Drove Bronco up 13,797 ft. to Mauna Kea observatory in Hawaii

[Offroadingturtle]

Nice trip, nice story. I never knew there was snow in Hawaii!

You can find various videos on YouTube of people skiing or snowboarding on Mauna Kea.

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[NJRoadkill]

Beautiful

 

[B Miller]

Great photos. Thank you for sharing. Love the Black Diamonds steel wheels!

 

[mcinfantry]

You used to be able to drive anything you wanted up to the summit. It's only been recently that they actually began enforcing the 4wd rule.

I have friends who used to take their Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys

we went in 2018, and got married on kukio beach in 19…. Pandemic stopped our move to milloli in 20! Hope to be back soon

 

[Silver-Bolt]

You used to be able to drive anything you wanted up to the summit. It's only been recently that they actually began enforcing the 4wd rule.

I have friends who used to take their Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys

I have to admit, I have taken a few rental cars to the summit. Never buy a used rental car. lol

 

[VoltageDrop]

Drove the Bronco up to Mauna Kea observatory here on the Big Island of Hawaii yesterday. Elevation of 13797 ft. Temps get below freezing at this elevation and the summit is regularly covered in snow.
Drivers are required to use 4-wheel drive vehicles above the visitors center because the road to the summit is unpaved, rough, and quite steep. (They have numerous pics of vehicles who've rolled/crashed while descending, most of them jeeps) Those traveling to the summit are recommended to use 4WD Low Range to reduce brake failure and overheating. The rangers check your vehicle before going up and do a break check after you've descended back down to the visitors center which is at 9200ft. Temp on our breaks was 124 f.

Spectacular pics

Can you stay overnight at the summit and starobserve with your telescope?

That would be awesome but I learned a fun fact when visiting Mcdonald Observatory at 6800 ft in Texas. One of the astronomers told us you actually see more stars at Mcdonald than on Mauna Kea because the lack of oxygen at 14k feet makes your eyes less effective in low light. I would love to confirm this myself!

 

[fifteen52]

I did the drive in a rental Jeep a few years ago. We were the last car up the mountain. No snow in July that year, but crazy winds.

 

[Who iz]

I have to admit, I have taken a few rental cars to the summit. Never buy a used rental car. lol

Definitely confirming -do not buy used Hi rental cars!
Many of us have had it-our way on the Big Island.
Aloha!

 

[Darrell]

Great pic's, I forgot about Mauna Kea observatory, I grew up in Hawaii as a Navy brat!!!

 

[JT58Bronc]

Wow nice- must have been a really fun ride both up and down. I never knew it would be that cold and with snow anywhere in Hawaii LOL!

 

[BrentC]

You used to be able to drive anything you wanted up to the summit. It's only been recently that they actually began enforcing the 4wd rule.

I have friends who used to take their Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys

When I was there the “high clearance 4WDs only past this point” sign seemed to only be a suggestion. There were numerous sedans and small SUVs up on the summit. The warning could be a way car rental companies can come back on the renter’s insurance in the event of a breakdown or crash.

I thought the hill down to Wai’pio was steeper and harder on the brakes, plus the hole you needed to cross at the bottom to get to the beach was pretty deep. I was more worried about killing the Patriot there than on the summit.

 

[KKCSHIPP]

Was stationed at Schofield in the Late 80s/Early 90s and we'd train at the Pahakuloa Training Area (PTA) and would always take a ride in our HMMWVs up there before leaving back to Oahu. Many a night at PTA were cold and some snow even at that elevation. Best view in the world though.

 

[WVBaptist]

I have to admit, I have taken a few rental cars to the summit. Never buy a used rental car. lol

Guilty. My Dad drove us all the way to the top in a rental minivan way back in 1991
Good times. Love Hawaii, big Island especially. Only been there twice, I'd love to go back sometime.

 

[Broncogirl66]

awesome pics , I miss Hawaii so much I need to make it back. Thank You for sharing

 

[n0xlf]

Very neat place! I went there in a rental Escalade when I was on a cruise. If you're a space geek, it's an entire complex of telescopes:

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