Hawaii is full of majestic mountain peaks and lush valleys, but there is one summit that stands tall above the rest. Mauna Kea, or Mauna a Wakea in Hawaiian culture, is Hawaii’s tallest peak, but also one of the most fascinating mountains in the Pacific! Check out some of our favorite fun facts about Mauna Kea - which ones did you already know?
1. Mauna Kea measures up at 13,796 feet above sea level, the highest point in the state of Hawaii.
The peak is so tall, in fact, that visitors are advised to stop at the visitor center for at least half an hour to acclimate to the elevation before continuing on to the summit.
2. Much of the mountain is submerged under the Pacific Ocean, and when measured from its oceanic base, the mountain is more than 33,000 feet tall.
That's taller than Mount Everest!
3. At approximately one million years old, Mauna Kea passed the most active shield volcano stage hundreds of thousands of years ago.
4. The volcano last erupted 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, and is now considered dormant.
...not extinct, dormant. It can erupt again!
5. Mauna Kea contains various small cinder and pumice cones near its summit but does not boast a visible summit crater.
It is possible, however, that a former summit crater was filled and buried by later eruption deposits.
6. Due to the high altitude, dry environment, and stable airflow, the summit of Mauna Kea is one of the world’s best sites for astronomical observation.
Since the access road was built in 1964, 13 telescopes funded by 11 countries have been constructed there.
7. The Mauna Kea Observatories are used for scientific research across the electromagnetic spectrum; it is the largest facility of its kind in the world.
8. In Hawaiian mythology, the peaks of Hawaii Island are sacred, and Mauna Kea is considered to be the most sacred; an ancient law mandated that only high-ranking ali’i could visit the summit.
9. The debate about the observatories resting on such a sacred landscape rages on.
There have been various protest movements by those who believe that development on the mountain is sacrilegious, and a court case was accepted by the Supreme Court of Hawaii over the issue. Caltech's Submillimeter Observatory was slated to be removed in sections over the summer of 2023.
10. The summit lies above the tree line and primarily consists of lava rock and alpine tundra.
Growth is restricted by extremely cold temperatures, a short growing season, little rainfall, and snow during the winter months.
11. Mauna Kea is one of five shield volcanoes that make up Hawaii Island, the youngest island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
You can see Mauna Loa, another shield volcano, in the distance in this photograph taken from Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea, while just one of the amazing mountains in Hawaii, is pretty magnificent, is it not? Which of these interesting facts about Mauna Kea did you already know? Which ones surprised you? Tell us your thoughts and share with us any fun facts about Mauna Kea you might know!
Looking for more natural wonders in the Aloha State? Check out the best beaches in Hawaii:
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