マウナ･ケア山頂 Summit

マウナ･ケアへはヒロとコナ方面を結ぶ200号線をヒロから行くと右折する。この道はケアへの登山道。この辺で標高2000m。ヒロが雨でもここまで来るとこの通り。でもこんな道が頂上までと思うと大間違い。最後は4WDでないとという感じ。

Access road to Muna Kea sumitt. Coming from Hilo you will find this road on your right at almost middle point of Rout 200 that connect Hilo to Kona. Its elevation is 2000m, so if you start Hilo in rain, it will be clear up like this photo. It is big mistake if you think this fine road brings you to the summit. Near the top it will be unpaved road and no guard rail. It is better to go there by 4WD.

マウナ･ケアの本当の頂上。天文台のある台地から少し下がってスコリア丘を登る。近いようだが、空気が薄いのでこれが大変。ネイティヴ(原住民)の祭壇があり捧げ物（offering）がある。

Mauna Kea’s true summit. Little down the plateau of observatories, and climb scoria hill. It looks so close but it is hard work to go there because of thin air. There is an alter and always some offerings by native Hawaiians.

雪が残るスコリア丘のそばには、電波望遠鏡が。ここでスキーをする人もいる。

There are many radio telescopes at the foot of big scoria cone with snow. Some people enjoy ski here.

日没直前の頂上。遠方の山はマウイ島のﾊﾚｱｶﾗ国立公園。

Just before sunset. The distant mountain is HaleaKala National Park in Maui Island.

スバル望遠鏡の主鏡。直径8ｍ。建設当時世界一の一枚鏡（関東平野の大きさにしてもで1mmしかでこぼこがない）の望遠鏡。中は寒いし、酸欠で動き回るのが一仕事。週3日、8人づつ1日3回公開。もちろん昼間だから望遠鏡はのぞけない。

Giant mirror of Subaru telescope. Diameter of this is 8m. It was the biggest single mirror in the world when it constructed. Though this mirror expands Kanto plains wide, there is less than 1mm unevenness. In the observatory it is very cold and very hard to move by oxygen shortage. It published three days a week, three times a day for 8 persons. You cannot see the stars through telescope, because it opens at daytime.