The summit of Mauna Kea

What a beautiful mountain Mauna Kea is.

'Mauna' means mountain; 'Kea' means white.

During winter, it becomes white with snow on the top.

It is about 4,207m (some say 4,205m) tall from the ocean surface.

It is taller than Mt.Fuji in Japan.

This place is an ideal for observing starts and universe with telescopes.

The summit is dry, cool and less clounded.

The air is very clear and the best for telescopes to explore the universe.

It has low air concentration in the atmosphere as well, so it has less oxigen here.

People need to take it easy here: no rush, no running but need deep breath.

It is a secret for the Hawaiian people.
This place is to connect between the land (Papa Hanau Moku--mother earth) and the sky (wakea--sky father).




I volunteered at the summit today.

I could see the Haleakala mountain in the Maui island.

It was beautiful day.

People can apply to be a volunteer at Mauna Kea as a day-tour or stargazing assistant.

Or, Mauna Kea provides a day tour to visit the summit to see the telescopes.

Also, people can join at the Onizuka Center for star watching at night.

Mauna Kea provides star talks, small telescopes, the information booth, and a gift shop to entertain.

Many people have left many hands and souls to this secret place
as a volunteer, a practioner, a visitor, a constructor, an astronomist, a renger, a Hawaiian, a worker, and etc....

Mauna Kea is named by the Western people but not by the Hawaiians.

My hula kumu (hula teacher) told me that it is originally named as Maunawakea.

I believe that "wakea" means a name of "mother land goddess".