Mauna Kea State Park at a Glance
Rising over 13,000 feet against the sky, the Mauna Kea is
a fitting centerpiece for one of Hawaii’s biggest attractions.
The peak marks the center of the Mauna Kea State Park, a
500-acre property featuring magnificent lakes, interesting
wildlife, and breathtaking natural views. Easily its biggest
draw is the Pu'u Wekiu cinder cone, the topmost of the mountain
and the highest point in all of Hawaii.
The name Mauna Kea means “white mountain,” a reference to
the seasonal snowcap that occasionally appears on its peaks.
Legend has it that the snow goddess Poliahu lives in the
mountain itself. To the state park visitors, however, the
appearance of snow in the middle of the Pacific is simply
a wonder of nature. In the Northern Hemisphere winter, the
white slopes of the mountain appear almost surreal in the
mist.
The area is also a science preserve run by the Mauna Kea
Observatory, whose office is built on Mauna Kea’s slopes.
The facilities are mostly for private research, but try
hiking over to the observatory in the late afternoon-the
colorful sunsets are definitely worth the walk. Other hiking
trails take you to the Puuhauoki peak, one of the most scenic
points on the mountain.
From the higher slopes of the park, you can get great views
of the nearby Mauna Loa. Slightly smaller but far more active,
Mauna Loa literally means “long mountain” and makes for
an excellent panoramic picture. The best time to catch the
view is late afternoon to early evening, when the mountain
is most visible against the sky.Mauna Kea State Park
in Bullet Points
Mauna Kea State Park Location
Address: Saddle Road, 35 mile marke, Hawai'i(BigIsland), Hilo, HI 96743
Mauna Kea State Park Map (top)
Loading...
Mauna Kea State Park Weather
(top)
Now
73°F
Windchill:
73°F
Partly Cloudy
|
Location: Kamuela, HI, US
Wind: 18 mph NE
Humidity: 65%
Visibility: 0 mi
Pressure: 30.14 in rising
Sunrise: 6:38 am
Sunset: 6:34 pm
|
Thu
Hi: 80°F
Low: 69°F
Partly Cloudy
|
Fri
Hi: 81°F
Low: 70°F
Sunny
|
Mauna Kea State Park Photos (click to enlarge)
(top)
Mauna Kea State Park Reviews and Comments
(top)
|
