Things to do / Travel Guide
Known as the “Island of Adventure,” Hawii's Big Island is home to some very different skiing. Many skiers and snowboarders may not have heard of Mauna Kea, which in the Hawaiian language means “White Mountain.”
As the only ski mountain in Hawaii, Mauna Kea is one of the most remote ski slopes in all of the United States. Even though the Hawaiian Ski Club no longer offers trips or endorsing any travel companies who sponsor trips to Mauna Kea, experienced skiers armed with a dose of patience and adventure can ski down this volcano in the middle of the Pacific Ocean..
Adventurous souls need to hire their own 4WD vehicle and drive to the top of the 13,796 foot inactive volcano. Don't expect Vail or Killington or even New Jersey – there are lifts, no lodge, and no medical assistance nearby. The air up at the summit is quite thin and snow seekers must wear sunscreen and eye protection as sunburn and snow blindness are two very real consequences of attempting to conquer this mountain / volcano.
Come to Mauna Kea with a group, as one will need to take turns driving the vehicle up and down while the others skis or snowboard the 22 advanced and ungroomed trails. Another option is to hire a car with a driver.
Conditions are always changing, which makes for a new experience every time visitors go. Aim for January or February and check in advance. Remember to bring your own equipment and don't forget the camera – white snow on black lava is not a shot you can get at just any ski slope.
When the adventure is over, head back down into a sunshine paradise and unwind. Now is the time to try a sunny summer style trip for your winter vacation. As this is the Big Island, there are no less than 80 different lodging options. These include Arnott's Lodge and Hiking Adventures Hostel, which is ranked the #1 budget accommodation in Hawaii by Lonely Planet Guides, as well as the beautiful Aloha Crater Lodge on the outskirts of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Put on your grass skirt and lei and saunter your way into a luau, or enjoy some of the mouthwatering meat, impossibly fresh seafood, and vegetables grown in some of the most nutrient rich soil in the world. Top it off with a Kona coffee, and wonder why you even thought of going anywhere else this winter.
Skiing, snorkeling, and sun tanning all in the same vacation – this is Hawaii. This is paradise.
Ski Resorts in Hilo, Kona, Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii
Skiing
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