Stop one on the Hawaii week (minus a long line at the car rentals) took us to the summit, where we explored around while acclimating. I also realized I’d never put a Jeep in 4WD. We caught the sunset at the top, and even a couple doing a snowboard run for novelty.
February 8, 2025
Background
Mauna Kea rises 13,803 feet above the Big Island — tallest mountain on earth measured from its base on the sea floor — and it gets snow, which is why people drive up to snowboard it for novelty. The summit road is 4WD-only and the altitude is real, so you acclimate at the visitor station first. It’s also a deeply sacred site to Native Hawaiians.
If you go
The summit is Mauna Kea (13,803 ft) — yes, it gets snow, hence the novelty snowboard run. The summit road is 4WD-only and the altitude is real: the Park Service and the observatories want you to stop and acclimate at the Visitor Information Station (9,200 ft) for at least 30 minutes before going higher. Sunset up top is the draw, but it’s also a deeply sacred site to Native Hawaiians, so go respectfully and check current access rules before you drive up.
