Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station

The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (Hale Pohaku) is located on Mauna Kea — a dormant volcano on the island of Hawai’i — at the 9,200-foot (2,800-meter) level. The center provides health and safety information and education about astronomy on Mauna Kea, which is home to many great astronomical observatories. Be sure to visit the website for more information about visiting the summit, altitude considerations, possible crowding, road conditions. Note that the summit itself is not recommended for stargazing, both because your eyes don’t function well at the high altitude and in order not to disturb the scientific observatories with night time traffic. The Visitor Information Station offers free stargazing programs throughout the year, which are also listed on the website. “Clear, stable air, low light pollution,” an EarthSky friend said about this location. The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day of the year.