Maunakea VIS

The Maunakea Visitor Information Station is OPEN! New hours: 9am - 9pm, daily. We are currently suspending our free stargazing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station is located on Maunakea, located at the 9,200 foot (2,800 meter) level, provides health and safety information and education about Maunakea. Due to the hazards of altitude sickness, pregnant women, persons in poor health, and children under 13 should NOT venture above the Visitor Information Station. Drivers are required to

06/16/2026

Maunakea standing watch over Hilo One this morning. (Plus your correspondent’s dog arguing with some waves)
“There are three names for Hilo. They are Hilo One (Sandy Hilo), Hilo Palikū (Steep Cliff Hilo), and Hilo Hanakahi (Hilo of Chief Hanakahi). Hilo One and Hilo Hanakahi are often heard in song. Hilo One is the fine sandy beach of Hilo Bay.

Hilo Palikū is the cliff section of Hilo north of Wailuku River, the river flowing from Waiānuenue Falls.”
From https://kawaiola.news/columns/ka-naauao-o-na-kupuna/the-hilos-the-konas-the-kohalas/ #:~:text=Hilo%20One%20and%20Hilo%20Hanakahi,river%20flowing%20from%20Wai%C4%81nuenue%20Falls.

05/26/2026

Our solar telescope here at The VIS is showing a ton of activity! Flares and spots galore..

05/22/2026

Beautiful conjunction of Venus, The Moon, and Jupiter all in Gemini this week. (Photo by Eric Leifer)

05/06/2026

You’re working on the top of the tallest mountain in the world and you’re on a lift AND you’re on a ladder AND you’re on a catwalk!

05/04/2026

Scorpio and Moon rising heralds the approach of prime Milky Way season. We will have the Galactic Core overhead earlier each evening as the summer goes on.