I could touch them.

Donna is an absolutely passionate and super informative guide! We had such a great time visiting Mauna Kea—definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island. Ask her anything about the island and you’ll never be bored. She knows so much and makes the whole tour fun. Highly recommend Donna’s tour to anyone visiting the Big Island!

On our way up to Mauna Kea we broke out of the cloud cover at about 9,000 feet and swapped soggy Hilo for a wonderland. And as we climbed to the top at 14,000 feet it just got better and better. Its cold and exhausting up there but our guide could not have done enough to ensure we were safe and warm. Later on when darkness fell he took us on tour of our solar system, the Milky Way and Andromeda. Back home I will be a star gazer. I have never spent a better three hundred dollars.

Arnott’s Mauna Kea Adventure is a budget-friendly, Hilo-based way to experience the Mauna Kea observatories and some of the best stargazing on Earth. The tour is about 7–8 hours, starting at sea level and ending near 14,000 feet, with several acclimatization stops along the way. One stop is at the Onizuka Visitors Center, which has great information about the observatories and fun souvenirs. These breaks were essential—I live at 5,300 feet and still felt the rapid altitude gain, and the stops made the longer sunset stay much more comfortable. A huge bonus was that our Arnott’s tour was the first to arrive and the last to leave the summit, which meant we had the top almost entirely to ourselves for a while. Sunset among the observatories was unbelievable—watching the sun disappear while the telescopes opened for the night was a true highlight. After sunset, we descended to around 12,500 feet for stargazing. Our guide gave a great overview of the night sky and showed guests how to take iPhone star photos. I chose to step away from the phones and simply stare at the sky—an incredible experience. Arnott’s has a relaxed, low-key Hilo style. They provide practical Carhartt coats (not the oversized flowery parkas you see on other tours), but they don’t provide snacks or drinks, so bring a water bottle and food. Highly recommended for an authentic Mauna Kea experience.

Wonderful trip great tour guide!!! Eris was very knowledgeable and made sure everyone was safe and had a great time

No amount of words can truly describe how terrific, engaging, and informative Donna was. It’s immediately clear that she genuinely loves what she does—and she is exceptionally good at it. Her knowledge, energy, and storytelling made the experience memorable, and we felt lucky to have her as our guide. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone, especially with Donna leading it. The only thing I would change is the duration of the tour—it could definitely be shortened by reducing some of the waiting and lag time. For the price point, providing drinks or light snacks would also be a nice touch. Overall, though, it was a great experience, and we’re very thankful Donna was our guide.

I was lucky to find one spot left on this tour during Christmas holiday season. Our guide, Donna, was highly experienced and took us to many amazing locations with great efficiency and warm hospitality. She knew all the best spots, gave helpful tips on where to look, and made sure everyone was comfortable with the altitude. The sunset above the clouds, the observatories, the stars, and the Milky Way—everything was absolutely breathtaking. I’m so glad I joined the tour. One tip: bring a small amount of tissue paper and hand sanitiser, just in case the portable toilets at the summit run out during high season!