Big Island Fun

Brent 11:04 pm on February 24, 2008 | 4 Permalink | Reply
Tags: hawaii (3), hiking, kiteboarding, lava, Mauna Kea (3), puu, snowboarding

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  todd furubayashi 2:49 pm on February 26, 2008 Permalink
  

  dude, thank you! those are insane pics. can you post a commentary? i am a hawaii transplant living in the bay area (board every week) and am so curious as to the snow on mauna kea after a big storm. i’ve heard such disparaging things about it but i’d love to here from someone that’s actually done it!

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  kahea 11:24 am on February 27, 2008 Permalink
  

  Todd, I think I can answer this for Brent. The snow after a big storm on Mauna Kea is elusive. The only people that ever see it is the crew that plows the road. Otherwise, we’re limited to seeing it first on the webcams which are often covered by ice, turned of or focused on scientists inside the domes.

  Scientists are usually the first people allowed up the mountain. The Mauna Kea management offices seem to believe they are most qualified to go up first.

  The best and perhaps the only way to check out the snow immediately after a big storm would be to heli-up or kite up. Or maybe disguise yourself as a scientist in a four runner?

  I’m not aware of anyone that has done this before.

  So any comments you’ve heard might just be attempts to discourage others from ascending. That’s pretty kewl since it’s really not a great place for beginners. Without a ski patrol, the Mauna Kea Management efforts are basically fostering a dangerous set of circumstances. The Public Safety Committee apparently doesn’t consider a Snow Patrol or Ski Patrol in their assessment of safety on the mountain.

  That aside, it’s a really amazing place to ride. I’ve riding a lot of places in North America and although riding Mauna Kea is full of short rides, hikes and extreme conditions, the snow can be amazing. Don’t expect powder but do expect a high like no other place.

  The energy is really intense. Perhaps from the sacred burial grounds? The Hawaian’s reverence and worship of the Mountain have set a stage for absolute bliss. The “mana” of the mountain is incredible. The only place I’ve experienced that is similar would be something like Banff National Park in Canada. The Indian tribes in that area worshiped their mountains similarly. I would imagine similar practices in the Andes and Himalayas.

  Maybe someone else can share their experiences riding some of those hills?

  More resource related to this comment:
  Sacred Land Film Project
  http://www.sacredland.org/endangered_sites_pages/mauna_kea.html

  Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan
  http://tinyurl.com/ypcm38

  Honolulu Weekly Article
  http://tinyurl.com/2g73nk

  Los Angeles Times Article
  http://www.moolelo.com/maunakea-latimes.html

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  Brent 8:56 am on February 28, 2008 Permalink
  

  Aloha Todd, mahalo for the comment. You must be so stoked to be riding in cali… Is that Mamouth? Or Big Bear? I get’em confused… Anyhoo, keep sharing the stoke. The snow is melting here quickly…

  Time fo surf!!!

  Aloha

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  Chris 9:44 am on March 20, 2008 Permalink
  

  Hey Brent, just saw this today at your workshop. I was up there that day, and saw that insane kite boarder! I’ve got some pics too, and I’ll send them soon.

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