Mauna Kea with a Toddler? | Highest point in Hawaii

Thinking of taking kids up Mauna Kea? It is do-able; young children should not go all the way up though. Watch the video to see how we did it with our toddler since we had no one to leave her with.

Be aware it is cold:
I would suggest either going in a warmer time of year or pack warm clothing. I am an over-packer so even though it got colder than I expected we were able to stay warm enough with what we brought. Pack warm hats, gloves, a waterproof jacket and wear long pants. It got down to around 50° while we were there in October and the fog was very wet, even though it never rained our hair and clothes very damp after about an hour.

In the research we did beforehand we learned that going up to that high of elevation with a toddler can be very dangerous. Elevation sickness is very common on this excursion. If you feel nauseous, have a worsening headache or worsening shortness of breath you must return to a lower elevation. Continuing higher will only make it worse. A toddler is not as in tune with their body as an adult and would not be able to communicate or even realize that they feel ill and could have elevation sickness that progresses rapidly before you can even tell something is wrong.
A toddler should not go higher than the visitors center at 9000 ft and even then should be watched for signs of discomfort.
Drinking plenty of water before your trip and snacking on carbs like crackers can help with preventing elevation sickness.