Is Hawaii safe to visit?
Are you thinking of taking a Hawaiian vacation but aren’t sure if the recent volcano eruption will make for a bad vacation? Are you concerned all the Hawaiian Islands are affected? At Life is Better Traveling, we are here to help you get a better understanding of what is going on in Hawaii so you can make an informed decision to book that vacation.
If you haven’t been following the eruption going on the past few weeks, the beautiful volcano of Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii is very active right now. This volcano is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the Islands of Hawaii. It is located on the southern part of the Island of Hawaii, and this Island is the most southern of all the Islands. But how does this effect the other popular vacation Islands like Maui and Oahu?
With increasing concerns from travelers and people who are looking to book their upcoming vacation to Hawaii, Governor David Ige and State Department of Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler have officially released a statement to answer questions to your concerns.
Dr. Pressler commented, “The air quality for the vast majority of the Hawaiian Islands is clean and healthy. The emissions from Kilauea volcano are a non-factor for Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai. The weather is beautiful and warm with cooling trade winds everywhere in Hawaii and is exactly what travelers expect when coming here for a relaxing and fun vacation experience. This includes Hilo, Pahoa and the Kona and Kohala coasts on the Island of Hawaii.
“The areas where precautions are required for people are in lower Puna where lava is flowing and downwind from there on the Island of Hawaii, particularly if they have respiratory problems. Because of heavy emissions of vog, as well as occasional bursts of ash plumes from the Kilauea summit, the southeast portions of the Island are also routinely experiencing concerning conditions. Those visiting areas south of Hilo should stay alert for air quality updates, especially when wind conditions change. Fortunately, when trade winds are blowing, the vog and ash routinely move in a southwesterly direction and out to sea away from the Hawaiian Islands.”
Governor Ige stated, “Hawaii’s air quality is being closely monitored on a continuing basis by scientists, meteorologists and the Hawaii State Department of Health. This team of experts says the air quality in the Hawaiian Islands is safe for residents and visitors, except in the affected areas.
Two other topics that I want to alleviate people’s concerns about are laze and the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. Laze is a natural reaction that occurs whenever lava flows into the ocean as it is doing now and has from time to time over the past 35 years. This is all part of nature’s way of creating new land for life to grow. Laze is limited to the area where the lava meets the ocean and is not a danger to people who keep a safe distance away.
“At the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, the state is actively directing protective actions to reduce the risk from lava flows moving nearby. The underground wells have been sealed and secured minimizing the threat to the safety of people and communities.
“The bottom line is that there is no reason for travelers to avoid making their vacation plans in the Hawaiian Islands due to safety concerns because of Kilauea volcano.
Visitors will be welcomed with open arms and treated to the hospitality, aloha, warmth and natural beauty that is found everywhere in Hawaii. The only area to avoid is lower Puna where the eruption is ongoing.”
For the latest update on air quality in the Hawaiian Islands, please reference the State of Hawaii Interagency Vog Information Dashboard: http://www.ivhhn.org/vog/
If you are thinking of booking your next vacation to Hawaii make sure to contact one of our Hawaiian Destination Specialists, Mary Yohannan or Sonja Hester. We are here to book all components including hotel, air, transfers, inter-Island flights, excursions, and travel protection. Don’t book it all alone, have an expert make sure you will have the most amazing time in Hawaii.
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