Volcano Updates

For a lot of folks, a trip to Hawaii is a once in a lifetime opportunity.   Figure the minimal amount of time it took anyone to get here is at least 6 hours from the mainland USA or Japan. Many of our guests travel much further than that overall to get here and a large percentage of them will spend time on Oahu before heading to the Big Island.   Unlike the previous lava flow, I bet hardly any of the mainland news stations are reporting about the Hotel strike happening on Oahu and Maui.   It isn’t ALL the Hotels, but of you have reservations at the Sheraton Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui then it may impact your vacation.   The parent company who owns these properties, Kyo-ya, wants you to believe that the strike won’t impact your stay and they have contingencies in place to handle the load. Unfortunately, what that means is over worked Managers are trying to pick up the slack of the vaca...

  For those guests of ours traveling to Hawaii June through November, we want to share with you some information about Hurricane season, specifically as it relates to us on the Big Island. Virtually every storm system approaching Hawaii from the east since 1950 eventually weakened to a tropical storm or depression by the time it reached the islands. This included a large majority of those migrating from the eastern Pacific basin. Dating to 1950, there is no record of a hurricane landfalling on the Big Island of Hawaii. On August 7, 2014 Tropical Storm Iselle became only the second tropical storm, and the strongest, to landfall on the Big Island since 1950. The only other storm to do so was in 1958. Of course, in the vast Pacific Ocean, even the Big Island represents a pretty small target for the center of a tropical cyclone.   There are several reasons why this happens so often. Drier, more stable air from the subtropical high to the northeast of Ha...

It’s been quite the summer here in Hawaii and as fall approaches we are excited that the park will be re-opening! September 22nd is National Public Lands Day, which is a fee-free day so entrance fees will not be charged!    Entrance fees will go into effect on Sun., Sept. 23. Currently the following parts of the park have been cleared to open: • Kīlauea Visitor Center (closes at 5 p.m.) • Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store at Kīlauea Visitor Center (closes at 5 p.m.) • Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp • Sulphur Banks Trail • Crater Rim Drive to Steam Vents • Kīlauea Iki Overlook and parking lot • Devastation Trail and Pu‘u Pua‘i • Crater Rim Drive to Keanakāko‘i Crater, for pedestrians and bicyclists only • Mauna Loa Road to Kīpukapuaulu. The road will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists past Kīpukapuaulu • Sections of Escape Road from Highway 11 • Chain of Craters Road Areas not listed above should be presumed ...

As we wait out the passing of Hurricane Lane (and while we still have internet and electricity) I wanted to address the re-opening of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. HVNP announced on August 21 st that it has set a goal to reopen parts of the park by September 22 nd , which is National Public Lands Day (park entrance fees are usually waived during this day so not only will they re-open, but you can get in for FREE!)   The theme for National Public Lands Day is appropriately titled Resilience and Restoration.   It’s not for certain WHAT will reopen, but it is suspected it will be in a limited capacity.   There is A LOT of work to be done, assessments of what can be ready to reopen and what will take more time. The park is relying on not only paid staff, but volunteers to assist in getting the park back on track.   It must be a community effort!!     Park staff have been reaching out to do a series of “talk story” meetings with local communities (e...

I hate to say it, but the media has done it to us AGAIN!   For months after the most current eruption started they couldn’t tell you enough about the flowing lava, acid rain, vog, sulfur dioxide, laze, explosions at the summit and all those earthquakes.   Now that it has stopped? Coqui frogs! (On the mainland you hear crickets!)   Just a week ago I posted an update on the latest activity.   I haven’t seen a single paper, magazine, online blog or news article that has done the same.   I haven’t seen anyone come along and say, “Hey everyone the Volcano has stopped!”   Our tourism is still suffering, and we are headed into our slowest time of the year.   I can speak for many on the island when I say we are still holding on, we might even see a faint glimmer of light at the end of the lava tube, but we need YOU to know we can’t do it without you! There are some amazing prices on flights to Hawaii right now.   Some airlines are offering le...

I haven’t posted anything in a while because truthfully there wasn’t much in the way of changes.   Lava was pouring out of fissure 8, earthquakes were happening at the summit of Halemau’mau and from Pahoa town at night you could see the glow of the lava river. Yesterday, some MAJOR changes happened which is worthy of disclosing! Fissure 8 down in Pahoa slowed down the amount of lava it was pumping out.   The river of pahoehoe that was rushing along at 20+ miles per hour is starting to crust over and now is slow moving a’a lava.   The lava headed towards the Pohiki boat ramp has also come to a standstill. Here at the summit, at Halemau’mau, earthquake activity has slowed WAY down.   While there are still a few an hour, most of them are small and we haven’t felt one in going on 48 hours. (Which considering we were feeling up to a half a dozen a day at least is a major change!)   The crater seems to not be slumping or collapsing in on itself any more. ...

We have had a few guests come and stay over the last week.   Each time a guest arrives I thank them for coming on behalf of the entire Island of Hawaii!   We are grateful for those who choose not to cancel and make the best out of a unique situation.   As an island that relies on tourism for so many jobs, the economy has taken a huge hit and many folks are being laid off island wide. Even the usually bustling Punalu’u Bakery in Na’alehu has had to lay off staff.   As I previously promised, I wanted to give a fair and honest assessment of the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.   Honestly, I have driven past this part of the park a lot on my way to and from Kona, and never really thought to stop.   Since this is now one of the few options for hiking in the park I really wanted to check it out. The Kahuku Park entrance is a mile from the South Point road turn off.   If you plan to check out Green Sand Beach or South Point, you are alrea...