TOURISTS AND "VOG" ON THE BIG ISLAND

    The state of Hawaii attracts millions of visitors who usually stay on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, the only big city in the state. The majority of the tourists, especially the Japanese, stay in one area, Waikiki, and venture to the other islands for day trips. However, some tourists, and those who return for a second or third time, head for one of the other islands. One of the most beautiful destinations is the sparsely populated island of Hawaii, sometimes called the Big Island, which is probably the only county in the United States that is actually growing in size, not through annexation but volcanic activity.

Volcanoes formed the island, the largest in the chain, and active eruptions continue to attract scientists and tourists, as well as add to the landmass on the southern shore through quiet but steady lava flows into the ocean. These eruptions affect the lives of those who live near the active volcano. Kilauea Volcano emits over 2000 tons of sulphur dioxide gas during periods of sustained activity. The locals call this "vog" which is short for volcanic smog, a sort of acidic air pollution that affects people in some parts of the island. Vog does not seem to keep tourists away. Indeed, for some this is their favorite island, and new arrivals from the mainland have chosen to return to stay permanently, especially after a relaxing vacation in one of the resorts that punctuate the western coast. Except for the town of Waimea most everyone lives on or near the coast. In the late 1980's and early 90's the Japanese invested heavily here, and although the state's economy has not rebounded from the effects caused by the drop in Japanese tourism, this particular island now has numerous large housing developments whose potential customers will be affluent retired people from other states. The wealthy Internet industry crowd enjoy the island for its quiet and sense of isolation, while many who serve them in the service industries have long commutes to reach the exclusive resorts. The contrast between the lives of some long-time residents and the wealthy visitors is striking.