News

Question – Tsunami Damage to Kona

We received the following question by email: Hi. Coming to Hawaii in July 2011. Spending most time on Kauai. Would like to come to Kona and hike and see volcano/lava. Was there any damage from storms that would prevent us from doing that in Kona?

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Big Island Tsunami Damage – Update 3/15/2011

The Big Island was hit by a tsunami on Friday, 3/11/2011, triggered by the massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. As of 3/15/2011, many parts of the Kohala, Kona, and South Kona coasts are still damaged. Most major roads have been re-opened. Many rumors swirled following the tsunami as to the extent of the damage to hotels and public areas. Here is a summary of what is still damaged.

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Continental Airlines Flights from the Mainland Direct to Hilo

Back in the 1980′s, when Hilo was making its move to become a major tourist destination in the Hawaiian Islands, There were several major airlines that flew direct from the US mainland to Hilo Airport.  In recent years smaller airlines such as ATA have done so on a non-regular basis.  After they went bankrupt, there was no longer air service to Hilo without first connecting through Honolulu International Airport.  Until now…

Below excerpt from USA Today:

United Airlines merger partner Continental announced on Wednesday it will add service to the “Big Island” of Hawaii. The carrier will fly to Hilo International from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, which each are major hubs for United. Continental will fly one round-trip flight each Saturday on the routes using Boeing 737-800 jets.

Continental’s Hilo flights will become the airport’s only nonstop links to the U.S. mainland.

“These flights will offer customers convenient, nonstop service to the Big Island without having to connect in Honolulu,” Jim Compton, chief revenue officer of United Continental Holdings, says in a release announcing the new routes.

Reader Comment – Shark Sighting at Kukio Beach

Reader comment submitted via email:

We drove all the way to Kukio beach but it was closed due to a Tiger shark sighting. Is there a web site to check for closures, etc? Thank you.  PS I would like to have gone in to see if we could have seen a triangle fin sticking out of the water. –Brad.

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Reply:

Brad,
Sorry to hear about the beach closure. There is no website that I know of for checking beach closure status. Frankly, shark sightings at area beaches are rare. I am puzzled about the kukio beach sighting too – since the shore there is very shallow with a natural rock barrier paralleling the beach. Perhaps the shark was sighted out in deeper water?  When you are in the area, make sure you also check out Kikaua Point Beach (just to the south of Kukio).

Running / Walking Events for November 2010

The Big Island of Hawaii – and especially Kona, is a popular vacation destination for the fitness-minded, the adventure racer, triathlete, and outdoors enthusiast.  The Big Island Running Company offers a wide assortment of running footwear, athletic clothing, and outdoors apparel and is conveniently located in the Coconut Grove Marketplace in Kailua-Kona. 

Here are the events for November 2010:

11/7/10: Queen Ka’ahumanu Triathlon Club 20k and 30k Supported Training Runs, Free, 7:00 AM, Old Airport Park, Kailua-Kona

 11/11/10: November 11 – Big Dog’s Veterans Day 5K, run/walk 3.1-miles, Coconut Island (Moku Ola) starts at 7:30 am and is free.  Random prizes given and post race refreshments provided.  Just show up, sign in and have fun.  For more information on any Big Dog event call 969-7400 or email waiakeabigdog@aol.com.

 11/13/10: Big Island Running Company presents the Miracle Mile, a one-mile road race in connection with the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, 9:15 AM, starts at Coconut Grove Marketplace, finishes at West Hawaii Today on Kuakini Highway.

 11/25/10: Big Island Running Company presents the 6th Annual Wobble & Gobble Run/Walk (6.4 mi., 3.5 mi., 1 mi.), 8:00 AM, Lako St. Jog Path at Walua Road, FREE.

11/28/10: Post Pigout Peamania (1/4 mi. swim + 2 mi. clockwise run + 1/4 mi. swim + 2 mi. counterclockwise run), 8:00 AM, Kailua-Kona

October Events – Ironman Triathlon and Outrigger Canoe Race

Two of Hawaii’s most-enduring homegrown sports events happen this weekend: The Ironman World Triathlon Championship on Saturday, Oct. 9, and the Molokai Hoe Molokai-to-Oahu outrigger canoe race on Sunday, Oct. 10. Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island’s perpetually sunny west side, hosts the Ironman World Triathlon Championship annually. The race—celebrating its 32nd birthday this year—is the granddaddy of triathlons and remains the most world-renowned. The first three competitions—which attracted at first only dozens of athletes, and weren’t even called Ironman—were held on Oahu, before moving to the Big Island in 1981. If you’re on the right islands this weekend, you could watch at least one of them in-person. If not, you can catch at least one of them on the Web.

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New Kilauea Lava Flow Ravages Kalapana

Late July 2010 has brought a re-invigorated lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Pu'u O'o vent has brought shifting lava flows over the years - many have been inocuous ocean entry lava flows that culminate in orange oozing lava being doused by the Pacific Ocean along the rocky coast. But recently, the lava flow has once again shifted to the east, threatening neighborhoods in the previously lava-devastated town of Kalapana.

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Kilauea Volcano Lava Flows near Kalapana

A fresh lava flow from the Pu’u ‘O’o eruption has advanced about a mile since early April 2010, and geologists believe if it continues on its current path, it will rejoin the older flow field on the coastal plain just west of the current viewing area near Kalapana (east of the Volanoes National Park).

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‘Project Compassion’ to Support Full Life with a Fundraiser at the Kona Denny’s on September 20th, 2009

By stopping by Denny’s on September 20 for a meal or just some dessert, the Kona community can show its support for work Full Life does helping those with disabilities reach their full potential. Project Compassion is a partnership between the Rotary Club of Kona, Denny’s Restaurant and non-profit organizations in West Hawaii. The monthly events have raised awareness for many Hawaii-based non-profits and thousands of dollars to support their programs. All proceeds from the events go to the participating non-profit. Full Life is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, which provides unique, person-centered services for people with developmental disabilities. Founded on the philosophy of self-determination, Full Life empowers people with disabilities to determine their own goals for living a meaningful life.

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Kilauea Volcano Update

Kilauea activity update – from the US Geological Survey, Big Island

Surface flows in the Royal Gardens subdivision slowed early this past week in response to a deflation-inflation event at Kilauea’s summit, but had picked up again by Wednesday evening. At the coast, the Waikupanaha and Kupapau ocean entries remain active and continue to produce prominent plumes, accompanied by small littoral explosions as lava spills into the ocean.

At Kilauea’s summit, a series of collapses in the vent within Halemaumau Crater on Tuesday caused a significant widening of the vent. Rubble from the collapses filled the bottom of the vent and partly choked off the emission of gas, resulting in a wispy plume. Despite this rubble, the vent is still emitting elevated amounts of volcanic gas, resulting in high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind. The glow from the vent, visible early in the week from Jaggar Museum, was extinguished by the collapses. However, a webcam recorded a few points of incandescence within the vent on Wednesday night, suggesting that lava still resides deep within the vent below the pile of rubble.

Five earthquakes beneath Hawaii Island were reported felt this past week. A 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at 8:39 p.m., on June 28 and was located 2 miles southeast of Makawao, Maui, at a depth of 19 miles. Three earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.4 and 2.6 occurred on Tuesday (one at 1:38 and two at 2:29 p.m.), and were located beneath Halemaumau Crater at depths between 0.9-1.1 miles. A 3.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday and was located six miles northeast of Kukuihaele at a depth of 16 miles.