Mauna Kea, Dormant volcano on Big Island, United States
Mauna Kea rises 4,207 meters above sea level, forming a massive shield volcano covered with cinder cones and glacial deposits on Hawaii's largest island.
The volcanic activity of Mauna Kea concluded between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago, leaving numerous cinder cones and solidified lava flows across its surface.
Native Hawaiians consider the summit area restricted to high-ranking chiefs, connecting the mountain to their ancestral traditions and spiritual practices.
Visitors need four-wheel drive vehicles to reach the summit area, and should spend 30 minutes at the visitor center to adjust to the altitude changes.
The mountain houses thirteen international astronomical observatories at its summit, taking advantage of the clear atmosphere and minimal light interference.
Location: Hawaii County
Elevation above the sea: 4,207.3 m
Website: https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=332030
Made from material: basalt
Website: https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=332030
GPS coordinates: 19.82067,-155.46807
Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:45
Mauna Kea Observatories
740 m
W. M. Keck Observatory
913 m
Subaru Telescope
1 km
Parker Ranch
29.9 km
HI-SEAS
24.4 km
Mauna Loa Observatory
33.6 km
Akaka Falls State Park
33.3 km
James Clerk Maxwell Telescope
976 m
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility
812 m
Submillimeter Array
1.1 km
Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope
534 m
AMiBA
33.6 km
Caltech Submillimeter Observatory
812 m
United Kingdom Infrared Telescope
342 m
Mauna Kea Trail
3.5 km
Onizuka Center for International Astronomy
6.7 km
Mauna Loa Solar Observatory
33.6 km
Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve
2.3 km
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area
10 km
UH88
338 m
Isaacs Art Center
31.1 km
Anna Ranch Heritage Center
32.3 km
Pu'u Huluhulu
14.8 km
Imiola Church
30.6 km
SPIRou
554 m
Gemini North
364 m
Mauna Kea VLBA station
2.5 km
Laupahoehoe Train Museum
30.5 kmReviews
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