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I am a teacher looking to relocate to Hawaii next summer. I will have seven years of experience, a masters/certification in reading and certification to teach gifted and talented students.
I feel like since it is just my husband and I we will be able to make it. We've wanted to move there for quite some time. It almost feels like the islands are calling our names. He works for a retail store and should be able to transfer to the islands if I can get a job there. We do not intend on moving unless we both have jobs. I plan on going through the DOE website and applying, writing letters, sending resumes etc. Does anyone have a clue what private schools pay? My one concern is the vog. Since I am in North Carolina right now, I really have no idea how bad it is. I don't see a lot of posts about it. On one hand I read articles about how it is a big deal. On the other hand I don't see a lot of people complaining about it.
Neither one of us have any serious allergies or asthma. Should we cancel our plans just because of the vog? That would break my heart.
Is there anywhere on the big island where vog is not an issue? How is the vog on the other islands? I really want to know if this is a deal breaker.
I know I've asked a lot of questions. If anyone can give me the real scoop I would really appreciate it.
You might want to use the search feature to get some idea of the prevalence and the recent trends. (It was hardly ever an issue a few years ago; it's been in the news more for the past year or so.)
A couple of BI residents (both realtors, I think, so well-informed about the entire island) have posted very good links to scientific data as well as news reports.
Here on Maui, we've had only one week of continuous vog, that I recall, and that was in May. I didn't notice any unusual respiratory symptoms. (I do have some minor allergies normally, but I am healthy.) I heard others commenting who were not so lucky, and seemed to have runny noses or a "burning" in their lungs.
I live on the big island and when its really voggy i wake up with a headache and my eyes and throat are itchy. If you have any more questions that you think i might be able to answer feel free to send me a direct message.
The vog is different depending on which island you are on. It affects folks different ways. I find it hard to breathe when the vog is heavy and try to stay indoors. The volcanologists say the vog is likely to be here for awhile, too. Sigh!
Exactly why I would bypass the Big island. Winds from SW come up and blow it to Hilo and then winds from NE come down and blow it to Kona. Your health is most important of the many issues facing incoming residents.
From what I hear, DOE doesn't give experienced teachers much credit (or increased pay) for being experienced. There is also some sort of PRAXIS tests which all the teachers have to take. I don't teach, but I have some friends who do and these are some of the things they talk about.
The further you get away from Kilauea the less vog so Kauai should have the freshest air although I haven't gone to look.
I am surprised by the lack of vog feedback in the blogs. I think most of the bloggers (realtors and investors) don't want to talk about it and try to keep that subject kapu.
From my own experience, the vog was unpleasant, but that was last year, prior to the new Halemaumau vent plume opening up -- which is now releasing 2 or 3 times as much SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide, the main component of vog) --as when we were there.
It does depend which way the wind blows. When we were there, the Kona winds were blowing it all the way up into north Hilo. I actually woke up several times during the night gasping for breath. Vog smells like the thick acrid, sulphuric smoke of burning rubber/tires. Even with our limited exposure, we began to feel symptoms: sore throat, burning sinuses, irritated eyes...
--Again, that was last year. I don't know how much worse it is now though, post-Halemaumau/TEB outbreak. It mostly blows to the west, southwest in the Summer.
It would be nice to hear some current first-hand accounts. --Anyone been to the Big Island since February 2008??
Last edited by voganswer; 07-29-2008 at 01:11 PM..
Reason: typo
There have been several lively exchanges about and postings on the vog recently. I'm rather surprised that you feel we would "try to keep it kapu" when it's been in the news.
Several BI posters have put up links to NOAA and USGS information as well as our casual observances about how much, when, and whether we suffer any ill effects. I think if you search, you'll find a lot more recent info.
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