Mauna kea

United States scientists documented the highest level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in millions of years, at the same time as record wildfires blazed through Canada, lacing the air from the Midwest to the East Coast in a blanket of smoke with enough disease-causing particles to make venturing outside unsafe for people with breathing problems. That’s more than 50% higher than before the industrial era began roughly 250 years ago and 3 parts per million higher than what federal scientists counted in May 2022. It represents the fourth-largest annual increase since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration started its tally 65 years ago. In a separate analysis, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego announced almost identical findings. The eruption of Mauna Loa volcano on Nov. 29, 2022, buried over a mile of access road and destroyed transmission lines delivering electricity to the observatory campus for 10 days. But NOAA restored its measuring operation with temporary equipment installed on the deck of the University of Hawaii’s observatory, located near the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano. Scripps began collecting air samples at Mauna Kea six days later, and resumed sampling at Mauna Loa on March 9. While NOAA’s satellites monitor wildfire smoke , the carbon concentrations recorded in Hawaii represent centuries of emissions into the atmosphere which have increased dramatically in total annual volume in recent decades...

We visited the visitor center but were not able to visit the summit, arrived too late. Note: you need to be at the visitor center earlier - if you intent do star gaze at the summit. Before 6pm for sure but I would check. Acclimate for 30 min at least, and have a 4X4 car with lower gear so that the troopers let you drive up, and you must make it to the top before it starts getting dark. On your way back you need to adjust to altitude change again. Tho use with sensitive ears will certainly feel it even going down from the visitor center. The summit is incredible - overlooking mountains, clouds and oceans. Maui's Haleakala is in the distance as is Mauna Loa. The telescopes are magnificent and the snow that was on the summit made it a pretty incredible experience. The sunset was beautiful and we stayed up on the summit until about 715pm when we headed back down to the visitor center for stargazing. We're required to get off the summit at this time by the rangers due to space observations of the telescopes. The weather down in Kailua-Kona was cloudy, but the summit was crystal clear. I'd check the web cams provided by the University of Hawaii for real time info on summit conditions. We booked a tour through Hawaii Island Holidays and it was $259 per person and about a 7 hour tour in all with stargazing and sunset included with transit from Kailua-Kona. I wasn't expecting to go to the summit (I thought the road was closed the day we went). Turns out, the road was open so we dec...

• Hawaii Tours by Type • Land Tours & Services • Ocean & Water Tours • Plane & Helicopter Tours • Big Island Itineraries • Big Island Itineraries • Popular Big Island Activities... • • • • • Explore Big Island Tours Search Now • Blog & News • Itineraries • Trip Cost Calculator • Best Eats • Maps • Local Events • Weather Mauna Kea Beach Mauna Kea Beach is a popular beach located on the Big Island of Hawaii. It features white sand and clear blue waters and is known for its excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. The beach is surrounded by lush green vegetation and several nearby resorts and hotels for visitors to stay at. It is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque beaches in Hawaii, making it a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. — article continued below — Directions to Mauna Kea Beach The sandy cove of Kauna'oa Bay lies adjacent to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Mauna Kea Resort guests have exclusive access to most of this picturesque beach. Yet, others can access it for a fee. Crossing miles of winding roads, follow Queen Kaahumanu Highway until you pass the Waikoloa Resort Area and Hapuna Beach marker. After mile marker 68, you will see the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel entrance on the left. Non-Resident Mauna Kea Beach Parking & Fees Follow the road until it ends at the resort's parking lot; ask to obtain a beach-access pass if you're stopped at the guard shack, then pay $20 for parking (usually via the kiosk machine) as of this writing. Once parked...