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The Big Island is easily the most diverse of the Hawai'ian Islands, having 10 of the world's 13 climate zones (and sometimes it seems to change every few miles!).  That's because of the variations in RAINFALL and ELEVATION.  Within our districts of North and South Kohala we have areas with 10 inches of annual rainfall and areas with 100 inches.  We have oceanfront properties at sea level, and communities at 3500 feet in elevation.  Rain forest or savannah?  Ceiling fan or fireplace?  Your choice!

Volcano, Tsunami and Earthquake, OH MY!

When it comes to our unique natural environment, The most frequently asked questions we hear are:

> All this lava!  What is the risk of my property being affected when the volcanoes erupt?

The island of Hawaii is divided into zones according to the degree of hazard from lava flows.  Zone 1 would be the greatest risk and Zone 9 the least.  Luckily, the areas we specialize in, North and South Kohala, are in lower risk zones.  Zones 1 and 2 carry high property insurance rates and higher mortgage rates (when lenders will even look at them!).  North Kohala is in Zone 9.  Parts of South Kohala are Zone 8, and the lower resort areas below Waikoloa Village are in Zone 3 (yes, those flows came all the way from Mauna Loa in 1843 and 1859!) 

Click on this link to open the United States Geological Survey publication with maps and explanations: USGS Lava Flow Hazard Zone Maps

> And they say all this haze is VOG? 
Kilaeau has been continuously erupting since 1982, spewing water, gases, and particulates into the air.  In early 2008 a change occurred in the eruption with a new vent opening in Halemaumau crater.  That means there are currently two sources of emissions. Here is a description from West Hawaii Today: "Kilauea is currently producing up to 4,000 metric tons/day of SO2, resulting in concentrations in air greater than 5 parts per million in downwind communities within 31 miles. Sustained concentrations greater than 0.3 ppm are considered unhealthy. During its journey through the air, the SO2 reacts with oxygen, sunlight and water to form vog, a mixture of gas and tiny sulfuric acid aerosol droplets. This aerosol mixture appears as a dense haze that obscures Hawaiian scenery and ocean views. The acidic droplets in vog are small enough that they can be inhaled deep in the lung and can pose health problems..

Luckily, the least affected areas of the Big Island are the areas Hawaii Palm Properties specializes in, North and South Kohala!

> I'm looking at an oceanfront property.  What is my risk of being inundated in a tsunami?

Despite the fact that Hilo has a tsunami museum, North and South Kohala do not share the topography and "bathymetry" that make Hilo so susceptible. 

 
Click on this link to open the Hawaii Tsunami Hazard Maps.

You can actually zoom right in to a particular property of interest and see where the tsunami hazard ends!

> Wasn't there a big earthquake recently on the Big Island?
On Sunday October 15, 2006 we experienced a 6.7 magnitude quake.  The epicenter was in the ocean just off of Puako.  Many buildings suffered significant damage, including the Mauna Kea Hotel, which was closed for renovations for two years. In North Kohala, the historic Kalahikiola Church and the smokestack in Hawi were our notable casualties. However, there were no fatalities, and roads were quickly cleared and reopened.  If you are buying a property, the Seller's Disclosure should include information about any earthquake damage the property sustained and what repairs, if any, were required.

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