Snowsure: 4.0
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Mauna Kea is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Mauna Kea Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
March 05, 2024
Grant Matsushige from
USA - California
Grant Matsushige from
USA - California
July 06, 2015
Office of Maunakea Management from
USA - California
Office of Maunakea Management from
USA - California
Maunakea is not a ski resort, as such it does not offer the amenities of a ski resort. There is no public transportation to/from the summit, no food service, and public restrooms are very limited. Mobile phone communications are extremely limited and emergency services are over 1 hour away. High altitude travel is known to present health risks and snow play (skiing, sledding, etc.) is at the person’s own risk. Commercial skiing tours are prohibited. The ski patrol no longer operates. As the mountain is culturally significant and the cinder cones are wēkiu bug habitat, an endemic species found only on
Maunakea cinder cones, the University of Hawaiʻi (the land manager) does not promote skiing. For more information, please visit our website: malamamaunakea.org
November 07, 2013
Joseph Beste from
USA - California
Joseph Beste from
USA - California
Dear fellow skiers:
While Rick Tillison was a pioneer, The NSPS (National Ski Patrol..) officially recognized the Mauna Kea Ski Patrol in 1969-70. I joined the
the Patrol in 1969; Howard Shirmmer a Professional Engineer and Hawaii office Manager for Dames & Moore in Hawaii was the Founder of the Patrol and it's first leader. I met Howard through work and was an engineer for Chevron at their Barber's Point Refinery. Howard asked me to join the Ski Patrol in 1969 and I patrolled on Mauna Kea in the winter of 1969-70. I became the Patrol Leader in 1971-2. While Howard was still on the Patrol there were a number of other dedicated Patrol members including one woman patroller.
The skier's were generally shuttled to the summit in those days by Gordon (Flashgun) Morse through his business Holo Holo Campers from Hilo. Gordon was formerly a newspaper reporter in Honolulu, for the Honolulu Advertiser, and he supplied tourists with 4 wheel Jeeps to see the Big Island's more adventuresome area. The skiing was fabulous etc. There were many runs laid out by Dick Tillison and Howard in the late 60's. The University of Hawaii had a telescope near the very top; The University of Arizona had a smaller scope. The University of Hawaii through the graciousness of William Keck was building the largest scope on the very top. This scope opened in late 1969. I was already patrolling at that point. Tillison had spent the winter before at the University of Hawaii's Astronomy base camp at about the 8500-9,000 foot level. Not as pleasant as on the Kona coast. However, the location saved the time and aclimatization to altitude. It was near the old Humuhulu sheep station used by "Pig" (Wild Boar) hunters.
Another early patrol leader was a University of Hawaii PhD candidate in Astronomy named Peter Bostwick, Pete succeeded me as Patrol Leader, I continued as a member of the Patrol through about 1980. We also had two woman patrollers in the early days.
A rescued skier with a broken leg was Helen Masten(sp) in, I believe, 1971-2 Season. One of those early years, I believe it was 1970, the UH Astronomy department was snowed out in getting to the top. We (the Mauna Kea Patrollers) hiked up with snow shoes, skis and 5 gallon cans of diesel fuel to the Keck Observatory to supply the telescopes directional and heating generators. This was necessitated by the UH's half track being stuck in the snow (huge drifts) at about the 9-9500 elevation.
Lots of stories and memories..
Joseph Beste
February 20, 2011
Dean Reinking, LPN from
USA - California
Dean Reinking, LPN from
USA - California
I've given you the history of Mauna Kea, now I'll submit a little about the terrain. When there's decent snowfall (has to get down to the 9,000 - 9'500 elevation), one can find a type of "hardpack" snow. It's not ice, but the winds make the moisture laden snow a style all its own. I've never experienced anything like it in the Rockies. One should have sharpened edges for turns are more tricky and need to be deliberate. As far as falling; mostly it will be a soft landing as the ground underneath is predominantly cinder. You'll generally notice any stray rocks jutting through the snow...BEWARE! ...landing on these (even small rocks) are very dangerous as they're jagged, not rounded and they'll tear right through your winter gear to you flesh. These rock upthrusts are rare, and as I mentioned, you'll be able to see them. The snow warms up once the tropical sun hits the surface making the snow into a spring "corn snow" type, but it's a lot more manageable...fun too! Temperatures can average in the mid-20's to mid-30's (when the sun hits you). Weather conditions can change quickly as small fronts can move in from out of nowhere....I've actually experienced a "white-out" which lasted for about 30 minutes. (The only thing I could do is attempt to point my ski tips downhill...wherever that was at times....you really couldn't see anything..barely even my skis. Yes, it can get dicey when something blows in...you don't know how long it will last. But back to this. In recent years the snowfall has been lacking and what we've been getting doesn't last long....so you have to hit the slopes of Mauna Kea ASAP. We hope this snowfall will improve...weather's a fickle thing in Hawaii...very unpredictable. I don't know of many people that have attempted the slopes of Mauna Loa (sister peak) @ about the same height elevation but more rounded. The few that have said it was really cold, windy, and the skiable snow coverage was lacking with plenty of rocks and debris...not even good for "rock skis." Access is clearly lacking on Mauna Loa and will entail plenty of high elevation hiking. The geography/geology might prove worth that.....bring plenty of water, food, protective clothing for that end....for skiing, I wouldn't recommend it. Dean Reinking, LPN
February 20, 2011
Dean Reinking from
USA - California
Dean Reinking from
USA - California
02-20-2011
Well, at one time there was a ski patrol on Mauna Kea..back about 1978. It originated from Dr. Pete Bostwick, myself (Dean Reinking, LPN) as the two members who lived in Hilo (on the Big Island). The other members came from Oahu: One was a female physician, a female RN, and a Lt. Commander (his wife) serving at Pearl Harbor. We took, on loan, The Hawaii Red Cross 4wd transport truck, Dr. Pete Bostwick's 4wd, and a rented 4wd along with an aluminum evac' sled and trained on the slopes nearest the UH Observatory. We spent a long weekend up there (a couple of times) staying in the old field stone scouting house (no longer there). It was very cozy as there were several bunkbeds, a picnic style table, a stove heater, and a kerosene cooking stove. The training with the evac' sled was tricky to say the least...lot's of snow-plowing, turns, etc., but we managed quite well. We took refresher first aid courses courtesy of the physician and RN. The unfortunate thing was our timing in getting this training event scheduled....one weekend prior to our session, a female had lost her life while "intertubing" down one of the steepest cones...she met her untimely demise after hitting a rock outcropping at the bottom of the "bowl" headfirst and actually bounced up further up the outcropping hitting a second time...that's how fast you can get moving...out of control.. The accident site was clearly evident and gave us a good reminder of what to expect. The Mauna Kea Ski Patrol last but two years as members departed on their professional paths. We had an enjoyable time while training. We were pretty exhausted at day's end. While on "unpaid duty," we treated several hypothermia cases (young kids with nothing but slippers on and light jackets...not wise); we dug out several snow-bound, stuck vehicles....try shoveling snow at 13,000+ elevation...I was lucky to be in good shape from running marathons, etc. I sure wish I could locate these former members...I believe I still may have a list of their names...I'll look. As far as I know (or anyone else for that matter), we were the first and only "official" Mauna Kea Ski Patrol...I still have our tag w/emblem. We weren't the first pioneers though. I believe the first individual to ski Mauna Kea was a man from Waimea named "Dick" Tilletson (sp.?) somewhere in and around 1953. "Dick" had to actually climb from down below up to the top as there were no real roads (so to speak) back then....he's the real pioneer....the members of the Mauna Kea Ski Patrol merely followed in his "ski" paths. Dick passed away some years back, but I had the pleasure of meeting this tall, thin, bearded gentleman. Aloha to all! That's the history I can present to you. Dean Reinking, LPN
January 03, 2005
Pat Wright from
USA - California
Pat Wright from
USA - California
I have a great deal 0of experience skiing Mauna Kea as I am a guide there. There are no lifts, skiing guide services or ski patrol. On the other hand there are no lift tickets. There is a good road to the top that is maintained by the observatories. Most folks just take up a 4x4 with a group of friends and take turns driving the shuttle vehicle. There is a great deal of backcountry terrain and some of it is steep up to 40 degrees. You can ski Mauna Kea with as little as 8 inches of snow because the cinder cone terrain is so smooth.
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