The summit of Mauna Kea provides dramatic scenery and an unforgettable visitor experience.

To visit, please contact the Onizuka Visitor Information Center at (808) 961-2180, located at the 9,200-foot basecamp of Mauna Kea. The center provides information about astronomy and the environmental, cultural and geological features of Mauna Kea. After dark the center provides free stargazing programs and invites the public to view the stars through their portable telescopes.

We're sorry, but the W. M. Keck Observatory does not provide tours to Mauna Kea at this time.

Guests with 4-wheel drive vehicles are permitted to drive to the 14,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea, weather permitting. At the summit, the W. M. Keck Observatory provides a visitor's gallery with a 15-minute video, an interactive kiosk, two public restrooms and a viewing area with partial views of the Keck I telescope and dome (look for the blue door). Gallery hours are 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

For those who do not plan on making the full-day excursion to the summit, the Keck Observatory headquarters in Waimea provides a display area in its business lobby featuring the same interactive kiosk and video as are featured at the summit.

Safety reminder: The summit of Mauna Kea at nearly 14,000-feet altitude, presents unique challenges to visitors. Visits to the summit require a 30 minute acclimatization stop at the 9,200-foot Onizuka Visitor's Center, warm clothing for the summit, sunscreen for protection from excessive UV radiation, and water. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required beyond the 9,200 foot level as the air is too thin to adequately cool a vehicle's brakes upon descent.

Temperatures on the summit can fall to 20 (F) ( -4 (C)) within a matter of hours; it is highly recommended that all visitors to the summit take warm clothing and sturdy footgear sufficient to withstand the elements should the vehicle break down. High winds on the summit can often result in blowing snow, sleet, fog and sometimes, flying rocks. Winds can reach 150 mph; beyond 75 mph vehicles are at risk for being blown off the road.

The summit of Mauna Kea is one of the most remote locations in the Islands. Medical and auto help is a minimum of two hours away. Most car rental companies void the rental contract if their cars are driven on Saddle Road and to the summit. It is a safety requirement of the road-maintenance organization for the summit that all vehicles driving up and down the mountain beyond the Hale Pohaku basecamp be four-wheel-drive vehicles. Caution is advised.