Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Experiencing Where the Gods Live
Moments
“The ancient Hawaiians thought of the top of Mauna Kea as heaven,
or at least where the Gods and Goddess lived,” according to Monte
“Pat” Wright, owner and chief guide of
Mauna Kea Summit Adven-
tures.
Wright, the first guide to take people up to the top of the
Mauna Kea, world's tallest mountain when measured from the base
and an astonishing 13,796 feet when measured from the sea, says he
fell in love with this often-snowcapped peak the first time he saw it.
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures offer a luxurious trip to the top of
the world. The 7- to 8-hour adventure actually begins midafternoon
with pickup along the Kona-Kohala coast in a custom Ford 4-wheel-
drive, turbo-diesel van. After a dinner of gourmet sandwiches, vege-
tarian onion soup, and hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, everyone climbs
back into the van for the half-hour ride to the summit.
Arriving in time to catch the sun sinking into the Pacific nearly
14,000 feet below, the guide points out the various world-renowned
telescopes as the observatories open and the high-tech, multi-mirrored
telescopes rotate into position for night viewing. After the last trace
of sunset color has disappeared from the sky, the tour again descends
to mid-mountain, where the climate is more agreeable, for stargazing.
Pregnant woman, children under 13, and obese people should not
travel to the summit due to the decreased oxygen. Because the roads
to the summit are bumpy, anyone with a bad back might want to
reconsider the trip.
The cost for this celestial adventure is $165 (15% discounted if you
book online at www.maunakea.com 2 weeks in advance). For more
information, call
&
888/322-2366
or 808/322-2366.
On the north shore, near Upolu Point Airport.
The Original King Kamehameha Statue
All ages.
It's worth a 5-
minute stop to see the statue of the leader who united the Hawaiian Islands.
There's one just like it in Honolulu, across the street from Iolani Palace, but this
is the original: an 8-foot, 6-inch bronze by Thomas R. Gould, a Boston sculp-
tor. It was cast in Europe in 1880 but was lost at sea on its way to Hawaii. A sea
captain eventually recovered and returned the statue, which was finally placed
here, near Kamehameha's Kohala birthplace, in 1912.
Kamehameha was born in 1750, became ruler of Hawaii in 1810, and died
in Kailua-Kona in 1819. His burial site remains a mystery.
Hwy. 270, Kapaau.
Pololu Valley Lookout
All ages.
At this end-of-the-road scenic look-
out, you can gaze at the vertical jade-green cliffs of the Hamakua coast and two
islets offshore. The view may look familiar once you get here—it often appears
on travel posters. Most people race up, jump out, take a snapshot, and turn
around and drive off; but it's a beautiful scene, so linger if you can. For the more
