Vog Alert for Hawaii Cruisers !

[Kapuna]

Hawaii is currently experiencing vog conditions severe enough to limit outdoor activities .

 

This happens from time to time when when weak winds combine with high volcanic activity . Sulfur dioxide emissions combine with moist air to form sulfuric acid droplets that are spread along the island chain by southerly winds . These droplets and other emissions cause eye and throat irritation and , for persons with respiratory problems , potentially serious consequences .

 

I have personal experience with the situation ; on a previous cruise under similar conditions we viewed the night time lava flow from our cabin balcony and could smell the sulferous air . The next morning my left eye was severely inflamed and very painful . The ship's doctor diagnosed ulceration of the cornea and wanted to evacuate me back to Honolulu for emergency treatment . Fortunately they were able to reach a specialist by phone who told them how to treat the problem on board after special medications were obtained from a local pharmacy . Everything ended well and I saw the Honolulu specialist when we disembarked .

 

If you go on the website for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser you can read all about the current conditions and get timely updates .

[cccole]

This is a very helpful post to future visitors to Hawaii. Our son, who is studying marine biology in Hilo, had a reaction to vog last year. It is helpful to know if the level of vog is high so that you know what may be causing your problem and don't freak out. Thanks for posting this and so happy to hear that you did not have to leave the ship. I am a bit surprised though that the doctor onboard was not more familiar with possible treatments. Cherie

[Rrdstarr]

Is just the big island of Hawaii or all the islands? I have no idea how the prevailing winds move around the islands?

[misha1]

My question is how long, on average, does this last...if such a thing can be predicted?

[bigtoeswim'n]

I thought you had misspelled FOG. Never heard of VOG. Thanks for the info. Will keep in mind.

[kapoho2]

There is no predicting the vog....it depends on the wind direction and what is going on up on Kilauea. Usually, it is contained to areas of the Big Island. However, occassionally, the winds will push the vog all the way up to Oahu. I have been on Oahu when it has been so voggy that it is almost impossible to see the outline of Diamond Head.

 

These current unusual voggy conditions have been hanging around at least a week this time. Eventually, there will be a wind change (the normal trade winds will return) and the vog will be blown away, but it is impossible to predict. The local weatherman said possibly this coming Friday.

 

The good news is that that vog makes for the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

[CruiserBruce]

It was going on intermittantly last week when we were on Maui. Bad enough to make it very hazy on the Lahaina and Wailea coasts, but not severe.

 

It happens when you get South East winds in the islands, which I am learning, isn't that often.

[sha88]

My husband did the bike tour down the Haleakala on Monday in Maui and almost immediately after, he was suffering from a dry cough, headache and sinus problems. He has allergy problems anyway, but the VOG did him in. He was in bed most of the day yesterday. Our tour guide even pointed out the Vog on one of our stops down the volcano. That was the first we had heard about it.

 

I feel fine, so I think people who have pre-existing allergy conditions seem to suffer more.

 

Don't let this deter anyone from cruising Hawaii. Beside Alaska, this is my favorite cruise so far.

 

Shahira