Established in the 1950?s, the Mauna Loa Observatory is part of the Global Monitoring Division of the Earth System Research Laboratory, which is consequently a part of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

The Mauna Loa Observatory is considered one of the best places to enjoy stargazing and other astronomical activities, thanks to its remote and elevated location in the Pacific, placing it sufficiently far away from pollution, human activities, and all other factors that could serve as a visual impediment to studying the sky and the world beyond it.

The observatory is also considered one of the most reliable sources of measurements for concentrations of anthropogenic CO2 in the Earth?s atmosphere (Keeling Curve). Other data that the observatory is known for computing include solar radiation, ozone, and aerosols in the stratosphere and troposphere.

Coincidentally, the Mauna Loa Observatory Road is also known as one of the most pleasant scenic trails in the area.