Home
Blog of Updates
Big Island News
Coffee to Spirulina
Free Hawaii
Island Music
Beaches
Volcanoes
Fishing
Vacations
Hilo
Kona
Big Island Maps
Opportunities
Accommodations
Upcoming Events
Health and Beauty
Restaurant Guide
Contact Us
Big Island E-Zines
Advertising
[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines
 

The Big Island Vog Index Blog



The Big Island Vog Index Blog: Useful links to real time monitoring of vog, helpful hints from people that have experienced the vog, Posts and Updates from residents, pictures and more.


To check out our current issue of our E-zine: Whats Happening on the Big Island, or some of our back issues
Click Here







To Subscribe to
our Free E-zine
Enter Your Email


And Your Name



Then



Your e-mail address is totally secure.

I will only use it to send you
our free E-zine.



Residents and tourists please leave your comments about your experiences with the Vog.

Please leave any helpful ideas you might have for others in dealing with the Vog, or any questions you might have.

Also tell us about the Big Island Vog conditions you have seen. Please leave your name and area that you are talking about.

Here is a link to a page if you just want to know details about the Vog, like what it is, where it is the worst, and what hazards it poses. Also things you can do to counteract the vog when it gets thick.

I had a request to post useful links at the top of the page, so here they are:

SO2 Satellite Images

Halemaumau and Pu`u O`o conditions

Daily air quality readings from six stations on the Big Island. Requires downloading java plugins

Here is the link to the county's website, with info on Lava Viewing, Health Hazards, and more: lavainfo.us

To see the State Department of Health's SO2 Readings from their Pahala Station over the last six months.

Aloha, David

Comments for
The Big Island Vog Index Blog

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 15, 2010
 What's up..??
by: Anonymous

I have'nt been on the island since May...Air/vog conditions were very bad then...Have conditions improved at all lately..??
Jul 21, 2010
 Outrageous Vog Monitoring on Big Island
by: Anonymous

Current vog reports posted today by the Hawaii State Health Dept online are nearly two months old - except in Hilo, where they are 3 weeks old. This is useless information! The public needs current "real time" vog monitoring on the Big Island. Despite improved conditions (improved since last March) our particle counts remain dangerous. Where is our mayor when we need him?!!!!! There must be someone who can get the State Health Dept or even hire an independent Big Island contractor to monitor and report the vog on a timely "real time" basis to the public. This blackout is really outrageous. Putting a group of PM 2.5 counters around the island and reporting online on a hourly basis shouldn't be rocket science! My Kona friend had a chest x-ray last month and was told by his doc that he now has the lungs of a smoker - even though he has never smoked in his life. Does anyone CARE about air quality on the Big Island? Or are the locals just going to keel over quietly one by one? I find this lack of basic information hard to believe - much less accept.
Jul 17, 2010
 Emission Levels Declining
by: Anonymous

Emission levels from the two vents were about 1,100 tonnes a day this month vs nearly 3,000 tonnes per day at their peak in 2009. This is a significant improvement! Air quality much better now!!!
Jul 07, 2010
 Emissions Dropping since March, 2010
by: Anonymous

Good news! Beginning March, 2010, volcanic emissions began dropping - and on many days are as low as 50% of their March, 2008 levels. West side still hazy on most days but not as bad as prior to March, 2010. Kona still very seriously socked in but north and east side of island are beautiful, crystal clear air on most days.

Reminds us volcanos are not static and air quality can get better! Very important to keep checking the vog monitor link on this site - and the volcano report for daily output.

Personally, I can see a major difference on the west side air density this June vs the two prior June vog levels. New vog monitor should be in Waikoloa this summer. Keep watching for PM 2.5 counts!!!!
Jun 22, 2010
 Research from Mauna Kea Observatory
by: Anonymous

Steve Ryan did a study from 2002-2004 to figure out where on the Kona side the vog accumulated. He is a scientist at Mauna Kea Observatory. Found particle concentrations lower at night. During the day maximum concentrations at 1000 ft - dropping off above and below that elevation. From sea level to 300 ft particles were low all day, perhaps by being deposited into ocean or sticking to salt spray particles.

This contradicts maximum concentration at 6000 foot elevation. However it predates new vent opening in March, 2008.

Seems best to stay at close to sea level.
Jun 13, 2010
 Market Turn Around?
by: Anonymous

It will be a decade before this real estate market turns around and if the other two volcano's (now overdue) join the party, it could be even longer! PM 2.5 (the most toxic component of vog) has been proven hazardous within 48 hours exposure to human health. You want to breathe what has been called the 4th worst air pollution on the planet for another decade to gamble a better price on a home?Relocate to best air on island to protect yourself and your family. It is either Hawi/north end of the island - or in Puna/Keaau directly upwind of the volcano, about 10 miles south of Hilo. If they would add a PM 2.5 counter to the Puna vog monitors both E and W, it would be helpful for your population. Anyone know how to get those put in? Seems odd that the monitors aren't reporting PM 2.5 counts from Puna. What gives? Maybe counts are so low they are worried about an incoming stampede?!!! Good luck!
May 29, 2010
 my experience
by: brandon

just got back from 3 week on the big island knowing VOG was an issue. Kona was socked in with vog most every day, if you got up at dawn you had a few clear hours. You could go north or south 20-60 miles and get out of it and it was beautiful and clear.Hilo was georgeous every day I was there with no vog in sight. I can realy see how the vog could/is effecting the economy in an already hard time.
May 26, 2010
 Hawi and Kapaau
by: Donna

I lived for 12 years in Kapaau, moved for two years to Kailua on Oahu, to be with my daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law. I'm now back on the Big Island in Captain Cook in a second daughter's house.
The fireworks on Oahu were a man-made pollution issue, not just at holidays, Fourth of July and New Year's, but for weeks before and after, until they were all used up. They are shipped over in containers. Regulations are really impossible to enforce anyway. The key is not to allow them on the islands in the first place.

My second point is that Hawaii has a policy of roadside spraying of herbicides. No unsightly weeds covering up the lava?

I'd move back to Kapaau in a minute, only 60 miles to Kona. The tradewinds were the answer. I'm in my daughter's house so we'll wait for the market to improve. I have a water vacuum and use it regularly. I love the idea of capping the vent or filter it thru water. That removes the sulfer dioxide.
The determining factor is how much money is it costing in health care for the family, including pets?
May 20, 2010
 Level readings
by: Kona Resident

If you look in the West Hawaii today on page 2 they have an air quality index that hovers in the yellow. Even when the days are crystal clear. I am wondering if anyone knows how they get their reading. If you go to the airnow.gov web site and look at the animation for a day, you can see that the levels move from green to yellow and back to green during the day. Sometimes staying green all day. These readings should not just be averaged. The paper should report each sensor on it's own. This would assist greatly in following where the vog is worse or better.
May 15, 2010
 Elevation Studies of Vog
by: Anonymous

Hawaii Prep Academy in Waimea had students do a science project on vog about ten years ago. They measured almost no particles at sea level up to 50 ft and speculated it was due to marine layer. At 1000 feet they found vog hit the peak density and had dispersed by 4000 feet.

Another study (2007 I believe) also found almost no particles from sea level up to 300 feet above sea level. Again the peak density was confirmed at 1000 feet with no particles above 4,000 feet.

When you fly into the Big Island, you see the vog layer sits well below the peak of Mauna Kea and the summit is always crystal clear. The summit is over 13,000 feet above sea level.

The new vent opened in March, 2008 - with greatly increased emissions, so today vog may be peaking at a different elevation, but logically if it is denser wouldn't it drop down to a lower level (as now it is heavier?) I've seen no study that ever mentioned 6000 foot elevation as a peak particle count in scientific research. It would be great if that is true, since most folks live under 6000 feet!! I am skeptical about it however unless a current research source can be cited.

Hopefully new vog monitors will report elevation levels along with location, so the elevation at which PM 2.5 particles now peak can be accurately determined. Certainly they may have changed since the new vent opened!
May 15, 2010
 Long Time no Type
by: David

Been a while since I been on here, lot of activity lately.

Yes the vog is bad! Lately real bad! Volcano Park being closed by people wearing gas masks!

Is it the worst at 1000 ft, not as I understand it, that is just one thing in the string of comments lately that is not exactly accurate, according to what I have read.

It is supposedly worst right below the inversion layer, or about 6000 ft, and then rapidly getting better as you go higher. This can be witnessed from the saddle, looking down on mana road area, or towards north side of mauna loa.

When the trade winds are blowing you will find the vog collects in Kona, Pahala, and other air pockets created by the mountains as the wind whips through the saddle.

The worst I have seen is fern forest area, when there is very little wind, or kona winds. It is so thick you can taste it, as you head towards the crater it gets worse.

It is bad. This blog is not intended to scare people or create hysteria, but it is to inform people of the reality of the situation, what they can do, and where to find more info.

There are over 100 entries in this blog, and if you filter out some of it, there is a lot of good stuff.

So keep up the good work you guys and keep sharing the info.

Aloha Kakou

Click Here To see what I am up to lately!
May 15, 2010
 Online Vog Monitors
by: Anonymous

You can buy your own PM 2.5 counter online.

Carry it with you if you want to know your air quality in various locations. These come in hand held and backpack models - or can be hooked up to computer software and set up in fixed locations. Some will run 24/7.

Neighbors could split the cost and set these up at community centers to get their own immediate "real time" PM 2.5 readings.

The University of Hawaii is installing an online monitoring website by mid-summer, so watch for that. They want to forecast vog like the weather!
May 13, 2010
 VOG AND ELEVATION
by: Anonymous

Vog has been found to be almost entirely absent at sea level (clean to 50 feet above sea level) and also over 4000 ft elevation. So if you are coming to Big Island stay and play at sea level - or head up to top of Mauna Kea! Great tours go to the top!

Worst vog is at 1000 foot elevation!

Ancient Hawaiians lived at sea level and many of them up at the north end of the island or down in Waipio Valley. They knew how to live with Pele.

Easternmost point of Big Island is like bow of a ship. Great air quality from onshore breeze from the east. Vog monitors have very best readings in this area. Point is south of Hilo.

But no monitoring on north end of island as yet. Vog monitors are needed up in Hawi and Waimea, Waipio, Kawahaie too. Knowledge empowers! So ask for vog monitors - and hourly reports - since the levels change hourly with the wind. One reading per day is not enough information!
May 11, 2010
 Air Pollution Can Damage Heart, Blood Vessels, Too
by: Anonymous

This article was published by ABC News on August 14, 2008 - Source: American College of Cardiology

"Inhaled pollutants set off an increase in "reactive oxygen species" -- superoxiding molecules that damage cells -- that cause not only inflammation in the lungs, but also trigger harmful effects in the heart and cardiovascular system"

"Ultrafine air pollutants may pass into the blood stream and damage the heart and blood vessels directly... causing an immediate drop in coronary blood flow and the heart's pumping function and tend to cause arrhythmias to develop."

Air pollution can be dangerous at levels that are within the accepted air quality standards...

So in other words, don't count on EPA air quality standards to save your life - or your heart and lungs from ultrafine air particle damage.



May 11, 2010
 New England Journal of Medicine 2/07
by: Anonymous

This is one of the most highly regarded medical research papers in our country. Interested in what happens when you breathe vog? You can read about the long term impact of PM 2.5 here. This research should help you freely decide how high a number of PM 2.5 particles you are comfortable breathing. So pick your own numeric risk level. Don't wait around for the EPA to color code it based on a commercial/industrial profit margin!

New England Journal of Medicine - February, 2007

"Long Term Exposure to Air Pollution and Incidence of Cardiovascular Events In Women"

Residents living on the Big Island deserve to know what happens - and what the real numerical levels of PM 2.5 particles are - in the daily vog. We need five more Hawaii State Health Dept vog monitors measuring this particle and we need them NOW. Not when our young adults start having premature heart attacks/strokes from sticky thick blood.

Wake up folks!!!!

Start calling your elected representatives and demand they monitor PM 2.5 particles from every vog monitor - and add five more around the north end of the island - so we can all make informed choices. If anyone tells you they "don't know" what vog does to your health, don't believe it!

Your health is ultimately up to you. Monitoring PM 2.5 particles and informing the public of the readings is the job of our State Health Dept. If we demand they do THEIR job, then we can each do our own better.

May 11, 2010
 Vog Monitoring on Big Island
by: Anonymous

There are currently 5 active vog monitors on the Big Island. A new one will be installed further north up in Waikoloa by end of this year. It is hoped that there will be a more installed around the north end of the Big Island, so those who live and travel to that part of the island are properly informed about their daily air quality.

You can access this information by going to the Big Island Vog Index - and clicking on center link (it shows a picture of the island with the location of each monitor) which will take you to daily air readings. If you click on "Big Island Air Quality" you can see current PM 2.5 levels.

You can also type in "Online Air Quality - Big Island" - and also get to these vog monitors. It can be a little difficult to find them the first time around, but keep trying!

Most of these monitors are reporting numerical levels of PM 2.5 - so you do not rely on a color code set by government (they get pressured by industries who do not want to spend $ cleaning their own output!!!) Numerical readings provide the scientific data to evaluate the true safety of your own air quality! You can read about the impact of PM 2.5 on your health, and independently decide how much of those tiny particles you really want to breathe!

The Big Island enjoys the best air quality in the world when the volcano is asleep. It is the most remote land mass on the planet and the air is so pure, the light is absolutely glorious.

When Madame Pele is active, she is the biggest air pollution source in the country! So it is only prudent to check these monitors every single day and base physical activities accordingly. If PM 2.5 levels are high, it is intelligent not to go out jogging - and to stay indoors with the AC going. And keep incoming air vents closed and run your AC when you drive. Watch your daily blood pressure (no matter how old you are!) - and take a natural blood thinner.

Let's all hope and pray that Pele goes back to sleep. In the meantime, check the vog monitors and your own blood pressure on a daily basis to protect your health.
May 08, 2010
 Vog Monitor Reports
by: Anonymous

Vog monitors prove Kona has most dangerous air on Big Island - 80% of days seriously high levels of PM 2.5. What does it mean to you? Increased pulse rate and blood pressure and can cause a cardiac event! So bring any prescribed BP meds - or take natural blood thinners like Tumeric and Vit E. Be prepared to stay indoors with AC on 4 days out of every 5. Once you breathe volcanic particles, they don't come out! Impact on lungs, includes lung cancer and asthma attacks.

Read "Particulate Matter: Little things can cause big problems" for easy to understand information on PM 2.5. Also "Union of Concerned Scientists - EPA Air Pollution Decision Threatens Public Health." Recent California research found NO safe level of PM 2.5. - PM 2.5 should be less than 5 - but current EPA level is 35!

Consistently Best Air Quality on Big Island? Hawi to Pololu - or just upwind of volcano - Mt View and Keaau. 80% days in these neighborhoods have good clean air. Hilo has significantly better air quality today than Kona. Their daily average PM 2.5 reading is 6 vs a whopping 22 in Kona! Mt View monitors show reading of average PM 2.5 of 4.

Big Island and Iceland volcano has comparable output - 3000 tones a day. Big Island vog is low to ground, while the Iceland volcano disrupts air travel it shoots so high. Sea level very little PM 2.5. So under 50 feet sea level, marine layer seems to clean the air! Hope this information helps!
May 07, 2010
 Facts???
by: Kona Resident Again

I agree that overall it would be nice to have the volcano stop. But even with the volcano we do not have the worst air in the US. If you go to airnow.gov you can see the actual readings of other cities. As I am writing this it says Kona is Mod/yellow ( Orange is extreme) and 60 air quality rating. The sensor is up mauka above Konawaena High school. It is the only one on the island. So this reading can be Moderate and hundreds of other places are clear of vog on island. It is no accurate to have only one sensor on the island.
Here are some samples of cities in the US today. You will see that we don't have the worst air. Also on the mainland, there are sensors placed every one hundred miles so these are actual figures for these cities not on sensor giving a state wide reading.

Warning color/pollution level
North Carolina
orange/54 Chrollete
Orange/67 Hickory
Orange/67 ASheville ridge top

Georgia
orange/95 Atlanta

Louisiana
orange/64 Baton Rouge
orange/71 New Orleans

It would be nice the have the state put some effort into knocking the volcano plume down with sea water but they ignore solutions and only complain. Remember that in the 1800's and in 1920's the volcano was far worse and people lived long lives on the island
May 06, 2010
 Good Articles on Vog
by: Anonymous

Honolulu Advertiser - April, 2010 - Vog Smothers Big Island. Lots of good current information there.

Big Island Weekly - 2008 - Vog 101 - worth reading to get acquainted with vog basics. Author claims that we have the worst air pollution in the US.

PM 2.5 - type this particle into Goggle if you want to target the most toxic component of vog and find impact on human health. Those who say we "don't know" what vog does to humans isn't telling the whole truth. There are 2000 research papers on the impact of this particle, which is being measured by monitors around the south end of Big Island. New monitor should be in Waikoloa by year end and those readings can be found on Online Air Quality site.
May 05, 2010
 Vog 101
by: Anonymous

The component in vog to be worried about is PM 2.5 which can be checked daily by goggling Online Air Quality. An article titled Vog 101, published in Big Island Weekly in 2008 flatly stated "our air is the worst in the nation when it comes to SO2 and PM 2.5." An article in Honolulu Advertiser in April, 2010 "Vog smothers Big Island" also clarifies and updates details. Ignore PM 2.5 levels at your own risk. There are over 2000 peer reviewed research papers on this tiny particles impact on health. The PM 2.5 levels in Kona are the highest, more than places closer to the volcano. Clean air days are currently 20% on the west side - but 80% in Puna, upwind of the volcano. So if you want to find some old fashioned crystal clear air, head upwind of the volcano to Pahoa Town or Keaau! Health problems are thickening of blood/cardiac related - not respiratory for the most part.
May 04, 2010
 WHERE DO YOU LIVE????
by: Anonymous

TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE CONSIDERING LIVING OR STAYING ON THE BIG ISLAND I WOULD SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER. DON'T GET ME WRONG, THE BIG ISLAND IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND WITH ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE ECO-SYSTEMS FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET. IT DOES, HOWEVER, HAVE THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO. IF ANY OF YOU QUESTION THE FACT THAT THIS VOLCANO SPEWS OUT MORE POLLUTION THAN ALL OF THE COAL BURNING POWER PLANTS IN THE U.S.A. CHECK OUT www.airnow.gov, KONA SIDE REGULARLY TOPS THE 5 WORST AREAS IN THE NATION FOR PARTICULATE MATTER. IT CAUSES A MYRIAD OF SYMPTOMS THAT DO NOT GO AWAY OVER TIME, THEY HAVE A CUMMULATIVE EFFECT ON YOUR HEALTH. THE AIR QUALITY ON AVERAGE IS WORSE THAN ANY MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITY IN THE U.S.A.!!!!! LOOK UP THE FACTS BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK!!!!

ALOHA AND MAHALO FOR LISTENING.
Apr 28, 2010
 Vog Updates
by: Mainlander

Aloha...We have been visiting the Big Island every year since 1999 and have never experienced a problem with the Vog. Until April, 2009 when we returned to the Big Island (Kona) for 4 weeks. During those 4 wks, we saw one sunset. The rest of the sunsets were obscured by the VOG and we could see VOG as it moved down the mountains. Our son also suffered throat irration. We love the Big Island and it's residents and will be returning this Fall for another 4 weeks. Is the VOG still causing a problem? Mahalo.
Apr 15, 2010
 What????
by: Kona resident

I don't know where the people that write into this blog live but it can't be on the big island. I play golf every week in wikaloa and it us clear. Most days there is a 20mile wind so if the vog report was true the big would be blown away.
I live for miles south of town and have no problem with vog. Once in a while it sits off shore or at the very top of the mountain . I am I'm Maui as I am writing this and there is a haze on lanai but the beach is fine. Your issues with vog will come if u live in puna to around the volcano to ocean view.
I wish it would go away but it doesn't hurt my active lifestyle at all and I have asthma. My guess is folks are using this forum to keep people from coming to big island. We don't need that now, we need more tourism, like other islands we can't pay bills and Kenoi wants to raise property tax
Apr 15, 2010
 Had no clue.
by: Anonymous

My first time to Hawaii. When I checked the weather before arriving, the 10 day outlook was sunny and beautiful. When I arrived...overcast. I thought nothing of it, until after the 3rd day. Sunshine in the morning - and around 1pm, the clouds rolled in, now what I know is VOG.
Mar 24, 2010
 Waikoloa
by: Anonymous

The vog in Waikoloa is still very bad. A friend reported being unable to see the corner of her house and when you fly in, the coast is frequently invisible from the plane. There seems to be a river of vog flowing between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea that pours out over Waikoloa.

I wish I had better news for you, but the vog is a very serious problem.

The only place with predictably clean air is the easternmost point of the Big Island in Puna. It is a rain forest, but they seem to be vog free about 90% of the time. In contrast to perhaps 20% of the time in Waikoloa and on the west side of the Big Island. Let's hope that vent closes up sooner rather than later. People are getting sick.
Mar 01, 2010
 waikaloa village
by: lori mae

we lived on big island naalehu for 2 years and wanted to return Is the vog any less in Waikoloa Village Anyone out there like to save us an expensive trip to find out....thanks
Feb 16, 2010
 vog stinks bad
by: mattminda

just came back FBI (from big island) and on visit to volcano was blown away by the stink. wow is all i could say. my head hurt the minute the car door opened and whew!!!!!!! eggs rotting odor slammed into me like a truck. then i watched the constant billowing cloud like the furnaces of Mordor. if i lived there i would pack up and leave. but at least the trades were there for our stay at Hapuna beach which was clear, left some mainland money there, bought some indigenous peoples trinkets, drank, and left. good thing there are other islands to visit. GOOD LUCK
Feb 14, 2010
 wood valley
by: Anonymous

hi.... I heard wood valley somehow escapes the vog, etc does anybody know this to be true? or have any details about this area? any direct experience? thanks
Feb 12, 2010
 GOVERNMENT COVER-UP?!!!
by: JOE

I have lived on the Big Island now for 6 years and came from one of the cleanest air regions in the country. I immediately felt the vog effects and was sick constantly that first year. I live in Kona and feel totally different on those rare clear day's. When the vog is thick I feel like I'm outside my body and literally living in a haze. I'm sure that after 26+ years of erupting there must be some studies that have drawn conclusive results. The way the government works here I'm sure they would risk the citizens lives rather than have a massive exodus of residents and tourists. Any results are carefully screened and only small bits and pieces released. The "Air Now" Hawaii page is rarely available for Kona and it's one way that the governement (the Hawaii "health" dept.) keeps outsiders (E.P.A.)from having the 24 hour accumulated particulate count. I'm sure if it was going 24 hours with stored data that could be accessed by the E.P.A. Kona would regularly exceed the limits that were set by the E.P.A.! Unfortunately, our only options are to leave this beautiful place. Madame Pele does not want us here for some reason. She drew us here but now it's time to leave. So sad, what can we do? Living with a gas mask on all of the time is no option!!! To everyone that has written in, I feel your pain and suffering as I have experienced similar symptoms. Aloha!!
Feb 10, 2010
 Big Island areas
by: Prof James

I lived in Kealakekua, but when the volcano stopped for 3 weeks in 1996 and I saw how it looks without the vog I freaked out. I lived in Waimea(Kamuela) twice and never had any experiences with vog there in either 1996-8 or 2006-7. I lived in Hilo 2002-5 and when the vog is there, it is the worst of all. I think when the wind shifts from tradewind to Kona wind, there is a pocket of vog west of the vent that gets a 'double-dose' as it comes back over the volcano a second time. When it gets to Hilo, you can actually see and taste it really heavy. I got big headaches whenever I could taste it. I know it gets like that up in Volcano (city) periodically so you'd have to be crazy to live there IMHO. I want to live in Naalehu next, where it does seem the vog is blown away somehow, unlike Pahala and HOVE, but Mme Pele decides so anything can happen, even a mandatory evacuation is certainly possible. A much bigger worry would be the next eruption of Mouna Loa, which could easily bury HOVE, Kealakekua, Hilo or even the Hilton Waikoloa. All these areas have been buried before so they will probably be buried again in massive lava flows. The Hilton could be wiped off the map in three days time - Mauna Loa is BIG!!
Feb 06, 2010
 Vog in Puna?
by: Anonymous

How often does the Vog affect Puna, and how bad does it get? I'd like to live in the rainforest there but don't want to get sick!
Feb 02, 2010
 Hawi report
by: Anonymous

We live in Hawi, on the far north end of the B.I where the air used to be clear most of the time, but the vog has been increasingly bad up here since the last big blow and seems to be getting increasingly more voggy as time goes on. Everyone's been feeling it these days. We've been here for 11 years and we love it so much, but lately I feel as if I'm developing asthma and and contemplating what we will do if I keep feeling like this. Where do we go from here? I read somewhere about the volcano doing something of this sort in the 1940s? but it only lasted for about a year. Praying that the volcano will do it's thing and get it over with for awhile. I guess I'll give it another year or so, but if it keeps up like this we may need to move out of here. It makes me sad to think of leaving and where would we go?
Peace
Jan 29, 2010
 OVERWHELMED BY THE VOG...
by: Anonymous

I agree with "Anonymous" who on January 6th wrote:

"I don't feel that this Vogs potenial health affects are being thoughly put forward to the community and public- we all need to start taking this major potentially killer "vog" more seriously beacuse this is poisonous gases,and no diffrent than smoking/second hand smoke and other harmful chemicals etc.

there should be daily warnings informing the people in the paper when the levels and reading are high people should be staying in doors etc.
And what happends when the Vog smog reaches dangerous levles?
We should all have access to gass masks like the staff personal do up at Volcano National Park during poor air quality !!!"

I personally think the vog is being downplayed which hurts our community in more ways than one. How can we know how to protect ourselves on a day by day basis if we are not properly and honestly informed in a timely manner??
Jan 27, 2010
 vog
by: matt

sorry about the volcano, we almost bought a condo there in 05' thank god we didn't. one weeek a year in the other islands is enough, remember there is always tahiti
Jan 25, 2010
 We know it's there.Lets do something about it.
by: B.Rupe

Lets save our state.Can you find out what the vog levels before 1924 were.If it wasn't as bad as now,it might have something to do with the pie crust over the vent. creating moisture.Geothermal could cap it,use it clean it.Put the rail money into saving our state.
Blow it up.When it was a lake was it this bad.A nice
lake of fire would be quite the attraction.
Jan 23, 2010
 intense vog
by: Anonymous

the vog is definetly not being taken seriously . i live in maui and tonight 1/23/10, i feel like my head is going to explode, this last month is the worst i've seen the vog in the 11 years i've lived here. everyone i know is having head problems and sinus problems right now, but it is not addressed anywhere. i check the online air reports and it just sais moderate. they say don't go outside and don't open your windows, that sounds like a big problem to me......
Jan 21, 2010
 fight back against the vog
by: Anonymous

You have seen the snow making machines that make snow at the ski resorts. If you can make snow enough to cover hundreds of acres why not surround the toxic gas vents with giant water guns and shoot spray at the toxic gas 24/7. Even if it cost $1,000,000 a month to pump the water up from the ocean, it is a lot cheaper that the amount our combined property values are dwindling each month, plus loss of tourists and many other negative factors. Let's do something to fight back against this killer VOG. We need a huge community meeting.
My name is Paul. You can reach me at paul_savant5851@yahoo.com. Someone please share some ideas with me. The vog was so bad in Kona today, that I got my chores done and got out of there as quiclky as possible. My lungs are still aching tonight here in Waikoloa. We all need to do something or mass evacuate the island.
Jan 06, 2010
 Hilo is Heven or Hell?
by: Anonymous

I love the Big Island and thats why we built our family home here and have spent the last 8 years here raising our 4 kids....
However I am becoming increasingly concerned about the terrible on going VOG issue we are all being affected by whether we "feel" it or not, if you are being told not to take deep breaths or the vog particals can be "imbedded in your lungs" something is really wrong!!!not exactly Paradise!
We live in Paradise Park and today has been one of the worst Vog days,apon going out side one is hit with an extreme sulfur smell and taste, and you can't see beyond the trees in our yard, at times we can barely see our neighbours house across the street! our children are lathagic with headaches and we are having to keep the house shut up and my mother who is visiting over Christmas from Australia and is fit healthy person is feeling terribe , with headaches and itchy eyes, and no energy!!!
I don't feel that this Vogs potenial health affects are being thoughly put forward to the community and public- we all need to start taking this major potentially killer "vog" more seriously beacuse this is poisonous gases,and no diffrent than smoking/second hand smoke and other harmful chemicals etc.

there should be daily warnings informing the people in the paper when the levels and reading are high people should be staying in doors etc.
And what happends when the Vog smog reaches dangerous levles?
We should all have access to gass masks like the staff personal do up at Volcano National Park during poor air quality !!!
Dec 29, 2009
 SO2 levels and plants
by: Dolphinskye

Did you ever notice how vibrant the natural landscape is near the volcano? Studies show that an increase in sulfur dioxide levels cause plants to produce a greater amount of antioxidants. I am wondering if the cultivated plants that are having an adverse reaction to the vog were the result of chemical sprays interacting with the SO2. Are there any homegardeners that feel they are less affected by the VOG?
Dec 13, 2009
 vog related illness
by: Anonymous

Sinus and ear problems that turn into lung problems -- I'm sick, my wife is sick, the baby is sick; this vog is ridiculous.
Dec 10, 2009
 how are you folks doing??
by: nets

Aloha,

I left the island last year and I miss it a lot!
I still look everyday to check the conditions.
How are you folks fairing?? Any one who would like to share I'd be interested to hear. Hoping for clear skies and sunny days for you all.
Dec 10, 2009
 County View Point closures
by: Anonymous

The County closes the lava viewing area at Kalapana if the wind is blowing anywhere near south to north, or apparently even if its blowing north to south but not that strongly (as happened when we visited 12/4/2009). For a recorded message that will tell you if the view point is closed (updated at 3 PM if it is closed), call the county 808-961-8093.
Nov 02, 2009
 recent visit to big island
by: kobydog

We recently visited and had some bad days and some OK days re vog. We looked at properties, as we would like to move to the Big Island to retire. The vog is like the elephant in the room...it's obvious, but the Realtors act like it's a non-issue :(

The website http://hiso2index.info/ has been recommended on this blog to check current conditions in HI. When going to this site, I cannot find a date available on that page. Is this really an up to date source of info? When you go to the US map link, a date IS provided, and you can link to different parts of the mainland, but CANNOT link to the HI map! I'd like to confirm that the info provided for HI is really current...or are there better sites to visit for up to date info?

Aloha

kd
Oct 17, 2009
 Voggy days
by: Chelsea

A Big Aloha,

I used to live on the Big Island and was very ill from the vog back in the 80's and 90's, and then we moved to Idaho. My sinuses were so inflamed and red from trying to breathe. All that cleared up when we moved away, off island and to a dry climate with descent air quality. I think that is the only answer if somebody gets seriously ill. Move!!!

I was sick all the time, and was bedridden a lot until we moved off island. If that is not possible then I would have one room in the house that is air-conditioned and a really top of the line air purifier. Eat lots of green vege's especially KELP, and tons of vitamins that are natural with condensed greens, and vitamin C, and get lots of sunshine that promotes natural D.

I feel for all of you out there and I know what it is like to be sick from the vog. Stay inside, and get an air-conditioned room to escape! That did help me when I lived there, but then my allergies kicked in and I was unbelievably ill. Too muchie! I am all better now and it took a long time to get better, and now I have happy memories of the Big Island and the many adventures while living there.

Take Care!

You can contact me if you would like at:
chels.hawaii@yahoo.com
I can talk for hours about the Vog and the effects.

Hope this helps...
Chelsea
Sep 22, 2009
 I want to be back in kona....I
by: Anonymous

was out there a year ago to hang out with my brother who lived in Kona....i've been to island a few times over the years. Last time I was there kona would be nice in the am...but by noon it looks like a gray day....but once you headed to waipoi (forgive my spelling)....the vog would let up. Is this still the case that the vog remains at in kona all the way to hilo along the coast.....except south point case it's jst enough wind to wipe out the vog.....

as you locals know....the island jst letting you guys know how he feels, he'll be in a better mode sooner or later....he has seen to many ego's on boards (ha ha ha ha)

don't drink kona coffee
Sep 04, 2009
 Thinking of moving back..
by: Anonymous

....wondered whether folks can tell me how vog conditions have been of late on the BI. Looking at the so2 map it looks much better....how are people noticing it around the island? Would greatly appreciate any info you guys have....thanks!!
Aug 27, 2009
 VOG WEARY
by: Anonymous

I love the Big Island so much, my husband and I personally designed and built our beautiful home here. However, I am SO tired of this vog. The effects of the nasty stuff are apparent. This morning, a nice, light trade wind kept the air fairly clean, enabling me to work on taking care of my home. However, when I felt the lately-familiar labored breathing and fatigue, I looked outside and - of course - saw the vog had returned in full force. Many are ignoring this bad situation, and it is frustrating that we Big Island residents are not receiving adequate information about the vog. For the past two days the "Air Quality Index" site which reports SO2 and Ozone levels, has been down, giving residents false reports of a "zero" SO2 level. Even the weather channel often gives false reports that the West side of the Big Island is enjoying the "usual" blue skies and winds, as I look out the window to see still trees and the gray vog. Is anyone else feeling frustrated by these conditions?
Aug 25, 2009
 vog
by: Anonymous

when is the vog ever going to quit?When will Pele be done?I lived in Kona for 22 years,now live in Seattle for 10 years.I went back to Kona for 3 weeks back in May.It was nice the first half,then the vog moved in thick.Driving up Mauka,I couldn't even see the ocean!!I can't remember it ever being so thick.I remember Kona before the volcano went off.So beautiful.Now,it reminds me of LA smog and gives me headache.Too bad.I had to leave there finally,partly because of the vog.The Big Island is a very special place,I wish Madame Pele would relax and quit spewing the ash.
Jun 18, 2009
 Aloha Kakou
by: David



This is mostly in response to Birdy's message, but Aloha to everyone else that has been leaving messages. As far as I know it was just another average day on the Big Island. The links at the top of the page are the best way of monitoring the conditions on the Big Island that I know about. The one for Halemaumau conditions has a meter under the map of the summit, and if the colors are green, then everything is good. If the colors start to change, then the rest of the island will probably start to feel the effects.

As far as the health hazard of the volcanic emissions, I think they are real, but people have been dealing with volcanic emissions as long as people have been around.

The page that we wrote about the vog has a break down of some of the contents of the emissions, as well as things you can do to counter act the vog.

We use a air filter in our bedroom. This seems to help. For those closer to the volcano, a SO2 eliminator helps. One of our users provided this model for it, it is easy to make and people seem to have good results from it.

In Kona, and other areas not surrounding the summit, the SO2 is not that big of a concern. The hazard comes from the other particulates that are in the aerosol that is vog. Arsenic and Selenium are among the worst.

We do our best to be real about the vog, what it is, the effect that it can have, and what we can do to stay informed.

2 Scoops
Jun 17, 2009
 Vog Alert?
by: Birdy43

Just got a phone call from a mainland friend. She was very concerned, heard on her news channel (Santa Cruz CA.)that Big Island was having a high vog alert. Every day it seems to get a little worse. Here at 1000 ft. we hardly ever see blue skies in the morning anymore. Is there a sight that gives up to date vog alerts, maybe emails? I'm gettin' paranoid about it, I think. Mahalo!
Jun 16, 2009
 thanks
by: Kapahulu

Thanks for this site! Very informative. I am suffering a lot and I'm all the way over here in East Oahu. I wake up in the morning and I can tell if it is going to be a voggy day. I had to go to a naturopathic MD last week and try to get some alternative relief b/c daily prescription antihistamines are not preventing itchy/sore throat, gritty eyes and conjunctivitis, and constant runny nose when I'm outdoors. 'Auwe!
Jun 03, 2009
 Get out While You Can
by: Kimo

The Big Island - especially the Kona side - has definitely gotten worse and worse since the initial eruption in February of 1982 - as so far as the poisonous VOG goes!

No matter how you residents try to gloss this harmful issue over with your rhetoric biased by the fact that you live there and really cannot afford to leave...the plain facts are that you will certainly get long term negative health benefits!

Quite candidly, those that don't leave there and come back and see how really bad it is, you are living a lie! This is poison that you and your children are breathing in every day, and the real consequences of this will show up in a few years when you are older.

When I was back in February, I couldn't believe the terrible condition that the vog was having on the Kona side of the Big Island...we couldn't see 2-3 miles out to sea and the breathing was noticeably affected by the inhaling of poisonous gas from Kilaeua.

No wonder that Kailua-Kona has morphed into a ghetto - its pathetic how things have changed on Alii Drive, Kuakini Avenua, Mamalahoa Highway, etc., in Kona. I wouldn't want to guess how many doctor's visits have gone by the wayside and counted as wasted dollars - with no real relief in sight because of this ongoing (27 years)health hazard.

Those that still have a half a brain should think about moving out before its too late!
May 20, 2009
 SO 2 Levels in Hilo get Very High.
by: David



As you can see the winds out of the south west made Hilo a uncomfortable environment yesterday.

Kona on the other hand was gorgeous.

Volcano, Fern Forest and surrounding areas had extremely thick air.

Halemaumau and Puu O o continues to pore out a SO2 plume, and it is only a matter of what way the wind blows.
May 08, 2009
 No Confusion
by: David

If you reread the post, you will see that I said that the summit conditions reached red level, and in fact the next day, the conditions reached purple levels very briefly. This reading is off the National Park Service Link, which is updated every 20 minutes or so:

http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/havoso2alert/havoalert.cfm

Furthermore the satellite images over Kona for the next day showed high concentrations of SO2.

Conditions are back to green at the moment

Also, 61 PPM(parts per million) would kill you, the reading is in PPB(parts per billion).
May 07, 2009
 S02 versus PPM
by: Anonymous

Aloha,

I was concerned that you are confusing the two. At the site airquality now the SO2 levels have been green all week for Kona.

http://hiso2index.info/
However we were in green level for the PPM on the particle count until around last weekend. It then zoomed upward in Kona until today when we're at 61 ppm. To put it into perspective this is the same air today as San Diego, LA, Cleaveland and the list goes on and on. Now next week we very well may be back in the green area but in the meantime it isn't any worst than many cities in the US and they probably will never see any green days! It's not pristine every day BUT some days it is and maybe one of the vents will quit!
May 05, 2009
 Vog is going to be worse today.
by: David

SO2 plume is in the summit area. All individuals should limit or avoid outdoor exertion, or stay indoors or in an air conditioned environment.

Look for heavy conditions around the island today.

For the most current readings, check the Hale Mau MAu and Pu`u O`o conditions link.

Aloha David
May 05, 2009
 Wind where are thee?
by: Anonymous

Kawaihae has been socked in for 3 days. Sunday it was nice in Kailua than it was here. Better times are a'coming.
May 05, 2009
 Vog as bad as last year! Could not see the coastline at times today
by: David

I was working up on the mountain today, framing a house, and the vog was bad. Driving to work you could see it thick on the road, but once I was up the mountain, it was bad. I could barely see the coastline.

I got a page submitted in our contact us portion of the website, and a third grade teacher is concerned for the health of the kids.

Kona and Pahala stations read high levels of SO2, with Pahala reaching almost 400ppb, and the Jaggar museum, in Volcano, hit red conditions for one hour today. Red is one level below purple, which is cause for evacuation.

Below is the satallite images from today and yesterday, and you can clearly see the presence of the vog.

2 Scoops




Aloha Kakou
Apr 15, 2009
 Vog conditions have worsened again, but not as bad as last year
by: David

Aloha Kakou

Vog conditions have gotten pretty bad in the last few days, due to a a pretty good little outburst on Sunday(Picture below)

Alothough most of the S02 tends to go the east and south sides the conditions have been especially bad in Kona, where the vog tends to collect.

The levels have not been near as bad as last year, but they are by far worse then the last few months.

I fixed the link to the updated page for the S02 images, and you can see there that the levels have cleared up, now those of us in Kona just need the wind to clear our the air.

Aloha Grandma M, thanks for keeping me company here, it has been kind of lonely, but that also is a good thing of sorts.

2 Scoops

David

Mar 26, 2009
 HI David
by: Grandma M

Goodmourning David just wanted to say thanks again and much appreciation for your site. hope you are not feeling to lonely. Did get a lot in Nanawale estates. missing the island already

Grandma M
Mar 26, 2009
 Halema`uma`u continues to be active but not anything like last year.
by: David

Last year at this time people were starting to feel the effects of the awakening of Halema`uma`u. These days people are just breathing easier that conditions are almost back to what we have grown used to the last twenty years.

Yes the Vog is still there, but it is not anything like it was last summer. It gets thick in Kona on certain days, and you can still taste it in Fern Forest every once in a while, but it is all in all manageable, and should not impair anyone's health.
Feb 22, 2009
 No News Has Been Good News!
by: David

Well since the middle of December, the vog conditions have been very moderate, and almost non existent at times.

I haven't felt the need to update this blog for almost two months, and No News has been Good News.

Hopefully this trend continues. Although this page will probably begin to feel a bit neglected.

Aloha Kakou
Jan 28, 2009
 All Clear
by: Daren

We just spent a week in Kona (mid to late January 09) and after all I had heard I was on the look-out for signs of vog. We noticed a slight bit of haze against the mountainside above Kona on a couple of the days late in the afternoon, but otherwise it was all clear and beautiful. Blue skies and sunshine every day!
Jan 20, 2009
 Still not much activity from Halema`uma`u, which has given us beautiful conditions
by: David

Well, I'm not sure if it's time to tell all the people that have moved to come back, but the air has been clean. Halema`uma`u has been emitting hardly anything for the last month.

It has been nice.

for the full press release from USGS follow this link

2 Scoops Aloha
Jan 09, 2009
 Halema`uma`u Crater could be going dormant again
by: David

Well it was in both Big Island newspapers today that Halema`ma`u could be all pau.

It appears that a earthquake in early December might have caused the Crater to go to sleep again.

It is still emitting gases, but not much ash, and no lava.

The rate that it has been emitting gases is also way below what it was churning out for a while.

This would explain the beautiful conditions that the Big Island has been having lately.


Hopefully this is the end, and we can all breathe easier. Pun intended.
Jan 01, 2009
 Happy New Year David
by: Grandma M

Hi and Happy New Year to you too, beautiful sunrise this mourning in NE and what a great new year ahead, only positive flow to come.

Mahalo for the updates
Dec 30, 2008
 Happy New Year
by: David

Well 2009 is almost here, so Happy New Year everybody!

The vog has been almost non-existent this last week, and there is quite a bit of snow on Mauna Kea.

Happy Holidays, and I'll update again soon.

2 Scoops Aloha
Dec 21, 2008
 Ok Island of Death Might be Exagerating
by: David

I think that that it is a little bit of a stretch to say Island of Death.

People on this Island have been dealing with volcanic emissions as long as people have been here, and they have thrived.

Some people that are more sensitive have had issues.

The last week has been nice, the Kona sky at night has been beautiful. You can see the stars very clearly and there doesn't seem to be much vog.

When the rainy season and summer come to Kona, I think that it will get thick again, but that really depends on the volcano.

Here is a satellite image from 12-19-08
Dec 16, 2008
 The Island of Death is Reality
by: Anonymous

My father in Law became deathly ill and moved because of the vog. It hasn't effected me or my wife, but he left in a hurry!
Dec 12, 2008
 exaggerating
by: Anonymous

Saying "This Island Of Death" is exaggerating and dramatic. PLEASE!!!!
Dec 11, 2008
 The Vog is a Real Threat, At Least the Government Thinks So.
by: David

Here is some new information that just came to my attention. It has to do with a government agency formed to look into the effects of vog. Here is the Oct 6th Report from the Special Committee on Vog Effects

To everybody that posted on here that people are exaggerating, I think that it is a matter of perspective.

Some people have been getting sick, others feel fine.

Hopefully we can all be civil. This has effected everybody, whether economically or physically. That is what the report deals with.

Also here is a Satellite Photo from last week from the National Weather Service showing the vog from space.
Dec 08, 2008
 What a Crock
by: Anonymous

The Big Island Of Hawaii is beautiful. There is vog but it is not as described by our exagerating hypochondriac in the previous blog. I have lived here for 21 years and I feel great. I have white canaries that sing everyday and are healthy, As far as I am concerned that guy can go to Kauai and stay there. I don't care. However don't let him scare any of you. The Big Island is beautiful.
Dec 07, 2008
 The island of death
by: Merk

The lethal death gas is killing our plants, bodies and real estate market. All my gardens are dead. My family and friends are dying of this lethal mixture from Pele.The vog is terrible
and is killing our islands ohana.
My skin is turning yellow and my blood is contaminated -horrible.
Stay away from this island until further notice.
The lethal gas and dioxide is a death mixture
is bad for our animals and or keiki

We are moving from this slow island of death.

Kauai here we come.
Dec 06, 2008
 Returned
by: Grandma M

HI David,

Just got back from the big island, what a different view the the last few times I was there, cant say I noticed any problems with health ect, but wasn't probably there long enough, however did only see one fair sunset in Kona during 9 day stay.

Weather was perfect,just no real sun to speak of unless you went further north Hapuna beach was wonderful. Will come back,maybe in 6 months and see if any better changes ect.

Do appreciate your work at keeping us mainlanders informed, still looking at properties but a lil slower in exact move date.

Thanks again
Grandma M
Dec 05, 2008
 Not Sure Pele wants a salt water shower
by: Kim in Oregon

Thanks David, for this link, and discussion---it has been more informative than anything else I've seen on vog.

I have come to the Hawaiian Islands for many years, but Dec. 11 will be our first trip to the Big Island. Have been on the internet regarding a lot of subjects, including real estate. Clearly, vog is driving down prices on the big island, which is a shame for property owners. It actually seems to be accelerating since I first started checking it out this summer. (more depression in real estate than other islands).

Regarding the idea of a water spray to wet down the gasses---great idea, but I was an eye witness to the Mt. St. Helens eruption on May 18, 1980. which decapitatedSt. Helens, blowing a cubic mile off that volcano, and the only reason less than 100 people died was because it was so remote. The cause of that eruption was water seepage into the jointed rock over a long period of time which came into contact with the rising lava, causing steam which expanded, but couldn't vent. ---thus the massive explosion. I know the hawaiian volcanos are different, with more viscus lava, but its still something to think about if thee is a temptation to apply a man made solution to this problem

Dec 04, 2008
 Don't Know What Cialis has to do with Vog, but the Vog has been thick!
by: David

I don't know who keeps putting the post about Cialis on the blog, but obviously they know a lot about it. Personally I don't need it.

But back to the vog. As you can see below, Kona winds yesterday made conditions pretty bad. These are the days when you definitely don't want to over do it.

Also drink plenty fluids.


Nov 22, 2008
 Here is an Example of Good Days
by: David

Here is a good look at a satellite image of SO2 readings when they are low.



The difference is night and day from last week.
Nov 19, 2008
 Thank you Kamakane
by: David

Well the picture tells it all. The Tradewinds are back, and the SO2 is heading back out to sea.

Added some new links. The State's SO2 readings are pretty interesting.

Aloha Kakou


Nov 16, 2008
 Vog Is thick!
by: David

Aloha all

The last few days, we have been experiencing extremely thick vog on the East side of the Big Island, due to very light trade winds. Here is a picture of the satellite images from today.



As you can see, the vog is thick! Possibly the worst conditions in months. People on the east side around Volcano have been saying they can taste the sulfur.

West and North sides have not been as bad, but it is definitely more then we would like.

I'll keep updating, like to hear more from those on the East side,

Aloha David
Nov 10, 2008
 Many Thanks
by: Grandma M

Good mounring David the info youve provided is greatly appreciated. Will definetly look more to the North.

Many Thanks
Down to earth Mother
Nov 10, 2008
 I Love it Here Also
by: David

The Big Island is unique in far more then its setting. The people are one of a kind. Possibly the most mixed plate of cultures equally represented anywhere.

The Vog has had a impact though. We have witnessed people we know and love moving off Island because of Health concerns. The vog has mostly effected the young, elderly, and more sensitive of our residents, but we all have noticed it.

The least effected areas as far as I know have been the areas up North. Especially around Hawi area where the trade winds blow consistently and keep the air relatively clean.

Hilo side has been very nice on 90% of the days, but you get those days when the Kona Winds come and blow all the emissions that way, and it gets thick.

Kona was starting to get back to normal, but yesterday was thick, and the satellite images were showing SO2 up here, which is rare. SO2 and Vog are different things. SO2 is a deadly gas, while Vog is a aerosol made of of ash, dust and gases mixed with water vapor.

Anyway hope this helped!

Aloha David
Nov 08, 2008
 Love the island
by: Grandma M

Will also be visiting soon in two weeks have been to the island many times feels like home, would love to buy property and live off land, away from rat race here. Garden ect. Will be checking out properties this time around, hope plant life shows me the time is right. Family wants simplar life too. any suggestions on areas hit worst by vog, to stay away from. and good areas for living off the land?

Much appreciated
Down to earth Mother
Nov 04, 2008
 Thanks for the update
by: Ryan

David, thanks for your impressions and comments. We loooove Kona and visit each year. Have made our reservations for February on faith that the VOG would not turn us back. So pleased to see Kona Cams showing a much clearer horizon. Was amazed to find that many condos were still booked early even with high VOG index this fall. Guess we all know it is so special that even some VOG is not enough to keep us away. The VOG updates are very much appreciated by us mainlanders waiting for our time in paradise.
Oct 28, 2008
 Getting Better
by: David

The last month or so Halemaumau has been pushing more lava to the surface of its crater, and scientists have even observed a lake of lava underneath the surface. This has resulted in less emissions from the crater, as the Smoke, ashes, and gases are giving way to Lava.

Because of this the vog has been almost back to the same conditions that it was before the awakening of Halemaumau in March. However, people are still moving away because of this, and people are still complaining of vog related symptoms.

Whether it is in their head or due to volcanic emissions is not for anyone but doctors to say, who seem reluctant to comment. My sons pediatrician was not willing to talk about other patients he had, and said that if my son was exhibiting symptoms he would talk to me. My son has been fine, but I was just curious to see if there really was an effect on children.

Mamaki Tea seems to be the best herbal remedy still, and getting in the ocean a lot always does the trick.

The ionic foot bath seems like a good idea, as vog does contain heavy metals, which typically deposit in your feet, once they are in your bloodstream.

Well thats all from me, thought I would give a quick summary, and get the blog back on track.

2 Scoops Aloha

David
Oct 08, 2008
 Stop scaring people
by: Anonymous

The emergency room at Ka'u Hospital in Pahala is seeing an average of three people a day -- up from two -- with symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
Are you Kidding me? Up to three from two? Maybe if it was like 10 or 20 more we should panic. C'mon. Really what are you people doing. Yes it is cloudy more than before. But the vog is not what you are saying.
Oct 08, 2008
 Kilauea's toxic gas kills crops, sickens islanders
by: Anonymous

Actually the Oct 7th blog isn't extremely exaggerated. This clip is directly from CNN.com, and there is at least two more articles there.

Kilauea's toxic gas kills crops, sickens islanders

OCEAN VIEW, Hawaii (AP) -- For eight years, Tony and Sam Bayaoa have grown thousands of bright red, yellow and pink protea flowers on their farm. Then in March, Kilauea volcano opened a new vent and began spewing double the usual amount of toxic gas.


Now about 70 percent of their crop is dried, brown and brittle.

"The first reaction was -- did someone poison the plants?" said Tony Bayaoa, whose two-acre farm is 35 miles from the volcano. "I've lost my livelihood."

Big Island crops are shriveling as sulfur dioxide from Kilauea wafts over them and envelops them in "vog," or volcanic smog. People are wheezing, and schoolchildren are being kept indoors during recess. High gas levels led Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to close several days last month, forcing the evacuation of thousands of visitors.

Residents of this volcanic island are used to toxic gas. But this haze is so bad that farmers are thinking about growing different crops, and many people are worrying about their health.

Kirk Brewer, 33, an electrician who moved to the Big Island in 2006 from Southern California, blames his headaches and wife Tracy's itchy skin, sore throat and runny nose on the vog.

"It's a bummer when you go to the other islands and see how clear and blue it is, but we'll just deal with it," Brewer said.

When educator Ann Peterson of Kona went to the bank last week, she and the teller were making the same noises in their throats. They looked at each other and said in unison, "Vog!"

Kilauea on the Big Island has been erupting continuously since 1983. But in mid-March, a new vent formed at the summit, giving Kilauea two large sulfur dioxide outlets instead of one.


Sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that is also generated by burning coal and oil, can lead to asthma and other respiratory illnesses and aggravate lung and heart disease. When combined with dust and sunlight, it makes vog. Mixed with atmospheric moisture, it produces acid rain.
Oct 08, 2008
 Kilauea's toxic gas kills crops, sickens islanders (continued)
by: Anonymous

Exceptionally thick gray-white vog has hovered over parts of the Big Island for weeks, particularly those areas downwind of the crater. The wind has blown vog to Oahu, 200 miles to the north, bathing Honolulu in a light haze. (The vog is no threat to the U.S. mainland, some 2,500 miles away.)

Some crops are doing fine. Coffee and macadamia nuts, two of the Big Island's mainstays, appear unaffected. Koa and ohia trees are healthy, but eucalyptus leaves are turning brown, as are Asiatic lilies.

Protea may be the hardest hit, though experts don't know why. The hand-size blossoms are used in tropical floral arrangements and are a $1.8 million-a-year business in the islands.

Kelvin Sewake of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture said he is not sure if it is the gas or acid rain that is killing the plants. He said Big Island protea growers have always suffered sulfur dioxide "burns," but he has never seen it this bad.

Dan Wegner, the biggest protea farmer in Ocean View, with about 15 acres, said he usually records $70,000 in annual sales. This year, he is not sure if he will reap half that.

"This is taking my viable business right now and putting it right in the dumper. I don't know what I'm going to do," Wegner said. "It's frightening."

One reason the vog is worse is that the new vent is farther inland than the older Puu Oo vent on the mountain's seaside slope. While gas from the Puu Oo vent often blows out to sea, the new plume is more likely to hit farms and communities in concentrated form.

The county has issued only two temporary, voluntary evacuation advisories for Ocean View and Pahala, which have a combined population of just more than 4,000. The vog that has settled over the Big Island has little or no odor.

The emergency room at Ka'u Hospital in Pahala is seeing an average of three people a day -- up from two -- with symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.

Dr. Cliff Field, ER director, said he is more concerned about the potential long-term harm. Large amounts of vog may cause emphysema and chronic lung disease over time. Still, he questioned whether living next to Kilauea is any worse than living in a city like Los Angeles.

Sally Ancheta of the American Lung Association of Hawaii said people should stay inside when the vog is bad. But she added: "I would not recommend anybody leaving. It's too good of a place to live."
Oct 08, 2008
 Oct 7 blog is exxageration
by: Anonymous

Most of the happenings on the oct 7th comment is just about the economy. Coincidence. People are living and thriving just like anywhere else in the world. The oct 7th blog is an extreme exxageration. Hotel occupancies have depleted because of airfare prices and the recession and potential depression we are in. A completely different matter. Just happens to be at the same time. People like that are just trying to make our economy worse. Thanks Buddy!!!!!
Oct 07, 2008
 Death - Real Estate and no Tourists.
by: Ship Hawkins Pu'u

Well as you know, Many people are selling their homes on the big island due to Vog. The real estate market is going to get slammed on the big island. Tourists are going elsewhere due to economy and the Vog here. The worst is yet to come. I've heard that CA investers are pulling out of the big Island for good. Hotel occupancy will dip to 48% in 2009. Investors are not buying Big Island real estate and are selling the remaining stock at a huge loss of 30%
The Vog will then completly whip out the remaining AG crops. The big Island will lose
15% of it's job force. News about VOG on the big Island has spread in newpapers across the country and world. The word is out.
CNN is reporting that tourists and residents should beware of health risks such as Cancer and
Lung infections.
Oct 06, 2008
 I feel just fine
by: Anonymous

I don't know people. I live in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. I have asthma and have not felt anything from the vog. I have not used my nebulizer of Advir since 2005. I am very sensitive but I have not been feeling any of the symptoms people are complaining about. I had a friend who was laying on my couch and she did not know I had a himalayan cat and she said she cannot be exposed to any cat dander of cat hair or she will go into respiratory distress and start sneezing and coughing intil collapse. Naturally I did not inform her that my cat sleeps on that couch most of the day and I did not bring my cat in. What I am saying is some people may be reacting just from suggestion.
Oct 03, 2008
 Pele
by: Anonymous

The indigenous Hawaiians have been wanting their lands back. I believe they may have gotten an answered to their prayers. Hope Pele doesn't take this to far. I believe offerings (no virgins), but purity of heart, and a whole lot of Forgiveness those who came and laid claim to Paradise. Forgive the past and do the offerings and perhaps Pele's spirit will grow calm. Just a comment. One I believe can help.
Sep 30, 2008
 moving
by: Anonymous

we have to get out of the daily pollution. Makes my wife sick. Going to another part of the island to see blue skies and white clouds. I like the guys idea of pumping sea water on the vent. Not likely..cough--cough
Sep 24, 2008
 RE: Vog poisoning by VB
by: BF

It is highly unlikely that you experienced vog poisoning in Kapoho as the winds generally come from the other direction.

What you are most likely experiencing is the poison spray drift from the papaya farms.
Sep 24, 2008
 Vog level in South Kona
by: Anonymous

Was wondering how the vog is in the South Kona area and Milolii?
Was told recently that is was not bad there and I was under the impression that it was.We were there in May and it didn't bother our breathing that much but we only got to see the sun set 3 times out of 30 days.
Sep 20, 2008
 Visit to Kailua- response to Gary
by: Kailua-Kona Wahine

Aloha Gary,

The VOG is not too bad right in Kailua-Kona near the coast. The sky is hazy with it most days. However, if you drive north to the beaches you can get out of it quickly unless the trades are not blowing and then the entire state is covered. No way to predict what November might be like. I wouldn't cancel your trip. Most tourists just think it is hazy.
The skies are very clear where the actual plumes are! Just don't hand around South Kona and Kau for long.


Sep 18, 2008
 Organic sulfur is bio available, the VOG is not
by: Patrick McGean

The gaseous pollution from the volcanic activity is a result of this activity occurring in the atmosphere.
When this same volcanic activity occurs deep in the oceanic volcanic trenches then the sulfur is released as free sulfur not sulfur dioxide.
If sea water were pumped over the gas plume where the lava flows into the sea possibly it could reduce the S02 to sulfur and oxygen.
Hawaii has sea going pumpers which could test this
theory. In Chile fresh water was sprayed on the
gaseous plume but what was missing was the salt.
Salt replaces the sulfur in a form of electrolysis
The sudden quenching of the lava flow in sea water
suffers from the air in which this occurs. No
free oxygen and nitrogen are available in the deep
sea trenches where the black smokers provide free
sulfur for plankton, the beginning of the aquatic food chain.
This is only a theory but if the SO2 and the resulting sulfuric acid could be reduced with this process then the adverse effects of the VOG could possibly be decreased to plants and animals alike, we humans are animals.
Our study members have experience a resolution to a number of allergies both atmospheric and food borne by adding organic sulfur to their diets.
We believe that enabling cellular regeneration is the key to what our members are reporting.

Director
Live Blood and Cellular Matrix Study
organicsulfur@sisna.com
Sep 17, 2008
 Kona Village
by: David

Aloha

I haven't been down to the village lately, but that area, right around the airport, and right North of it, are a lot bette then the rest of Kona. The winds tend to keep the air relatively clean, but there was one day when the wind died and the vog was thick!

That being said I would go for it. There is usually trade winds consistently in November, and the ambiance of KV can not be beat.

As long as you don't want to go into Kona town, you should be fine.

Aloha David
Sep 16, 2008
 What's the VOG situation near Kona Village?
by: Gary

My wife's 50th is coming up in November, and she loves KV. When we were there in March-April the VOG was not as bad as in K-K, but was definitely interfering with sunshine. Personally I'm not thrilled with layout the big bucks for a not so nice experience. Would any locals be kind enough to fill me in on the current situation? Any chance the winds would change or improve the situation in early November?
Mahalo
Gary
Sep 10, 2008
 Lethal Air
by: Jilian Yank

The slow visible hell that the big island is experencing is horrific.
It's a slow march to the grave for plants, animals and people.
Beware of the toxic hell invading the big island!
Children and the elfderly should be vary careful of the toxic sulphur death gas.
All toursits should take precautions and prodect themselves - The other Hawaiian islands have good air quality except for rare Kona wind days.

Sep 09, 2008
 Toxic death
by: Bill Shire

The Vog is killing the plants and people of the big island. It's a slow death, but significant enough to kill the real estate market and tourism.
Best to stay well clear of the natural disaster.
The is especially harmful to the elderly and children. If you are visiting the big island be extremely careful of inhaling this toxic element.
Beware and wear gas mask if possible.

We are going to tell all the travel agents at the national convention to make sure the public is aware of this disaster to humans and animals.
Aug 12, 2008
 Looking for ways to help
by: Brian and Carol

From Arizona we are watching your situation.
We are concerned about the duration of your current VOG problem. The possibility of it continuing and the increased effects this could have on your people.
At what point do you make contingency and long term, "short term," emergency plans?
What would they look like?
Aug 06, 2008
 airnow.gov
by: Anonymous


Here is the official site offered by the Federal and State agencies. It looks good, it does help BUT this agency is located on the mainland. I called the number for an update and found out that it was a moderate reading for Pahala and Kona - we live in Ocean View. I was told if I needed to evacuate to leave. I asked 'where do I go?' At this point in time there are no evacuation centres set up and no more assistance was offered. As I write this the vog is rolling in - where do I go?
Aug 05, 2008
 Pahala and Naalehu schools closing?
by: Jeff

I would like to know if there is any official word on the latest rumor about DOE considering closing the schools in both Pahala and Naalehu due to the SO2? I understand that it will be a tough decision as where do they go for school, long term, if these schools close and how do you weigh that with protecting the kids health? As all good rumors do so often start with a "reliable source" which this one certainly did, I want to balance that with some hard evidence that this is being considered. Anyone see anything about it? I checked Google but only came up with the couple temporary school closures that occurred back at the end of this past school year. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Aloha
Aug 01, 2008
 SO2 Images