Fri, Nov 1: Mauna Kea

In the afternoon and evening we took a tour to Mauna Kea.  On the drive, we saw the Nene, the offical state bird of Hawaii.

Only 4 wheel vehicles are allow to go past the visitors center, and rentals are forbidden to do so, 4 wheel or not.  If you break down, $700 for a tow, $400 for a taxi ride back, the rental agency charges $300 for breaking the contract, and you pay for the repairs.  So a tour is probably a good way to go if you want to go to the summit.  Our tour included a boxed dinner (about 4:00 pm at the vistors center), information about the 13 telescopes on Mauna Kea,

a parka to wear against the cold while viewing the sunset from the summit, 13,803 feet elevation,

And using the telephoto:

and a private telescope star gazing back down near the visitors center at about 9,000 feet elevation, where is it not quite so cold (the visitors center also has telescope viewing, open to the public).  We really liked the tour.