FAQ | Maui Stargazing

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions!

- We show the most celestial objects of any astronomy tour through a 12” aperture Dobsonian telescope, the largest portable telescope on Maui.
- Our tours are family friendly, and children as young as 4 years on up to nonagenarians are welcome.
- The tour is perfect for couples.
- Guests receive the evening’s observing list and an educational PDF with photographs and explanations of the celestial objects.
- Meeting location:
  - Kula Lodge and Marketplace: 15200 Haleakala Highway, Kula, HI 96790
- We meet 3 hours before sunset. This gives us time to reach the summit of Haleakala 1.5 hours before sunset. Your guide will monitor the conditions and determine the most advantageous spot for the sunset picnic and stargazing.
- Check this link to our observing lists by month: Tonight’s Sky | Maui Stargazing.
- Maui Stargazing shows telescope views of the moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. We use a laser pointer to highlight constellations and other points of interest in the night sky.
- Maui Stargazing does not pick up guests at resorts. It is advised that guests have a rental vehicle to reach the meeting location. Our guests meet one of two locations (Kulamalu Plaza: 55 Kiopaa Place, Makawao, HI 96768 or Kula Marketplace, 15200 Haleakala Highway, Kula HI 96790). Guests park and board our Mercedes Sprinter Van for the six hour tour. You can arrange other transportation to the meeting location if you are not renting a vehicle.
- The drive is very safe and the roads leading to Haleakala Summit are well maintained. The first half takes 30 minutes on a well-maintained state highway through scenic Haleakala Ranch cattle pastures. The second half is within Haleakala National Park and on a well-maintained federal road. Your driver is experienced at driving the route, having conducted approximately 1600 tours over the last 8 years.
- We recommend that guests bring warm layers including a long-sleeved shirt with a fleece hoodie, long pants, and closed shoes with thick socks over the ankle. Maui Stargazing provides warm jackets and snow pants, hats, and gloves.
- Do not under-estimate the cold at Haleakala. It may be Hawaii but wind chill can reach 28F.
- Warm layers of clothing and closed shoes.
- Guests bring their own meals, snacks, and beverages.
- Optional items include hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, cameras, tripods.
- No. Haleakala observatories are research and military facilities and are off limits to the public.
- Maui Stargazing tours take place within the boundaries of Haleakala National Park, and sometimes outside the park if it’s foggy at the summit. We provide the largest portable telescope on Maui for the stargazing portion of the tour.
- Maui Stargazing will cancel in advance of a tour if we think the weather will be bad. Guests have the option to receive a 100% refund or reschedule at no charge.
- If we think there’s a chance for a clear night, we will proceed with the tour. If the weather prevents telescope observing guests may reschedule or receive a 50% refund.
- Maui Stargazing is committed to providing a quality experience and we will cancel in advance of a tour if we think clouds will prevent meaningful stargazing. For canceled tours you may reschedule at no charge or receive a full refund.
- Credit card payments are preferred.
- Yes, you are welcome to tip the tour guide.
- The tour is conducted in the national park and the park is wheelchair accessible. Maui Stargazing’s van is not wheelchair accessible so you will need to bring your wheelchair in your own vehicle. Also, Maui Stargazing’s guide is not able to assist with the wheelchair.
- No. Guests provide their own booster seat.
- You may bring a pet in your own vehicle.
- Maui Stargazing provides chairs, outerwear, and a hot beverage. We have the largest portable telescope on Haleakala for the stargazing portion of the tour.
- You are welcome to bring binoculars, a tripod and camera gear or a small telescope if you have one.
- Because guests have such diverse dietary preferences and restrictions, they bring their own meal and beverages (no alcohol please). Maui Stargazing provides hot water to make Starbucks coffee, Swiss Miss cocoa, and an assortment of herbal teas.
- Maui Stargazing provides folding chairs for the sunset picnic, a hot beverage before sunset, warm outerwear, and a telescope for observing celestial objects.
- We do not pick up at resorts. We advise guests to rent a car or prearrange for transportation to and from the meeting spot. If you use a taxi or Uber, be sure to arrange for the late evening pick up in advance.
- Meeting locations vary between:
  - Kulamalu Plaza: 55 Kiopa’a St., Makawao, HI 96768.
  - Kula Lodge and Marketplace: 15200 Haleakala Highway, Kula, HI 96790
- Park and board our Mercedes Sprinter Van for the 6 hour tour.
- If the tour has started but clouds prevent setting up the telescope we offer a chance to reschedule or receive a 50% refund. Throughout the day we watch cloud movements on satellites, monitor live summit webcams and check several forecasting sites. We are good at making correct assumptions about the viability of a tour. However, we are not perfect and sometimes we reach the summit expecting good weather and find ourselves surrounded by clouds, fog, rain, big wind, and once unpredicted snow!
- If Maui Stargazing cancels in advance of the tour due to clouds, guests may receive a full refund or reschedule at no charge. If we proceed with a tour expecting good weather but clouds prevent stargazing, guests may reschedule or receive a 50% refund.