VOG in North Kona

[tchristman]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

Not daily, but much more often than it used to be. I just drove back from the Kohala coast and have some pics--today was an unusually bad day from what I am used to seeing. The last time I was over there (last Friday/Saturday) it was quite nice and the horizon was clear. Will try to post those pics soon...

(Is the Hamakua coast an option? More clear days, thanks to stronger trade winds.)

The Hamakua coast is sooo beautiful, but t am not sure I could take the rain? By the way, that is interesting, I was told that The Kohala coast didn't get into the VOG that bad! Kona must be cutting it with a knife today!

[mogon]

Even on Hamakua, especially lower Hamakua, there are many folks suffering the effects of the vog.

[hotzcatz]

I'm in the middle of Hamakua coast and was sleeping with a breath mask last night because of the effects of vog.

Whatever you do, do not buy a house without living in the neighborhood for at least several months first. No matter how great it looks online, or how glowing the seller's website seems or how correct the house assessor's report comes back. Considering the cost of buying a house, it is a very small "fee" to rent in the area first. If you buy the wrong house, it will cost a lot more to get out of it than the cost of several months' rent.

[Roxy VB]

Aloha...As you note the vog factor is not something people can agree upon! The problem is compounded by the fact that vog hooks onto the rain and it's very difficult to tell the difference! I've lived in Hawaii since 1979 So.....
The vog started being a problem in 1984. Got incredibly bad in May of 2008 when Halemaumau and Puu oo both started going off at the same time. Trades affect it, hurricanes HELP, south breezes hurt Kona, and pockets within a very close area look different. Was bad this year in May 2009 but has been going in and out since. You won't notice it as much if you live close to the ocean (usually) and the further north on the Kona side you go the less problem. Hawi rarely gets hit. The best area is probably the Hamakua Coastline (NE side of island). For a bottom line analysis of whether you are seeing rain clouds or vog visit AIRNow - Air Quality Conditions & Forecasts - Kona, HI
which shows Kona for example. Today we are GREEN at 42. It rained last night and clouds are hanging low but there really aren't many particles in the air. Every afternoon rain clouds go mauka makai whether there's vog or no and I too think people occassionally get stuck in a rut as to what they are seeing.

[Roxy VB]

[quote=hotzcatz;10894975]I'm in the middle of Hamakua coast and was sleeping with a breath mask last night because of the effects of vog.

Mildew and smoking was found to be more of a problem in the Hamakua coast for respiratory problems in the children’s study the state did in Hawaii a year or two ago. They thought it would be the best area because of the lack of vog and found the most problems there. You might want to check for mildew and take the carpet out of your house especially if you are upper moist elevation and if you are shutting the house down to keep out the "vog" you will be creating the perfect mildew environment. Hope this helps!

[hotzcatz]

No carpet, no smoking and no shutting the house down since it is really old and really ventilated. We are at about 350' elevation so it doesn't even rain that much here considering our general area. We sleep under an open window and when my sinuses stuff up and I get headaches in the middle of the night there usually isn't any wind and the vog has crept up the coast. It also comes and goes usually with the wind or rather the lack thereof.

My neighbor's husband has breathing problems and he was suffering, too. Hamakua gets vog, just like everyone else. I do think we get a lot less than the Southpoint side of Kona, though.

[Roxy VB]

True. I ended up buying an air purifier last year in summer of '08 but this year just hasn't been as bad! I live at 35' elevation right in Kailua Kona and really do think that the waves hitting the shoreline helps clear out the vog but perhaps that's positive thinking Todays particle count is only 9 in Hilo so betting your day is looking good!

[smIIley]

I actually lived on the leeward side (kona for a few years ago) the vog is not that bad. last year was the worse we had it. I moved to the hamakua coast to be closer to family and friends, the vog is rarely seen on the windward side of the island. the hamakua coast have some really nice ocean front property, but the flaws is you dont get the sun set. I can honestly say i love living in hawaii no matter the vog, drug problems, or how expensive milk is. there is no other place i rather be..