HOW IS THE VOG IN THE PAHOA AND HILO AREA?

by Michael
(Arizona)

THINKING OF COMING TO THE ISLAND FOR A MONTH, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE VOG..I WILL BE STAYING IN THE PAHOA AND HILO AREA FOR A MONTH.....PLEASE ADVISE, NEED SOLID ADVICE ON VOG...



Aloha Michael,

The Vog has been a lot worse since Halema`uma`u Crater began erupting again in March. There has been up to ten times the normal amount of volcanic emissions in our air.

If you have any kind of respiratory problem you might want to rethink your stay on the Big Island.

Hilo and Puna do not experience bad conditions unless the tradewinds stop. The tradewinds blow south west, away from Hilo and Puna.

This means that usually the vog is the worst in the Kau and Kona area.

However, if the winds stop or change directions, Hilo and Puna get bad. They are closer to the Volcano then Kona, so the emissions are stronger, and the content of Sulfur Dioxide is greater.

The tradewinds have done this for two or three weeks of the last four months. If you go to our page on the Big Island Vog Index, you will find more information, and all kinds of useful links.

Finally I invite anybody living in the Hilo or Puna area to place a comment on this page about the conditions you have experienced.

Aloha David