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Traveling through “the Dip” just west of Bradshaw Airfield on the Old Saddle Road, at a location which offers a spectacular view of the summit of Mauna Kea, one may discover a triangular collection of white corals with a wooden cross in the center and a symbol of Mauna Kea.  The shrine memorializes a touching story of the Big Island and here lives the spirit of Hugh R. Grossman, affectionately known as “Mr. Mauna Kea”.

Hugh Grossman lived on the Big Island of Hawaii and worked as tour guide at the Onizuka Visitor Center. I met him on my first ascent of Mauna Kea  one evening in November, 1998 when,in search of the famed magnificent starry skies, I arrived only to be faced with an unfortunate car accident involving the astronomers from Subaru Telescope. Police, firetrucks, and a helicopter to evacuate the injured filled the area. As a physician, I offered medical assistance. Fortunately, there were no fatalities,all the patients had been cared for by the emergency teams, and my skills were not needed.In all the chaos, achanced into a conversation with Mr. Grossman andthe course of my life was altered forever. Mr. Grossman and I shared interests in astronomy, photography, and medicine and a great love of the Big Island of Hawaii, which laid the foundation for a wonderful relationship.

Mr. Grossman had the answer to almost every question about Mauna Kea as he had escorted every scientist during the construction of the great telescopesand eventually became known as “Mr. Mauna Kea.” He loved not only astronomy but all aspects of Mauna Kea, including hunting, hiking, and exploring. I was fortunate to become his ”best buddy” and a volunteer at the Onizuka Visitor Center. One dayI had a car accident at the site of “the Dip”.Fortunately, I escaped injury, buteach time Mr. Mauna Kea and I drove by the site, we recalledthe tow trucks arriving from both sides of the island to rescueme from the ditch. Rather than “the Dip” becoming a fearful site, Mr. Mauna Kea, in his kind and gentle way, was able to convert this place to one of joy. He surprisedme on my birthday with a bucket of white corals and brought me to “the Dip” on November 2, 1999 to mark the spot with graffiti of our initials, EIY and HRG. Each time we went to Mauna Kea, the buddies stopped at “the Dip” to tend the corals and rest before the ascent to the VIS.

Hugh Grossman died suddenly on November 2, 2003 and, per his wishes, his ashes were scattered at the summit of Mauna Kea. After only 61 years on our beautiful blue planet, the last 35 spentin Hawaii, he became a star in the sky. His loss was enormous for the Hawaii community and a personal trauma for me.

To commemorate his life and his principles, I pushed together the corals in a triangular shape to represent the mountain he so loved and placed the cross with wood from Waipio Valley where Hugh loved to horseback ride, swim, and walk on the soft black sand.

When the New Saddle Road was built, his “memorial grave” was no longer accessible. Nevertheless, Colonel Shwedo, with his concern for community, allowed access to honor Mr.Mauna Kea. To honor Mr. Grossman’s patriotism, another addition was made to the site, an American flag  at the peak of the triangle. With every escorted and arranged visit, I attempt to grow the beautiful red geraniums from the Mauna Kea State Park on the side of the memorial which for a decade has served as a remembrancefor his colleagues at Hale Pohaku and the ViS. Fortunately, when Colonel Peterson begins his duty at Pohakuloa, this memorial will continue to be gracedby the memory and the spirit of “Mr. Mauna Kea” and will live with our Ohana.

The author is a semi-retired physician who has spent several months on the Big Island for the past 16 years and is active in the Medical Reserve Corp both in New York City and Hawaii

Background image: Mauna Kea Summit (13796') , Winter Solstice-1998-Sunset