Random Riddle: Snow and Palm Trees

He was taking Darling to Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Mauna Kea (or “White Mountain”) has the remnants of glacial terrain from the last global ice age on its summit, and snow in the winter. From base to summit, at over nine kilometers, the volcano Mauna Kea is the world’s tallest mountain. Most of Mauna Kea happens to be below water, and its summit is only a couple of hours from a beach. Mt. Everest is the highest but not the tallest because it stands on the high Tibetan plateau, and also there are no ocean beaches near by the mountain.