15 thoughts on “Mauna Loa Eruption Will Alter Hawaii Travel In These Ways”
Roy
We have been on the Big Island when the volcano is running. That VOG stuff is very unpleasant. I know that some people come to the Big Island just to see the erupting volcano. We would not come to the Big Island during an eruption because of the VOG.
Aloha
Both HA and SWA made good decisions. HA is the expert on Hawaii, the pilots have a lot of experience inter island and the dispatchers are in HNL and know the weather patterns well. SWA dispatchers are on the mainland, relatively clueless about Hawaii and many of the pilots are inter island part timers who occasionally fly an inter island leg. It would have been irresponsible for them to operate without really knowing the situation. Good call for both.
Of course, that was my point. HA is based in Hawaii and knew they could safely operate. Inter island for SWA is dispatched from the mainland by people that have no local knowledge of the actual conditions. SWA flight crew also has far less experience with Hawaii’s unique environment.
While your editorial was balanced enough, there is reportage (the Washington Post has an excellent summary) that modifies some of your observations. These include:
1. Once Mauna Loa defines a rift zone for flow outside the caldera, it usually does not change direction. The direction for this eruption is NE, good news for both east and west sides. The down slope on the NE zone is very gradual and could take weeks or months before reaching populated areas.
2. Pele’s hair is a significant risk only for those living near the volcano (almost no one) though finer thread can be carried by the wind (predominantly trades).
3. Even the vog situation is quite different than Kilauea vog since Kilauea is on the south and east side.
Make your travels take at your own risks laws or pay for your own rescue if need be.
People come for fun but they also involved risky rescues on the Mountains and the oceans.
Empathy for your concern but February is ages away and lots …or very little beyond what’s already happening…can change from full blown lava rivers descending to populated areas to staying the same to a complete stop although that seems unlikely.
If you’re visiting in the north and west… the Hamakua coast there’s little to fear…but the rest of the island could see an increase in ash fall …and fumes…not healthy.
I have lived on the BI through three Kilauea eruptions and now Mauna Loa. This one is quite different. Eruptions are typically localized events, affecting small portions of a very big island. This one is quite different. Several NE fissures are sending any lava towards Hilo along a very gradual slope. Could take weeks or months a continued eruption to reach populated areas. Even the vog (volcanic smog) and wind predictions send most vog northwest towards Maui, Oahu and Kauai.
Unless you are super sensitive to respiratory issues, there is no reason not to visit the island on this historic event.
We have been on the Big Island when the volcano is running. That VOG stuff is very unpleasant. I know that some people come to the Big Island just to see the erupting volcano. We would not come to the Big Island during an eruption because of the VOG.
Aloha
Wait a minute… didn’t you guys say that the media hyped up the news a month ago and that the volcano was not going to erupt any time soon?
Both HA and SWA made good decisions. HA is the expert on Hawaii, the pilots have a lot of experience inter island and the dispatchers are in HNL and know the weather patterns well. SWA dispatchers are on the mainland, relatively clueless about Hawaii and many of the pilots are inter island part timers who occasionally fly an inter island leg. It would have been irresponsible for them to operate without really knowing the situation. Good call for both.
I believe the article stated that HA is operating normally.
Of course, that was my point. HA is based in Hawaii and knew they could safely operate. Inter island for SWA is dispatched from the mainland by people that have no local knowledge of the actual conditions. SWA flight crew also has far less experience with Hawaii’s unique environment.
While your editorial was balanced enough, there is reportage (the Washington Post has an excellent summary) that modifies some of your observations. These include:
1. Once Mauna Loa defines a rift zone for flow outside the caldera, it usually does not change direction. The direction for this eruption is NE, good news for both east and west sides. The down slope on the NE zone is very gradual and could take weeks or months before reaching populated areas.
2. Pele’s hair is a significant risk only for those living near the volcano (almost no one) though finer thread can be carried by the wind (predominantly trades).
3. Even the vog situation is quite different than Kilauea vog since Kilauea is on the south and east side.
Stay calm.
Make your travels take at your own risks laws or pay for your own rescue if need be.
People come for fun but they also involved risky rescues on the Mountains and the oceans.
Mauna Kea 2021 eruption ???
Good Luck and thoughts to everyone that this eruption affects!
Foremost I hope there won’t be damage or loss to the BI residents and businesses. We are scheduled to arrive this weekend and monitoring closely.
We have a booked trip to the Big Island for February. Is there any reason to be concerned about that?
No.
Of course there is. At a minimum you should purchase some travel insurance.
Empathy for your concern but February is ages away and lots …or very little beyond what’s already happening…can change from full blown lava rivers descending to populated areas to staying the same to a complete stop although that seems unlikely.
If you’re visiting in the north and west… the Hamakua coast there’s little to fear…but the rest of the island could see an increase in ash fall …and fumes…not healthy.
I have lived on the BI through three Kilauea eruptions and now Mauna Loa. This one is quite different. Eruptions are typically localized events, affecting small portions of a very big island. This one is quite different. Several NE fissures are sending any lava towards Hilo along a very gradual slope. Could take weeks or months a continued eruption to reach populated areas. Even the vog (volcanic smog) and wind predictions send most vog northwest towards Maui, Oahu and Kauai.
Unless you are super sensitive to respiratory issues, there is no reason not to visit the island on this historic event.