Go! See the contrasts
January 14th, 2008 by The Right BlueHi, this is Bobbie from The Right Blue — back home in Hawaii now. Around this time of year, we hear from lots of folks from the temperate zones who say they wish they were here in our islands instead of shoveling snow. I sympathize with their predicament, but what many people do not realize is that we have snow here in Hawaii, too!
Here’s the proof: Just a short while ago, I aimed my camera over the hedge that runs alongside our house and snapped this photo of a mountain called Mauna Kea.
I love this view in winter for the contrast — the colorful flowering hedges framing snow-capped Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain here on the Big Island of Hawaii. By the way, “Mauna Kea” means “white mountain” in the Hawaiian language. Now you can see how it got its name.
Mauna Kea’s summit is 13,796 feet (4,205 m) above sea level, but the base of the mountain actually is on the sea floor, far below sea level. In fact, Mauna Kea’s true base is something like 19,000 feet (5,800 m) below sea level. So, measured from its true base to its summit, this mountain is a bit over over 33,000 ft (10,000 m) tall.
The air up at the summit of Mauna Kea is chilly, but also incredibly clear, since it’s located smack in the center of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles away from major sources of air pollution. It’s a great place for an astronomical observation.
In the second photo, I’ve zoomed in so that you can see the observatories near the summit. At present, there are thirteen working telescopes at the Mauna Kea Observatories, including the renowned Keck Telescopes.
Winter is indeed the best time of year to be here on the Big Island. You can really enjoy the contrasts — play in the snow near the summit of Mauna Kea in the morning, and then zoom back down to sea level to sit on the beach under a coconut tree, or swim in the ocean where the water temperature currently is about 76F/25C.
That’s very cool…I didn’t realize you had snow there…of course it’s really far away from your driveway so it doesn’t cout!
What beautiful photos! Hawaii is on the list of places I’ve always wanted to visit…especially the beaches with the black sand…I’ve seen pictures and it looks amazing.
Those are great photos. Even their snowy mountains are beautiful. It’s no fair!
I mean it dosn’t ‘count’ not cout! Meaning of course that you don’t have to shovel it!
Oh, I knew what you meant.
I can see this scene from my kitchen window, and looking at the snow on Mauna Kea is great. But believe me, I’m quite glad NOT to have to shovel the stuff.
Re the black sand beaches, I don’t really care for them. When the sand gets on you and sticks to you it looks quite a lot like old coffee grounds.
Bobbie
Ah, but volcanic soil is sooo good for the skin. Don’t mention coffee grounds on here! You may entice a certain someone to discuss coffee colonics on here.
BTW, how many times can I fit ‘on here’ into a comment, on here?
Lots I think - just keep on GO!ing…, right admin?
Hi Bobbie - SNOW in Hawaii! I had no idea and assumed it was always ‘tropical’. A new mountain name for me and I ask rather than google - what is the capital of the island and what is the population?
Hi Sarah -
It IS always tropical — at sea level. But a couple of our mountains are so high that it’s pretty nippy up on top, even in summer.
The capital of the Hawaiian islands is Honolulu, which is on the island of Oahu. There are about 130 Hawaiian islands, only seven of which are inhabited. Those islands are Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau. Human population for the whole island chain is about 1.2 million, with about a million of that on Oahu, where Honolulu (big city!) is.
I live on the island called ‘Hawaii’ which is the largest, southernmost, and easternmost island in the chain. It’s also the newest in geological terms — the only one of the Hawaiian islands with active volcanoes, still building new land.
Everyone calls Hawaii island “The Big Island” — not just because it IS the biggest, but to avoid name confusion with the state as a whole.
(Sheesh — that was a whole ‘nother post! But you asked…)
Bobbie
Yup thanks Bobbie - we had no idea either & thanks for sharing….Welcome home!
Thanks Jim & Em. I love where I live, so I’m more than happy to share information about it with other people — including all the flower smellers.
Bobbie
I’m going to Maui in a month - CAN”T WAIT!!!!
Hi Olga -
Let me know when you’re on Maui and I’ll wave to ya! If I go out to the edge of my back garden and turn my head to the right, I can see Maui.
Have you been to Hawaii before? I’d be curious to know how you chose Maui.
Bobbie
Quality Bobbie!
more more more
I want to go to Hawaii one day so until I do I’ll have to travel vicariously through your photo’s.
Hi Gary -
Thank you. Glad you liked the photos. I do hope you get to visit Hawaii one day so that you can see Mauna Kea (and the rest) for yourself.
Bobbie
How amazing that you have snow in Hawaii! Flowers is fast becoming a source of new learnings too.
Hawaii is also on my list of places to visit soon.
Maybe we can have a Flowers Founders party there?!
Hi Arvind -
A GSTF founders party here? That’s a great idea! I’m all for it.
Bobbie
NOW that would be something!
This post has really put Hawaii on our list Bobbie - more please, fantastic!
More coming up…
Bobbie
Wow Bobbie,amazing,didn’t realise there was snow in Hawaii.What’s the climate like around July,im yet to book my honeymoon and Hawaii looks appealing.
Hi BO -
The climate in July is, well, summery. Yet what many people may not realize is that it gets much hotter in most temperate zones in summer than it does here.
The temperature here is relatively stable year round, near sea level. For us, a temperature of 90F/32C is a beastly hot summer day. I can hardly recall ever seeing a temperature hotter than that. During winter — like now — daily high temperatures are around 79-82F/26-28C.
Compared to most places, it’s humid of course, because we are surrounded by thousands of miles of sea, but except for 4-6 weeks from late August to early September, we always have a nice tradewind breeze, so it tends not to feel sticky.
Bobbie
ha ha - poor old Tom Selleck - that ferrari will never handle in the snow!
Hi Jonathan -
You are right. I don’t think that Ferrari would do well in snow. In fact, only vehicles with four-wheel drive are allowed to travel above the 9,000ft level on Mauna Kea, even in summer (because the road is so steep and treacherous).
Bobbie
I don’t get the pictures loaded nor can I see your web site. Not sure why, so sorry, can’t really contribute.
Aww, Gareth. So sorry to hear that. Shall I email the post to you? Wonder if that would work…
Bobbie
Its certainly opened my eyes, I thought it was all ‘Lost’ terrain.
Every see any of the cast knocking about?
Hi Lib -
‘Lost’ is filmed primarily on the island of Oahu, as far as I know. Certain of the cast members do make the papers here once in awhile — when they, um, misbehave!
Bobbie