I found the BEST nighttime activity on Maui!
 

Returned from our first trip to Maui early this morning and should really be in bed now but wanted to post this info to share.

I had researched a lot before our trip but had never heard or read about this activity until we got to Maui and I saw one of the fliers for STAR GAZERS MAUI. We called and booked this and it was a true highlight of our trip. You meet the tour at the top of Haleakala and view the sunset which was incredible but it was what followed that was truly awesome. When it gets dark there is the most amazing star display you will ever see - THOUSANDS of stars are visible - more than anyone we were on the tour with had ever seen in their life. The tour owner (Jim) and his assistant(Benny) set up their large telescope, explain various astronomical facts, and guide you to viewing planets and stars. It was truly amazing! They provide a really tasty sandwich and salad dinner plus a non-alcoholic drink, down coats, hats, and gloves, and later in the night, hot chocolate, and cookies.

I would highly encourage anyone on Maui to try this out. All the people that were with us loved it too. The tours are only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and weather permitting. We had originally booked for our anniversary night but it was cancelled due to total cloud cover at the summit but then we got to experience it the next night we had free. We booked directly with STAR GAZERS MAUI owner Jim at (808) 281-9158.

Hope others looking for a nightime activity get to try this out. Especially after experiencing it, I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about it earlier.

Will post more about our trip later when I've had some time to recover.

I think you mean "second best" night time activity !!!

Yep, Rusty. I was a bit leery as I waited for the post to load. Wondered how carried away a honeymooner actually got on this board :-)

Jillian, it does sound like a great thing to do! Thanks for sharing.

Hi Jillian,

Thank you for sharing your original idea! How fantastic, and this is the first I have heard of it. Some very good friends of mine go to Hawaii twice a year, I will share this with them, as well.

((S)) ((*)) ((S)) ((*))

Aloha, T.

Rusty, my man, when a void is created, something else fills that void. I'm beginning to see the future of my wildlife in the lives of others here.

This same activity can also be done on the BI. Mauna Kea is where the major observatories are located. There are tours that will take you to the top for sunset, then go down to the visitor's center for stargazing. My DH and I have done it both to the top and just to the visitor's center and the stars are AMAZING.

Rusty, Star,
Maybe the top 2 activities could be combined. I think I might enjoy viewing the stars myself!

IR

This is a joke, right? Where is everyone booing "advertisement" like they usually are?

STARGAZERS MAUI in all caps, all the time? Gimme a break.

love
ROXY

There is also start gazing & telescope from the roof of the Hyatt once or twice a week for a fee, forgotten the details tho'.

Well, perhaps because Jillian is a longtime poster on this board and not someone who just registered to advertise?

I am big fan of Fat Tire Bike Tours in Paris and have posted just as glowing remarks. I am not adverstising - nor was Jillian.

Jillian,
I can only imagine how wonderful it was to be star gazing in Maui!
I have done it at home and in a few different places, but the way you did it must have been so great!!
Thanks! ((*))

suzietrue - could you tell me how you arranged you bi excursion. if it won't upset turn it on to much maybe you could even say the name of the co. on bi. thanks

virginia,

Last time we went to BI with kids, we just drove to the visitor's center for Mauna Kea and they had telescopes set up for viewing. DH and I did the trip to the top in 1993 so not sure if that vendor is still around. There have been posts about this trip in the last year.

SuzieTrue

Don't bother with a tour or telescope--just go up for the sunset, and stay until dark and watch the show. We saw tons of meteorites shooting through the sky, the stars were amazing--and we were just headed up for the dawn (sunrise has been nothing but clouds and frozen people 3 times now).

turn_it_on/ROXY,

No, it's not a joke nor an advertisement. Just trying to share what turned out to be one of our most awesome moments on Maui.

By the way, I put the company's name in all caps because that's the way it is on their flier and I'm kind of a stickler about communicating things exactly as they appear. Sorry you're so cynical.

Aloha!