VOG issue on the Big Island.....

[AuntRayRay]

So in my researching for a future move to the Big Island I came across this VOG issue. And I'm wondering how bad is it? And how does it compare to the rest of the worlds SMOG for health? I'm concerned since my oldest has a heart condition, but then I'm thinking how clean is our NJ/NY air LOL
I've read a few articles but think its better to actually talk to someone whose already there

thanx

[bigeyes]

It depends on where you live. We live in an area that has been reported in books as having a lot of vog, but actually it does not. We've been here 2 years and there was a 2 week period where the trade winds changed and I could actually taste the sulphur in the air and I had a scratchy feeling in my throat from the vog. During that period they closed the road near the Volcanos Natonal Park because of the volcano activity and all the stuff that was in the air. We live about an hour away from the park, but our air quality was still affected. From our house, you can usually see all the way to the ocean, about 4 miles away. When the vog is hanging it is hazy and it looks foggy, all you can see is greyish blue where the sky looks like it meets the ground instead. We can usually see the ocean.

Our friends moved away because they had 3 people in their home with asthma issues and they were having too many problems. I get migraines related to the sulphur, so when the volcano was acting up and the winds were blowing the air toward us, I had headaches for those 2 weeks. I also get headaches whenever we have to go near that area of the island if there is a lot of sulphur in the air.

If you live near the volcano, you tend to have vog and air issues.

Some of the areas where housing is more expensive actually have vog issues because the trade winds blow the vog there.

The best thing you can do is visit several times a year and see for yourself, imo. The way it is for me, whenever we drive in to either Hilo or Kona, I start getting stopped up and my eyes, throat and nose start itching and getting irritated. I feel like the vog is more of an issue in other areas than it is where people say it is. You really just have to be here a while and see it for yourself.

[AuntRayRay]

hmm we visited the big Island in 2005 and were on the Kona side and Hilo side and didn't notice any of that? Is it more recently a problem? We are really interested in moving to Hilo. But I am concerned reading about this VOG situation, but I know that there is SMOG on the mainland and just wanted to see if it was going to be any different health-risk wise then living 1/2hour from NYC. Because the world as a whole is unfortunately getting worse everywhere, but I'd prefer to be in HI than NJ if thats the case. We need to make a decision by may 1st if we want to move this year, otherwise we'll have to wait another year.

[AuntRayRay]

So I was just looking on usnews.com and their saying air quality in Hawaii is 96 and New Jersey (specifically the town i live) is 110- lower being better. basically making it the same, but I still like to hear how it "really" is from real people,yk. Anyone live in Hilo or near by?

thanx

[bigeyes]

It's not an every day thing, that's the problem. You may not notice it when you're here for a week.

We've been here 2 years, and I've only had 2 weeks where I actually had a problem with the vog in our area. I've probably been able to see it more often than that. And also, for me, the reactions I have in Hilo and Kona are probably a combination of vog and allergy since I'm not from here and I'm sure there are new things I didn't have in other places I've lived.

I thought it was interesting that our friends were so affected by it, since it only bothered me for those 2 weeks. You have to find out for yourself just how much it will bother you. I don't think anyone else can tell you.

We're not too far from South Point, and like I said, we're usually clear, though every book I've ever read talks like we're always voggy. Today, like most days, I can see the ocean from my lanai, and we're 4 miles in from the beach.

[AuntRayRay]

Well thing is it would cost us $1000 ea to fly down there and since we'd been already I was kinda hoping I could do all the research here from Jersey and then just make the move. As far as the VOG I'm only concerned for the kids because I'd just "suck it up" cuz "hey I'm in paradise!" LOL There seems to be so much of what we're looking for in a destination in HI. Warm weather, good food, slower paced living, beaches near by, beautiful scenery, warmer /friendlier people, more natural/simplier living. So i figured if I talk to a bunch of people in HI about the VOG just see what most people feel about plus the facts on the news I could get a feel for it and then in the end would have to take the chance. Only live once None of us have asthma, just that my oldest has a heart condition..he's not sick on the outside though..he runs around like crazy and seems to rarely get tired..I get tired if anything LOL But of course their health comes first. I always thought Hawaii was one of the cleanest places to be esp. air wise..sucks about this VOG stuff. More research and thought I guess. Thanx for your replies Bigeyes, I really appreciate it

[bigeyes]

I hear you about airfare.

My dh is all over the island for work, I'll ask him about it when I see him later. I know for us it's almost never a problem where we are, but like I said, our friends moved because they were bothered enough. I can't remember which area it was he was saying had it really bad, but it was one of the more affluent parts of the island. I would be very annoyed if I lived in a more expensive/exclusive area and the air quality sucked.

[KavaKaya]

Vog is nasty. It's been especially bad since March of last year due to Halema'uma'u opening up and adding to Pu'u 'O'o emissions.
People develop health issues because of it. Here is some more info.

[MangoMommy]

We spent a week in Kailua-Kona and it was bad the whole time. I think that's the side of the Big Island that normally gets the VOG. We were there over Thanksgiving. Normally we stay on the Hilo side or in the national park and have no problems unless we drive downwind from it. (like down Chain of Craters rd)

Here on O'ahu it's only bad when we have Kona winds, LOL, of course! Like today! I remember earlier last year, when the vent opened (march?) it was HORRIBLE here (O'ahu), very thick!!

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by MangoMommy

We spent a week in Kailua-Kona and it was bad the whole time. I think that's the side of the Big Island that normally gets the VOG. We were there over Thanksgiving. Normally we stay on the Hilo side or in the national park and have no problems unless we drive downwind from it. (like down Chain of Craters rd)

That's my experience as well. Kona irritates my senses much more than Hilo, and I really think in Hilo it's more allergy than Vog. Kona is allergy and
vog both. I've got plants at home and I haven't noticed the air being bad except that 1 time when the winds weren't blowing the vog away. That was about a 2 week period and it was awful. I even got an inhaler from the doctor and I've never had asthma, but during this time the sulphur in the air gave me a constant migraine, my voice was scratchy and I couldn't wear my contacts. I had a wheezy thing going on that was really uncomfortable. I could actually taste the sulphur in the air during that time, ugh.


You keep your windows closed and try not to go out if you can avoid it. Our school will close if the air quality is bad enough, since it's close to the volcano, and I think the road going past had closed twice since I have been here. There's only 1 main road that goes all around the island, so if they close it in the Volcano area you have to circle the island the other way to get where you're going if you can access it that way. Otherwise, you just don't go until the volcanic activity slows down and they open the road again.

The winds carry the vog to Kona, so some of the places that are closer to the volcano aren't as voggy as Kona. It's odd. But it's hard to tell someone else how it will affect them since we all feel it differently. My dh doesn't seem to have any problems from it, but I really feel it. Dsd only notices it when it's super awful, and ds isn't bothered by it to the same degree I am. I don't think I'd advise anyone with asthma to move here, but for us it isn't a huge problem, just an inconvenience and an occasional irritant.

[AuntRayRay]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

That's my experience as well. Kona irritates my senses much more than Hilo, and I really think in Hilo it's more allergy than Vog. Kona is allergy and
vog both. I've got plants at home and I haven't noticed the air being bad except that 1 time when the winds weren't blowing the vog away. That was about a 2 week period and it was awful. I even got an inhaler from the doctor and I've never had asthma, but during this time the sulphur in the air gave me a constant migraine, my voice was scratchy and I couldn't wear my contacts. I had a wheezy thing going on that was really uncomfortable. I could actually taste the sulphur in the air during that time, ugh.


You keep your windows closed and try not to go out if you can avoid it. Our school will close if the air quality is bad enough, since it's close to the volcano, and I think the road going past had closed twice since I have been here. There's only 1 main road that goes all around the island, so if they close it in the Volcano area you have to circle the island the other way to get where you're going if you can access it that way. Otherwise, you just don't go until the volcanic activity slows down and they open the road again.

This does not sound good!
This Vog issue is very concerning to me. Although none of us have asthma, my oldest has heart disease and I can't see Vog being helpful.We're going to have to keep researching and keep an eye on the Volcano activity.
We really wanted to move to the Hilo side which has been said is not as bad as the Kona side, but still. Its sad because its my dream place to live, everything about living on Hilo seems for us, but this Vog
Thanx for all the replies, really appreciate it and sooo hope this Vog issue calms down for all of you there and for us who want to be there

[bigeyes]

Originally Posted by AuntRayRay

This does not sound good!
This Vog issue is very concerning to me. Although none of us have asthma, my oldest has heart disease and I can't see Vog being helpful.We're going to have to keep researching and keep an eye on the Volcano activity.
We really wanted to move to the Hilo side which has been said is not as bad as the Kona side, but still. Its sad because its my dream place to live, everything about living on Hilo seems for us, but this Vog
Thanx for all the replies, really appreciate it and sooo hope this Vog issue calms down for all of you there and for us who want to be there

I've hardly seen my dh in the past few days, he's been working odd/long hours, but I keep meaning to ask him about how the wind patterns work. I can't keep it straight which areas are usually vog-free. I know that 2 weeks was terrible last year, but I would have been really scared if anyone in my house had asthma. I know we read a lot of books about the Big Island before we moved here, and we've found a lot of the weather/vog stuff is either outdated or just plain wrong in some of them. It's hard to get a picture of it from far away because whenever anyone on the mainland or the weather channel talks about Hawaii they mean Honolulu.

[MangoMommy]

LOL Bigeyes...I'm in Honolulu but when we island hop of course we watch the news from there and want to know the weather and you really don't hear anything. It is amazing how different the weather can be island to island (well, one is getting rain, one is having winds, etc)

I hear the vent up at Kileaua has calmed down...hopefully that will reduce the VOG. When it's heavy it is NASTY. But it hasn't been heavy here on O'ahu in a long time...just some voggy days (like hazy) but not "I can taste it" thick.

Hilo is a cool town, I like it there!

[bigeyes]

Do you ever get the feeling nobody who hasn't been here has ever heard of anything except Honolulu? I hate it when I'm on the phone with a business trying to get something done and they just assume we're all in Honolulu. Um, yeah, it's a bit of a swim from here.

[MangoMommy]

LOL heck, I live on O'ahu and people are completely confused about where Honolulu is, etc. LOL I can only imagine if I lived on another island!

[AuntRayRay]

So would you say that Vog on Oahu isn't as much of a problem than the Big Island..How often do you get those "hazy" days?
As we're experiencing 9degrees here today!! I'm not wanting to spend another winter here lol But as I look into different areas to live I really feel like Hawaii was the place for us. We are still researching though

thanx

[bigeyes]

I know when we watch the news they seem to show really bad vog over Oahu. I don't know if we just managed to watch on the really bad days, or what, but several times we've commented that it appears worse there.

I haven't been to Oahu, though, so I don't know if I've just caught the news on the worst days. Some of the video they show looks almost as bad as it was here when the volcano was acting up and they closed off the road.

It's difficult to know when you aren't there to see it in person, yk? It appears to me from my TV screen that it's worse there, but since I haven't seen it firsthand, the photos could be deceiving.

[Maluhia]

Originally Posted by bigeyes

Do you ever get the feeling nobody who hasn't been here has ever heard of anything except Honolulu?

ditto. I swear people think we all live in Honolulu and Waikiki!


On Oahu the vog is not so bad, if it gets any it is only a day or two per year and there are 10000 warnings on TV. I'd be more concerned about going to the Big Island with a person with heart disease as the access to medical care there is problematic - when the Mayor of the Big Island had a heart attack they airlifted him to Oahu.

[bigeyes]

ETA-there is a report that talks about the vog effects here
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessio...ffectsSPCR.pdf

Originally Posted by KailuaMamatoMaya

ditto. I swear people think we all live in Honolulu and Waikiki!


On Oahu the vog is not so bad, if it gets any it is only a day or two per year and there are 10000 warnings on TV. I'd be more concerned about going to the Big Island with a person with heart disease as the access to medical care there is problematic - when the Mayor of the Big Island had a heart attack they airlifted him to Oahu.

Wonder what kind of insurance he had? We've heard how difficult it is to see doctors here, but we have had much better luck getting in through Kaiser here than we did elsewhere. However, Kaiser has no hospitals here, iirc, and they take people to Oahu. There are a couple of hospitals here, though, and when I went to one they just billed Kaiser. Kaiser even flies people to other islands for medical tests, which just seems crazy to me.

My ILs were worried about this, but they're moving about 10 minutes away from one of the hospitals, and they found out their neighborhood has an ambulance and first responders who would be dispatched if anything happened in their home.

[Malama]

I live near Hilo and have for 15 years. The vog has been definitely a lot worse over the past year when the plume started coming from Halema'uma'u crater. Previously we'd have a couple of weeks a year when it affected us- usually in Dec/ Jan.
However, now we get it a lot more.
I still love living here, and am not moving anywhere, but I would say that it's really bothersome (no asthma issues), and nasty. In the last couple of weeks I've woken up tasting sulphur in the air.... and I live so close to the ocean that we usually have at least some breeze coming thru.
But sometimes the wind doesn't blow, or changes direction, sigh.....

I don't know how vog would affect someone with heart issues..... our air is still cleaner than many other places, so you really have to weigh things for yourself. Also there ARE areas that get very little vog. In the Hilo-ish area, someone recently told me that Kapoho is nearly vog free. And I know that Hawi is pretty vog-less too.

good luck