Bad news about Big Island, what should we do?
 

According to the Assoc. Press, the big island has been experiencing high amounts of VOG. We leave for the BI in 2 weeks. We are staying at the 4 seasons and spending a lot of money on our room there for 8 nights. It seems like I can never make the right decision when it comes to our vacations:(
I tend to put such high expectations on them because I rarely get to see my husband...due to his work. I REALLY wanted this trip to be great but now I am so confused.
After reading the article posted on may 5th in the "AP" it seems as though the VOG is horrific, plants dying, higher ER visits, etc. But then I called the VOG index hotline and as of yesterday it was a 4. Isnt that quite low?
If I cancel my hotel, we will loose 3000$ which is a lot of money for us. I also am worried that we wont get another hotel on a different island so last minute....already tried the Hyatt Kauai-sold out.
If I take my chances on the BI I am soooo afraid that #1 I'll get a sinus infection (due to my deviated septum-I am HIGHLY susceptable) and
#2 the skies will be grey and ugly, and coming from new york, we are desperate for some blue skies.
Do we cancel, lose the money and go to california somewhere? Or do we take our chances?
I'm beyond upset at this point and need some advice to make a clear decision.

We are going in Sept. which is some time from now and are staying next store to where you are staying. We will be at Kona Village.

I suggest calling your particular hotel and ask how it has been there with regards to the Vog. I did that with Kona village and they said the sun was shining and it was not too bad.

The vog differs in different parts of the Island. Also look at Trip Advisors they have a whole section on the vog.

I understand your dilema as Kona Village next store is also very expensive and it is our 10th year anniversary. we got married there and we are going even with the vog.

Good luck!!

Aloha-- we just got back and the only thing we noticed was that the sunsets were not as spectacular and the tops of the volcanoes (hills?) kinda disappeared. We've been several times and enjoyed this trip as much as the rest. Weather, snorkeling, sightseeing, etc. was great (as always)!

My brother is on Maui and he says the same thing is happening there.

Would I reschedule?--NO WAY!

Jerryw, what side of the island did you stay on? The prevailing winds supposedly bring the vog to the west side where we will be at the 4 seasons. Just curious.

And, to piggyback, is it going to be better a bit due west (Waikoloa) vs. southwest (Kona)?

Don't change your plans! You never know when the winds will change and at the FS the vog is not as dense as in Kailua-Kona and other parts of the island. The plants that are dying are in the area of the highest concentration of VOG, near Volcano and Pahala, and mostly protea and other exotic crops. The coffee trees, fruit trees etc. are not dying. The higher emergency visits are in the Pahala area which is directly downwind from the vog. (Avoid that area and plan trips to Hawi, Hapuna Beach, Waimea, Kapoho or Hilo)
Come on over and have a great time!

I'm sure matnikstym will be along soon to post what it's been like on the Big Island, but here on Oahu the vog hasn't been so bad recently.

It was bad the week prior, but by the time the AP article came out, the vog had pretty much cleared away.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult (almost impossible) to predict what the vog will be like with any accuracy 2-3 weeks from now.

Generally I think you would have a better chance on one of the other islands to escape potential vog problems, but $3000 is a lot of money to forfeit.

Reply to <font color="blue">Sylvia3<font color="black">,
We visited in March and stayed in the Waikoloa and Keauhou area and did notice any VOG until we flew over the Volcanoes National Park (the same morning the first explosion:o occured) and southern Hawaii and the wind at that time was blowing the VOG westward from the Volcano, so it did not affect us at all in Waikoloa and we did not notice anything above normal when visiting the Kona area.
:S-
Perhaps the very helpful <font color="blue">Matnikstym<font color="black"> will post more info. as the winds change and your travel dates approach((?))
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&amp;tid=35126350</font></font></font></font>

Speak of the devil, mat was posting the same time I was.

Given his current assessment of Big Island conditions, I would agree not to change your plans.

Mucho Mahalos <font color="blue">Maknikstym =D&gt;</font>

We were in south Kona for a week in late April and agree with the other posters. Even in south Kona, when we were along the shore we didn't notice the vog at all (it did affect the quality of the sunsets). We did a day trip to one of the north Kona beaches (Kekaka Kai State Park) and the sun was shining in a very blue sky while we were there in the morning. We then drove to Hawi for lunch--no vog but a few sprinkles of rain in Hawi, as usual.

This is all good info, thanks to the posters.

Just to concur with everyone else, come on down, the weather's fine. Don't even give it a second thought.

For us who live here in Hawaii, it is a big deal because we are not used to what looks and feels like (and is) air pollution. So we can't help but chat it up a bit. But by mainland standards, this is nothing.

Beyond that, the Big Island is just so spectacular, you can't help but have a fantastic time. Look forward to it, and enjoy!

Aloha, beatofhawaii.com

This is one of those topics that is easy to worry about ahead of time and when you arrive you'll likely be relieved. It is a BIG island.

http://www.konaweb.com/vog/index.shtml

Having to spend time at Hapuna isn't a bad thing ...

Heard from our friends who live in south Kona yesterday. They say the vog is much less than it was when we were there last month--which IMO wasn't bad--see my previous post in this thread.

What the heck is VOG?

Go and enjoy yourself and don't worry about the vog.

I'm in Kauai right now (Friday May 16) and the vog is very thick. It is so hazy you can't see across the bay. (Hanalei)

I read that it will clear this weekend due to winds.

That's good! :) It looks like San Francisco here.

bc

I'm in Pahoa on the big island and there's no vog here and not much in Hilo today. The wind is blowing it out across the island chain but for some reason bypassing this island. Oahu was pretty hazy today.
The lava viewing was closed for two days due to the winds blowing the laze (hydrochloric acid and glass particles) onto the viewing area. Should be open by tomorrow