KapohoKine Adventures – Maunakea Stellar Explorer (From Hilo)

From waterfalls and lava caves to solar flares and distant galaxies, this Hilo adventure follows the Big Island from daylight into a sky filled with stars. The journey begins along Hilo's waterfront before continuing to Rainbow Falls, an iconic 80 ft tall twin waterfall system known for creating rainbows.

Follow the Wailuku River to Boiling Pots, where rushing water moves through depressions in the rocks and creates dramatic photo opportunities. Then explore part of the lava tube system known as Kaumana Caves, which carried lava 1.5 miles from Hilo town in 1881. After looking around, enjoy a picnic style lunch atop the caves.

The route continues along Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and most massive volcanoes on Earth. A National Park Service trained guide shares in-depth information about the area's volcanology, geology, history, lava flows, flora and fauna. Along the way, a state of the art solar telescope is set up for safe daytime viewing of the sun in true color. Weather permitting, you may see solar flares, sunspots and other current solar activity.

As darkness arrives, travel to a preferred location on Mauna Kea for nighttime stargazing beneath one of the world's darkest and most pristine skies. A Dobsonian telescope provides wide, detailed views of deep-sky and planetary objects. Depending on weather conditions, galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, double star systems, the moon and more may be observed. After stargazing, enjoy a cup of Kona coffee or hot chocolate before returning to Hilo.

Tour Highlights

• Rainbow Falls
• Boiling Pots off Wailuku River
• Kaumana Caves
• Saddle Road with Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
• Solar telescope viewing
• Preferred location on Mauna Kea
• Nighttime stargazing

Tour Inclusions

• Picnic style dinner
• Coffee or hot chocolate
• Warm jackets provided
• Use of Dobsonian telescope

Note: This tour does not visit the Maunakea summit out of deference and honor to Native Hawaiian concerns. It also does not go up to the Visitors Center.