Mauna Loa Observatory - Waimea

One of the best sunsets I have ever seen they can go to the observatory with every car, 4wd is not required observatory itself is closed for the public they can from the parking of the sternwarte to the summit hiking the running gear up here is a track with several spots for them to avoid incoming traffic the road is paved this place is high enough to see the sonnenuntergang even rains

If you plan on hiking from the visitors center, make sure you are prepared!I got there 30 min before sunrise to acclimatize as well as check weather. Started at 6:30AM and got back around 2:30 pm, 8 hours total with breaks at a moderate pace. Amazing views, worth every second! Always check weather before you go, high winds and quickly changing weather are common.

Very beautiful place to stargaze. Be sure to have enough fuel, water and snacks as the uphill travel time is around 90 mins. Also pack coats, sweaters as it can get pretty cold up on the top. At the top the elevation is around 11,000 ft and it is a single lane road. The road may be foggy for a bit but the drive to the top is worth it. It was cloudy in the base, but when we reached about 7,000 ft, we could see clear sky filled with stars. If you have time and would like to see the stars, I would definitely recommend this place. Even if you cant go to the top, try going until 7,000 ft the elevation markings are on the road)

Review for the hike:As an avid mountain scrambler, the hike wasn't a problem and was pretty easy, but the elevation was a challenge. I'm used to 10-11k ers in the rockies, but 7 hrs at 11-13.5k is intense.

Timed our visit during a cloudless night with a new moon that had already set. Saw an amazing array of stars and was provided a great informative review and educational experience. Followed with a photo of us by our Analog Astronaut guide that is worthy of framing.