Hello all. We're in the planning stages for a late January '09 trip to Hawaii. We would like to do about 8 nights on the BI, but I keep seeing warnings that the vog is bad there now. Can anyone give an update on what the current situation is, or suggest a web site with such information?

Thanks!

--Pappy

You can look at this website for more info:

http://hawaii.gov/gov/vog

Also, here's a report specifically for the National Park, if you are considering going there.....

http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcam.../havoalert.cfm

We just got home yesterday from the Big Island. Spent some time in Volcano and then over on the Kohala Coast. There are two vents up in the National Park that are actively producing sulphur dioxide. There are many warning signs up at the National Park warning you of the effects it can have on your breathing, etc. But, frankly, we didn't smell it and never were bothered by it. And we did get out and walk in certain spots.

You notice the actually VOG more when you are on the West side of the island. It reminded us of LA smog....just a big cloud over Kailua-Kona. It didn't affect our breathing there either but one afternoon it did make it quite 'overcast'.

It wouldn't stop me from visiting, however, and the conditions are always changing.

hi, I live on the Big Island. The vog levels come and go without notice, so I hate to tell you but you cannot plan. The current situation doesn't have any bearing on what will happen during your trip.

The vog was at record levels last spring, but subsided a lot since them, and could escalate at any time.

When the trades are blowing, Kailua-Kona gets it worse than Volcano Village. When winds blow from the south, it can be on Hilo, Puna, and the VNP.