Mauna Kea: The White Mountain
Videos of Snow on Mauna KeaHere are some pretty good videos of some of the snow fall that we experienced on Mauna Kea last year. I also added some good videos of snowboarding on Mauna Kea. People ski and snow board, and then go jump in the ocean. All within a couple hours. Hawaii is truly a amazing place, and Mauna Kea definitely stands out. The Observatories and Telescopes of Mauna KeaMauna Kea plays host to some of the worlds most powerful telescopes. The summit of the mountain is 13,796 feet (4,205 m) above Sea level, and is the highest point in Hawaii. Well above the inversion layer, the observatories experience a average of over 300 clear nights a year. Arguably the best astronomical site in the world Mauna Kea's observatories host scientists from around the world. Because it is close to the equator, much of the North and South skies are visible. Relatively low population on the island, means less man made light for the telescopes. There are twelve telescopes on the summit, within a special precinct known as the Astronomy precinct. The University of Hawaii manages this area,and lease the land out to the facilities, who all together have invested Two Billion Dollars into the observatories. There is accomadations for the scientists, and a visitor center at about 9200 feet. Here is a link to the University of Hawaii Mauna Kea website. 
Tips on Visiting Mauna KeaOne of the best tours of Mauna Kea is given by Hawaii Forest and Trail. They take you to the Summit, at sunset, which in itself is a spectacle to behold, but the real show begins when the stars come out. you feel like you are in the heavens, like you could reach out and touch a star. Dinner and warm jackets are provided. If you are planning a trip on your own, checking the weather forecast is always advisable. This Link seems to be pretty reliable for checking the weather. You can also check out their, webcams from the observatories. Another good idea is to take some time to adjust to the altitude at the visitor center, before you go to the top. Some people experience altitude sickness. To leave our page on Mauna Kea, and go to our main page on Volcanoes, follow this link |
