Big Island Fun

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  Brent Norris 2:38 pm on August 8, 2007 Permalink | Reply  

  Surfing the Big Island of Hawai`i 

  Surfing the Big Island is memorable. At Big Island Fun our goal is to help make sure your memories are all good ones. We’ll show you great surf spots and we’ll tell you what to look out for. However, you and only you are responsible for your health and safety.

  Important! We are seeking surfers and writers to contribute to the new Hawai`i Big Island Surf Blog.

  On the Big Island of Hawai`i you can get as much surfing adventure as you could ever want. Sea conditions can change as quickly as the “mood” in the water. Bring excellent physical conditioning, plenty of aloha and we’ll get you to the best surf breaks. If you aren’t sure if you need lessons, you probably do.

  Surfing on the Big Island of Hawaii

  Surf Reports – Current observations from local sources
  Hawaii Surf News
  Orchidland Surfboards Surf Report page
  Surf News Network
  StormSurf Hawaii
  FNOMC – Navy Wave Model – North Pacific WW3 analysis
  North Shore of Oahu by Wavewatch

  Go Coastal! Coastal Geology Group – Big Island Coastal imagery

  Current Weather Observations from NOAA.
  Surf Report – Wave predictions from bouy readings and swell indicators
  Navy bouy observations for the Hawaiian Islands (Click yes at the security dialogs)

  Surf Photography
  Sweet Honoli’i Surf Photos – at honoliisurf.com (Big Island Local Surfers should definitely check this site out)

  Some good things to know about “respect and surfing in Hawaii“.

  Surf Boards available for rent at Orchidland Surf Shop.

  Surf Boards shaped to your exact specifications. This list of Big Island shapers is always growing. Know someone that shapes great surf boards? Let us know!

  • Ben Jaquias – Extreme Image Surf Shop. Ben rips the surf and shapes surf boards to your exact specs.
  • Stan Lawrence – Owner of Orchidland Surf shop, Stan will set you up with a board combination that is right for you. Drop by the shop and talk story with this local icon of Big Island Surfing. (Located downtown along the Hilo Bayfront.)

  Comments? Additional resources? Want to be included? Register and comment…

  We are actively seeking surfers and writers to contribute to the new Hawaii Big Island Surf Blog. If you or anyone you know is interested, let us know! Joining the Big Island Blog Network will make you famous (uh, at least to us).

   

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  Brent Norris 3:42 am on June 26, 2007 Permalink | Reply  

  Snowboarding Big Island Tips 

  Tips for Snowboarding Mauna Kea 

  Tips for your trip up the mountain.
  • Drive slow. Even new cars can overheat from the climb.
  • Make sure you stop at the Onizuka Visitor Information Station
  • Grab a Mauna Kea Visitor Guide while you’re there (free)
  • Get hot chocolate (cheap but no longer donation-based)
  • Take a look at the sun with the telescope
  • Spend an hour and acclimate.
  • Get all your snow board gear on. (Not as easy, at elevation)
  • Get in some more water. Fill your bottles at the water fountain.
  • Check fluids in your vehicle.
  • Let your vehicle run for five minutes after you reach the Visitor Information Station.
  • Ask about road and summit conditions.
  • Signs to watch out for at the top of the mountain.
   • Sleepy or lazy behavior
   • Headaches, nausea, dehydration
   • Shortness of breath
   • Impaired judgment or impaired reasoning
   • If you or anyone you see is experiencing these symptoms, get down the mountain.

  Tips for driving back down the mountain.
  • Go slow, don’t try and keep up with any tour vans. (They have special brakes.)
  • Stop at one of the two parking lots on the way down if your brakes start to smell.
  • To keep from burning out your brakes, do the following;
  • Put your vehicle in it’s lowest gear.
  • Press the brakes hard and firm often but also let off the brakes often to keep them cool.
  • Do not keep your foot on the brake pedal for more than ten seconds at a time.
  • Turn on only your parking lights as you approach the visitor Information Station on your way back down. If it’s after sunset, there will be star gazing tours going on.
  • Stop at the Visitor Information Station if you suspect your brakes need cooling. They also have a great video that starts a little before sunset if you get back in time.
  • Stay awake. Many people don’t get tired until the drive back down the mountain after the 5,000′ mark -at the crossroads. Keep your friends awake when they’re driving you back down the mountain. The shoulders of Saddle Road are very unforgiving (think yard sale on lava).

   
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  Brent Norris 3:42 am on May 22, 2007 Permalink | Reply  

  Snowboarding Mauna Kea Checklist 

  Things to bring with you on every snow boarding trip on top of Mauna Kea.
  • A four wheel drive vehicle.
  • A properly layered under garment set with a water-proof shell (cold weather gear).
  • Sunglasses or goggles.
  • Sunscreen
  • A hat or stocking cap.
  • Boots
  • Candy bars or Power bars.
  • Water (It’s best to start drinking lots of water the day before your trip.)
  • Empty cooler to collect free ice.
  • A buddy that can go get help.
  • Snowboard, jacket, boots, leash, helmet
  • Aloha

  Optional
  • Extra gloves and any extra equipment you feel like loaning your snow boarding friends.
  • A shovel to help dig out hits
  • Extra t-shirts, socks, stocking caps or hats, hoodie or jackets.
  • Extra water or chocolate.
  • Extra snow board and snow board boots.
  • A flashlight.
  • Oil, antifreeze, extra water for your car.

  Do not bring these things with you up the mountain.
  • Loose trash in your car. High winds blow the trash out your door when you get out at the top.
  • Pregnant women or children under 16 years old (Due to atmospheric conditions at summit).
  • Anyone with high blood pressure, heart or respiratory conditions (see above).
  • Scuba divers with less than 24 hours before their last dive.
  • Drunks.

  Hawaii Big Island Fun » Blog Archive » Snow Boarding on the Big Island of Hawaii is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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  Brent Norris 3:16 am on April 12, 2007 Permalink | Reply  

  Snow Boarding on the Big Island of Hawaii 

  That’s right, snowboarding in Hawaii on da Big Island!

  
  Video of Snowboarding on Hawaii

  Although this normally ocours in the Winter months we can get snow on top of either Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa anytime of the year.

  Check out some photos from a snowboarding trip up Mauna Kea on Flickr.

  Mauna Kea Snowboarding Checklist

  Snowboarding webcams on top of Mauna Kea – Check these before you go.

  Mauna Kea Weather Forecast – Read this and the current conditions before you go.

  Mauna Kea Road Status – The road needs to be open to get to the top.

   
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  Brent Norris 4:12 pm on February 11, 2007 Permalink | Reply  

  Lava Viewing Tips
  You’ll also find many of these tips once you get to the end of the road at the lava viewing area in Volcano National Park. While we don’t have the experience the National Park Rangers do, we do have a perspective they may not. So we present to your our list of lava viewing tips.

  • Bring a friend. Wandering around in a lava filed at night sucks. The only thing worse is doing it alone.
  • Bring lots of water. If the normally dry conditions at the lava viewing area aren’t enough, you will get thirsty as you near the flow. Maybe it’s psychological and maybe it depends on how long the hike is on the day you’re there but one thing is for sure. You will enjoy yourself much more if you have water at the halfway point of your day. 
  • Bring food if you’re the type that gets hungry. Especially if you bring kids, they’ll need the energy and you’ll need less complaining on your hike back -which can take around 2 hours.
  • If you fry, bring sunscreen. The black lava fields will seem like they’re sucking the sun directly down through your body on a hot day. Conditions will determine this at the outset but the conditions may easily change by the halfway point in your hike.
  • If you’re going at night, bring flashlights and extra batteries. Panic will set in if there’s no moon and no flashlight. For many the best time to go is early in the morning or in the evening around sunset. It’s easier to forget the flashlight if you leave around sunset. 
  • If your lips chap, bring something for that too. Winds and all sorts of conditions exist out on the flow. Bring lip balm even at night.
  • Wear boots or some solid shoes. The lava gets hot when you start walking across it. Rubber slippahs will get stuck in the hot stuff. You simply will not make it back with one slippah or shoe for that matter. Someone will have to carry you (dangerous) or go get extra shoes for you which would probably would take anywhere from 3 hours if you have extras in the car or up to 8 hours to get into town and back. No one wants to go get you shoes so you can keep from bleeding to death on your way out of the lava.
  • Bring something to carry it all in. Big packs aren’t necessary but backpacks are much better than holding a walmart bag. 
  • Maybe some binoculars.
  • Maybe some gloves. The lava can be razor-sharp. If you trip and fall on the lava you will probably cut your hand(s). Gloves can prevent this and they can also keep you warm at night.
  • Cameras and extra batteries.
  • Bring a hat. Especially if you’re folically-challenged.
  • If you’re with a group, bring light-sticks. These are the kind of sticks that glow different colors. You can get them at Long’s drugs or Walmart. Each person can attach a different color to they are easy to identify from a distance at night.

   Got anything else to add? Know of anything special to bring that will help others enjoy their lava viewing or lava hiking experience? Share by registering and posting a comment on this post.