The dormant volcano of Mauna Kea, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, measures 13,796 feet high, making it the highest spot in the state. The name mauna kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian, which is appropriate since its peak is regularly shrouded in snow during the winter months.

Factors like location and elevation have made Mauna Kea the premier site in the world for astronomy, and the summit is home to eleven different international telescopes. The lower slopes are a combination of rainforest and agricultural pasture lands.

In this dramatic view, an i'o (Hawaiian hawk) sits in a yellow ohia lehua tree, surveying his vast domain. He's probably in search of a tasty morsel for his breakfast, but who knows? Possibly he's simply taking in the sheer magnificence of his surroundings, the same as you or I.