Think of blistering sunshine, sundrenched beaches, surfing in the North Pacific Ocean and you have paradise, more commonly known as Hawaii. Would you ever think about skiing or snowboarding in Hawaii, no? Well, maybe you should, because you can and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to if the option is available! How about skiing or snowboarding in the morning and sunning yourself in the afternoon on the beach? Après ski Hawaiian style, bathed in sunshine sipping a cocktail or two and taking in the spectacular views of this wonderful island. Does this sound like something you could imagine yourself doing? If so, read on!
Actually, Hawaii is made up of 15 islands with the largest called the Big Island. Not an inspiring name at all, but the beauty of the island makes up for its rather bland name. Its total area covers 4,028 square miles (10,432 square kilometers). Mauna Kea is located on the Big Island and translates as “White Mountain”. It is a dormant volcano that thankfully, hasn’t erupted for around 4,500 years. It stands proudly at 13,796 feet above sea level and holds the prestigious title as the tallest sea mountain in the world. It’s also a site with astronomical research facilities and large telescope observatories and of course, this is where you can ski.
What’s interesting about Mauna Kea skiing, is there are no groomed pistes or ski lifts, or resort facilities for that matter, but, there is a road that takes you to the summit. What there is at 4,205m (13,796ft) is fabulous backcountry skiing and here you can ski or snowboard for hours on end. Is it challenging? Yes, it’s not for the faint hearted and advanced skier’s and adrenalin junkies who need the rush and to experience something new, will love it! The main season is from December until February when there is most snowfall. Its bottom elevation is 2m and top elevation is 4,205m with 2,400 acres where you can ski and snowboard or enjoy sledding. Its vertical drop is 4,203m.
It’s important to mention that Mauna Kea is not a ski resort, therefore there are absolutely no facilities. There is no public transport to and from the summit, therefore you would need to arrange car hire and a 4 wheel drive at that. There are no refreshment areas, so you can forget après ski on Mauna Kea however, you can enjoy it at the beach, there’s always a silver lining. There are limited public restrooms at the summit and there is limited reception for mobile phones. There is no ski patrol and the emergency services are over an hour away. It’s advisable to ski and snowboard in large parties, just in case there is an emergency. In saying all that, it’s so worth skiing and snowboarding on Mauna Kea, for the sheer thrill of it and to experience the world’s tallest sea mountain.
The capital of Hawaii is Honolulu which is on the island of Oahu, Hawaii’s third largest island. Hawaii offers perfect beaches, big wave surfing, tropical rain forests and glorious sunshine year round. The second largest island is Maui and this is where the breathtaking beaches are, this is where to head to, to relax and enjoy panoramic, picture perfect views. The island of Lanai is where all the luxury resorts are and the golf courses. Great for a day’s visit and here you can hike through the stunning rainforests. If you love nothing more than exploring and hiking, you must visit Kauai with its trails, waterfalls and rainforests. Hike through Waimea Canyon and then kayak down its river.
Hawaii is spectacular, try it for yourself!