UpToWhereWhat can you see from Mauna Kea Hawaii?
Hawaii's sacred white mountain hosts world's greatest telescopes.
From Mauna Kea Hawaii, the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 335 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 335 km to the northwest (bearing 304°), at 1,229 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,471,858 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the west-northwest, where sightlines run 252 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the south-southwest, at 69.9 km.
| N | 248 km | |
| NNE | 248 km | |
| NE | 248 km | |
| ENE | 248 km | |
| E | 248 km | |
| ESE | 248 km | |
| SE | 248 km | |
| SSE | 226 km | |
| S | 156 km | |
| SSW | 69.9 km | |
| SW | 248 km | |
| WSW | 248 km | |
| W | 248 km | |
| WNW | 252 km | |
| NW | 188 km | |
| NNW | 231 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
460 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ka‘ala | 335 km | NW · 304° | 1,229 m |
| Kamaohanui | 335 km | NW · 305° | 1,024 m |
| Pu‘ukalena | 333 km | NW · 304° | 1,055 m |
| Pu‘ukūmakali‘i | 332 km | NW · 304° | 878 m |
| Pu‘uhapapa | 329 km | NW · 304° | 877 m |
| Pu‘ukanehoa | 328 km | NW · 304° | 803 m |
About Mauna Kea Hawaii
Mauna Kea rises 4,207 meters on Hawaii's Big Island as a dormant shield volcano. Its summit hosts thirteen major telescopes funded by eleven nations, making it one of Earth's premier astronomical observation sites. Last eruption occurred 4,000 to 6,000 years ago.
Did you know?
- Height 13,803 feet (4,207.3 meters) above sea level; highest point in Hawaii.
- Measured from its base on the Pacific Ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea rises more than 10,000 metres — taller than Everest, though most of it lies underwater.
- In 2019, Native Hawaiian protesters blockaded the summit road for months opposing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, a standoff that drew international attention to the mountain's sacred status.
- Visitors are advised to acclimatize for at least 30 minutes at the Visitor Information Station, roughly 1,400 metres below the summit, before continuing up — the thin air at the top is unsafe for children, pregnant women, and anyone with heart or respiratory conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Mauna Kea Hawaii?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 335 km from Mauna Kea Hawaii. The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 226 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Mauna Kea Hawaii?
The farthest terrain visible from Mauna Kea Hawaii lies 335 km to the northwest, at an elevation of 1,229 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Mauna Kea Hawaii?
The observation point at Mauna Kea Hawaii sits at 4,213 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
Try the viewshed calculator
