Hilo Seasonal Events

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.

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!

It was great! She did a wonderful job narrating along the way sharing HI history. We didn't get to see the stars due to the weather but she didn't let it slow her down.

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!

Bundle up more than you think you need to and wear a hat/beanie. I had on a t-shirt and flannel tucked in with a leather jacket, scarf, and hat on and was still shivering. If it weren’t for their company-provided jackets, I feel like I would’ve been a goner. I brought and wore gloves, but my hands were still freezing so don’t forget heavy duty winter gloves.Be sure to bring food, snacks, and plenty of water to combat the effects of altitude sickness and dehydration. Make measured movements to not belabor your heart at the high altitude. During the 30-minute altitude acclimation period at the Visitors Center, fuel up before the final ascent. Fellas won’t have problems, but ladies, there can be long queues for the restrooms at the center. There are porta-potties at the summit if you’re able to wait until then.Try to plan your trip around when there’s a new moon. My dad and I lucked out and just so happened to go the night of a new moon, perfect for stargazing and astrophotography. Bring a camera with night capture capabilities. Newer smartphones with night mode and slower shutter speed settings will get you breathtaking photos of the Milky Way.Thank you, Arnott and Andres for making our visit so special!

We took this experience for our 25th anniversary and it was the highlight of our trip! Donna was a very knowledgeable tour guide! We enjoyed the sunset and the stargazing afterwards!

Andrew is great, really knowledgeable about big island and helpful to give out recommendations on the way. We got enough time to watch the sunset at the top. Though the weather condition wasn't the best for star watching, he gave us breaks to watch lava overflow at a distance

This is absolutely amazing trip, the tour is super worth. We are able to see all the stars and sunset, it is beautiful scene

A must do activity in Hawaii. Guide was amazing, views were amazing and the organisation was amazing. Only advice is bring as many layers as you can as it gets cold!!

Our guide is attentive, knowledgeable, and communicative. The tour started at 3 PM (leaving the meetup point) and finished around 9 PM (back at the meetup point). There were 13 people in total, and they were all very friendly. Some of them were on their honeymoon from South Korea. This experience is a bonding time for friends, family, and loved ones.