DAY 12: MAUNA KEA

December 1, 2015

Today's destination is Mauna Kea, Hawaii's tallest mountain. It is considered to be the best place in the northern hemisphere to look at constellations (The mauna kea site has 13 astronomical telescopes)

Again have your breakfast early at the Shipman House and then drive to the Big Island Trading Co.You will be joining a 7-hour tour of the Mauna Kea Mountain which starts at 9:00am.

The tour's highlights include:

1. Pre-opening tour and private planetarium star show at Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.

ʻImiloa means "exploring new knowledge." The ʻImiloa center takes visitors on an exploration of Mauna Kea and tells the story of its world-renowned astronomy and rich Hawaiian traditions.The center is filled with more than 100 learning exhibits from games and video clips to a 3D immersion theater that transports its passengers to outer space.

2. Walk through a Koa Forest

Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the pea family and is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. Its name in the Hawaiian language, koa, also means brave, bold, fearless, or warrior

3. See the endangered Mauna Kea Silverword

The silversword, classified as an endangered species since 1986, is in the Asteracea or Sunflower Family. The Maunakea silversword is a member of the silversword alliance, a group of Hawaiian endemic plants that scientists believe all evolved from a single plant species that probably originated in North America several million years ago.

4. Enjoy stunning views of Maui and Hawaii Island

You will be hiking on this tour, but don't worry, the hike is so worth it because you will get the chance to see beautiful panoramic views of the Hawaii Island and the Maui Island! Feel free to take as many artsy photos as you want! You will be given a lot of time to enjoy the view <

By 4:00pm you can now go back to the shipman house and lounge or rest for a few hours.

at 6:00pm there will be a hula dance show at the activity area of the Shipman House so feel free to entertain yourself by watching the locals dance. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can even join them and they would gladly teach you some hula dance moves! :)))

You are probably already hungry from the tour and all the dancing so you will be having dinner at a nearby restaurant called Hilo's Bay Cafe. It is one of the best restaurants in Hilo!

Must-try: Crab Cakes with Local Greens, Wontons, Chili Aioli and Sesame Dressing

After dinner, just go back to Shipman House and sleep :D

Sources:

http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2006/05/f2_imiloa.html

http://www.hawaii-forest.com/tours/maunakea-voyage/#sthash.pM2yJFHC.dpuf

http://www.foodjourney.co/2011/08/08/hilo-bay-cafe-hilo-big-island/