Hawaii — a paradise of lush greenery, pristine beaches, and volcanic landscapes — also proposes a challenge to visitors with its high altitude areas. In this complete guide, we will unravel everything you need to know of Hawaii's altitude, and our best tips to avoid Hawaii altitude sickness.
Hawaii altitude ranges from the low sea level at the beaches to high volcanic mountains reaching 13,803 feet. Three of the highest mountains in Hawaii are Mauna Kea (13,803 ft), Mauna Loa (13,680 ft) and Haleakalā (10,023 ft) — all exceeding 10,000 feet feet in elevation.
Altitude of Hawaii:
Many visitors of Hawaii are not aware of the drastic ranges in Hawaii altitudes, depending on where you adventure to.
Depending on what island of Hawaii you visit and explore, the altitude ranges you'll experience will differ.
Here's a breakdown of the highest altitude peaks of each major Hawaiian island:
From 3,396 feet to 13,803 feet, the altitudes of Hawaii can much exceed sea level even at the lowest islands.
Yes, Hawaii has high altitude.
Mountain Medicine states that high altitude is between 4,900 to 11,500 feet.³ This puts many of Hawaii's volcanic mountains in high altitude range, and even exceeding it such as Mauna Kea at 13,803 feet high.
To name a few high altitude mountains in Hawaii above 4,900 feet — includes Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Haleakalā, Puʻu Kukui, Kaunu o Kaleihoohie, Kawaikini, and Kamakou.
The lowest altitude point in Hawaii is sea level at 0 feet. Many of its tourist destinations are at or around sea level.
The highest point in all of Hawaii is the summit of Mauna Kea at 13,803 feet (4,207 m) above sea level. Located on the Big Island, Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano that's very popular to drive (4-wheel) or hike, featuring a visitor center and observatory.
Yes, you can get altitude sickness in Hawaii on many of its volcanic mountains that exceed 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
Travel Medicine Consultants writes that altitude sickness can start as low as 4,000 feet.⁴ We notice in our home of Denver Colorado, many visitors observe symptoms of altitude sickness at around 5,000 feet high, and much worse of the elevations higher than that.
For the many mountain adventures Hawaii offers, they will carry the risk of altitude sickness at these kinds of heights.
Hawaii altitude sickness happens due to lack of oxygen as you ascend to higher heights in the volcanic mountains.
This leads to physiological stress on the body including oxidative stress from increased free radical damage. Symptoms of altitude sickness in Hawaii can start with something as simple as a headache or extreme fatigue.
Symptoms of Hawaii altitude sickness may include:
When climbing or ascending any of Hawaii’s mountains, be on the lookout for these types of symptoms as altitude sickness can develop as fast as 6 hours. Follow our critical tips below to be better prepared.
Altitude sickness can put a damper on your Hawaiian adventure, but with a few simple precautions, you can minimize the risks.
As a high-altitude based company in Colorado, we’ll share the best expert tips that are proven to aid your body in the mountain.
Here are 4 tips to help you avoid Hawaii altitude sickness:
By integrating these four tips into your preparations, you'll be better equipped to avoid Hawaii altitude sickness and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Safe travels!
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SOURCES:
1. Hawaii Elevation
