VISITING Mauna Kea
One of the most incredible sights to see on the Big Island is the summit of Mauna Kea, not only for its beauty but also for its cultural and spiritual significance. Mauna Kea (meaning “white mountain”) is technically the world’s highest mountain starting from the sea floor, reaching an elevation of 13,803 feet.
When driving up to the Mauna Kea summit, be prepared to arrive at least 2 hours before sunset. You will need an hour to acclimate to the elevation and the gate to the summit closes one hour before sunset.
Pack a lunch/dinner/snack as you will be up there a while.
Typical and best experience is to go watch the sunset from the summit, wait about 1.5 hours for the light pollution to dissipate, then you are able to see stars. You may get kicked off the Mauna after sunset and sent down the hill, but you can stop at a number of various spots on the way down to stargaze.
You can see 90% of the stars you can see from planet Earth from Mauna Kea. Ever heard of the “Southern Cross”? I first saw this in Australia and the next time, (you guessed it) Mauna Kea.
IMPORTANT: You need a vehicle with a true 4-low transfer case to go DOWN the Mauna. 4-low slows you down so you don’t ride the brakes as hard.
Riding the brakes causes overheating of the brakes and can cause brake failure.
You will need either a Gladiator or Wrangler for Mauna Kea.
You also need a full tank of gas before you head out.
Which rental car companies allow you to drive up Mauna Kea?
One of the most important things to note when visiting Mauna Kea is that you must have a car with 4WD. Not all rental companies allow you to take your rental up Mauna Kea, so make sure to ask your car rental company.
If you are renting from us, you must rent a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator to get to the summit.
Common Mauna Kea questions and issues:
Overheating: Be sure to turn off the AC when going up — this includes the defrost setting.
Battery issues: Batteries can sometimes become problematic at high elevations. We recommend leaving the Jeep running at all times if possible (you’ll want the heater on anyway).
Brake failure:
Video on how to use 4-low:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-7EkvmnaNw&t=29s
Check road conditions before heading out
Mauna Kea Current Conditions:
http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/road-conditions/
Mauna Kea Live Webcams:
http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/cams/
Questions? Please email us info@bigislandjeeprental.com