Seeing Mauna Kea from a plane
13,803 ft above the sea, but over 33,000 ft from its base on the ocean floor, taller than Everest by that measure. Look for the white observatory domes clustered on the summit, sometimes under snow.
2 of our routes pass it. Hawaii · rated 8 of 10
The easy pick
Honolulu to Kailua-Kona: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu to Kailua-Kona | Left | on the way down |
| Honolulu to Hilo | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Mauna Kea from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (1 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Mauna Kea from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Haleakala Molokini Molokai sea cliffs Diamond Head / Waikiki Honolulu (HNL) All routes