Check the weather on Hawaiʻi Island

            If you are coming to Hawaiʻi or even if you live here, it is important to know what the weather will be. Most of what one does on the island is weather dependent and that is something that we cannot control. There are a few websites which I use that are very good at giving you information regarding the weather.

            Usually, the first one I check is: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=hkm&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no, which will give you the current weather radar for the upper half of the island. The radar is located on Kohala Mountain so there are some areas that it does not reach. For example, it cannot reach the upper portions of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, or even Kohala. But it does give a good idea of where it is raining. To get the southern part of the island go to: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=hwa&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no. This one is located near South Point and is blocked by Mauna Loa to the north. It does, however, give you good coverage of Volcanoes National Park and the Hilo area.

            The next site I check is: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/hawobs.cgi?banner=uhmet. This is a University of Hawaiʻi Department of Meteorology site, The first page will give wind directions throughout the State and weather at selected locations. On the left side of the page are links to some good sites. The Satellite Imagery link will take you to  a page where you can see satellite data for infrared and water vapor sensor. I find the Hawaiʻi Wide View the most useful, Click on it and you will get an enlarged view which you can set in motion by clicking on the animation at the bottom of the picture. This gives you a good idea of what is coming.

            Also on that Department of Meteorology site is a link to Tropical Weather which is useful in the hurricane season from June through November. You can get information on any systems in the Central Pacific or, for that matter, in the Eastern Pacific or Atlantic.

            For weather forecasts go to: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/ which is a National Weather Service site, You can click on a location on the map and get a forecast for that specific place. Also on the left side of that page isa link that says Forecasts Hawaiʻi. Click on that and then go to Graphic Forecasts at the top of the list. That will take you to a map of the State and forecasts every three hours. If you click on the Big Island header you will get a detailed map of Hawaiʻi Island and clicking on the forecast times will change the data on the map.

            Another interesting site is: http://weather.mhpcc.hawaii.edu/wrf/hawaii2/rainfall.html. This is an experimental site from the Haleakala Weather Center which you can set in motion at the bottom of the map. It will give detailed rain forecasts for three days.

            If you are planning to to Mauna Kea check: http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/forecast/mko/index.cgi. This is the site of the Mauna Kea Weather Center where you can check current conditions and also check on web cams from every observatory.

            With these sites you will have a good idea of what may be ahead of you on the island, When we were running tours I would check them every morning before starting out.

Another Great South Kohala Restaurant

            Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel in the Mauna Lani Resort has always had a good reputation. We have avoided reviewing it because they have refused to give us our favorite waiter and we were disappointed with their chef. All that has changed as they have a new chef and management. We went back this past weekend and were delighted with the changes. The venue has always been spectacular and now the service and cuisine matches the location.

            When we made reservations we requested Christian as our server as we always do. We have known him for years. This time there was no question as we were immediately escorted to his station. If you dine there you will not be disappointed with having Christian as your server.

            We were with friends and we all started with Macallan 12 which was very reasonably priced. The menu had changed drastically and we had a difficult time choosing as everything sounded delicious. Christian made some suggestions which were excellent. We began with a romaine salad and a red and white gazpacho. Both were excellent and show-cased local produce. For entree we both had Maui axis venison with an ohelo berry sauce and Molokai purple potatoes. If you haven't had ohelo berries, you are missing a great local treat. They grow high on Kilauea and Mauna Loa and this is the beginning of their season. Legend is that these are Pele's favorite and when you pick them you must always give the first one to Pele. The venison was done perfectly and we just love Molokai potatoes. Needless to say we were delighted with this choice.

            For dessert we all shared a strawberry shortcake and ice cream made with a malasada. While we have had better malasadas made by friends, this combination was excellent. The Kona coffee we had with it was one of the best we have had. When you are on the Big Island it is a requirement to have our Kona coffee.

            Throughout the meal there was an accomplished local guitarist playing which added significantly to the ambiance. The evening was a total delight and we will definitely be returning in the near future.

Mauna Loa Update

Last October I posted an article on Mauna Loa. As an update, below is an advisory issued by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory today.


HVO/USGS Volcanic Activity Notice

Volcano: Mauna Loa (VNUM #332020)

Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Previous Volcano Alert Level: NORMAL

Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW
Previous Aviation Color Code: GREEN

Issued: Thursday, September 17, 2015, 1:29 PM PDT (20150917/2029Z)
Source: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Notice Number: 2015/H2
Location: N 19 deg 28 min W 155 deg 36 min
Elevation: 13681 ft (4170 m)
Area: HI Hawaii and Pacific Ocean

Volcanic Activity Summary: HVO seismic stations continue to record elevated rates of shallow, small-magnitude earthquakes beneath Mauna Loa’s summit, upper Southwest Rift Zone, and west flank. For at least the past year, the rate of shallow earthquakes has varied but overall has remained above the long-term average. During this same time period, HVO has measured ground deformation consistent with recharge of the volcano’s shallow magma storage system. Together, these observations indicate the volcano is no longer at a background level of activity. Accordingly, HVO is elevating the Mauna Loa alert level to ADVISORY and the aviation color code to YELLOW.

This increase in alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain.

Shallow earthquakes are occurring in locations similar to those that preceded Mauna Loa's two most recent eruptions in 1975 and 1984; however, the energy release of the recent earthquakes remains comparatively low. The current rate and pattern of ground deformation is similar to that measured during inflation of Mauna Loa in 2005, an episode of unrest that did not end in an eruption.

It is possible that, as in 2005, the present heightened activity will continue for many months, or even years, without progressing to an eruption. It is also possible that the current unrest is a precursor to an eruption, as was the case prior to eruptions in 1975 and 1984. At this early stage of unrest, we cannot determine which of these possibilities is more likely.

HVO continues to monitor the volcano closely and will report any significant changes.

Stay informed about Mauna Loa by following volcano updates and tracking current monitoring data on the HVO web page (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/maunaloastatus.php) or by signing up to receive updates by email at this site: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns/

It is Ironman time again

If you are coming to Kona in October, you are in for an unique experience. On October 10, the annual Ironman World Championship Triathlon will be held in Kona. If you have watched it on television in December, it is actually held in October. The inaugural "Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon" was conceptualized in 1977 as a way to challenge athletes who had seen success at endurance swim, running and biathlon events. Honolulu-based Navy couple Judy and John Collins proposed combining the three toughest endurance races in Hawai’i—the 2.4-mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim, 112 miles of the Around-Oʻahu Bike Race and the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon—into one event. On February 18, 1978, 15 people came to Waikiki to take on the Ironman challenge. Prior to racing, each received three sheets of paper with a few rules and a course description. The last page read: "Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life!" In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikiki to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Along the Kona Coast, black lava rock dominates the panorama, and athletes battle the crosswinds of 45 mph, 95 degree temperatures and a scorching sun.

This year will be the beginning of a new era in the Ironman for two reasons. First the Ironman Corporation has been purchased by a Chinese conglomerate. While they say it will have no effect on the Championship being held in Kona, only time will tell. Secondly, the person who ran the Kona Championship for years has passed away. So, not only has the ownership changed but the organizers are different.

Already athletes are beginning to arrive in Kona to practice in this unique environment. If you are in the area between now and the race be aware of runners and bicyclists on the roads, who are not always aware of the Hawaiian rules of the road. In excess of 2,000 athletes from all over the world will eventually be in Kona for this race. If you are planning to come to Kona at that time be aware that rental cars will be in short supply as will be accommodations and both must be booked far ahead.

The race begins early in the morning with the 2.4 mile swim in Kailua Bay, the start of which is pure chaos. The contestants are in the water and at the sound of a cannon, the professional athletes start the swim followed shortly thereafter by another cannon shot sending the amateurs on their way. Can you imagine hundreds of people thrashing around the bay for 2.4 miles? After coming out of the water, they rinse off and then find their bike on the pier and ride for 112 miles all the way up to Hāwī and back. The participants then get off their bike and proceed to run a 26.2 mile marathon. The winners usually finish the race in less than 8 ½ hours.  As you might imagine, at the finish, every entrant is immediately taken to the medical tent for observation and treatment. It is truly painful to see these contestants walking through town the following day.

Volunteers are the heart of the race and enable it to be held every year at a lower cost. We have served our time as host and recyclers at the awards banquet on the following day as well as helped out at the bike to run transition. The local population is somewhat torn between those who volunteer every year and those who hunker down in their homes or flee the area on that day. Some of the money raised is donated to local charities to thank all the volunteers.

A snowstorm in July

            The picture above was taken on Mauna Kea on the morning of July 17, 2015. An early snow even for Mauna Kea although we have thrown snow balls before in July. So tropical Hawaiʻi beats most other areas in the country for the earliest snowfall.

Controversy on Mauna Kea

            Perhaps you have read of the controversy regarding the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope(TMT) on Mauna Kea, a project which would result in the largest telescope in the world being located there. A group of Hawaiians has protested the construction and blocked the road to the summit preventing, not only the construction crew, but everyone else from reaching the observatory area. The number of protesters has overloaded the Visitor Center, forcing it to close. It appears that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees Mauna Kea, has established rules which may allow access and construction to proceed for at least a few months. As a scientist I am in favor of the project and so come from that perspective. However, both sides of the controversy area a result of a position which does not engender trust and reliability.

            First, the observatories have not been trustworthy in their approach to the mountain. In the late 1990's the Keck Observatory developed a plan to have outlier telescopes around their building. They began construction without obtaining the proper permits. That action brought an already simmering resistance to the observatories to a boil. There was outrage which resulted in the outlier telescope plan being abandoned. That action, however, galvanized the resistance into the group which now opposes the Thirty Meter Telescope.

            Secondly, the observatory resistance group also has an historical perspective that really doesn't match what they say they are doing. The objection is supposedly due to the fact the Mauna Kea is a sacred place in the Hawaiian religion and should not be desecrated. However, King Kamehameha II, in 1819, outlawed the Hawaiian religion and had many of its structures demolished. This was before the arrival of missionaries in the islands. You can read about it in my book. So the Hawaiian Kingdom did not recognize the old religion. It has been almost 200 years since the religion has been recognized.

            Also, in the ancient religion sacred areas were not accessible to commoners. Violators were immediately put to death. Only the royals and priest were allowed on the mountain. Interestingly, however, a manufacturing facility was located on the mountain. An adze quarry was established there so the artisans and their supply line were given permission to climb the mountain and work there. It is not often that one finds a manufacturing facility located in a sacred place.

            There has also been another interesting development. As a consequence of the protest the Governor has decreed that as new telescopes are built old ones must be removed. The University of Hawaiʻi has decided that the first observatory to be dismantled would be their teaching telescope. That is logical since the research observatories contribute millions of dollars to the University and the Hawaiian economy while the teaching telescope only costs money. Of course that affects the students. The protestors say they didn't mean for that telescope to be dismantled (an unintended consequence of their action). As the saying goes, "be careful what you wish for." Logic, however, says that if observatories desecrate the mountain, then all telescopes should come down removing hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars from the economy of Hawaiʻi. These are, indeed, interesting times.