The new law is causing a stir, even in residents of the mainland U.S. While some critics of the bill take issue with government dictating issues such as the type of appliances citizens can purchase, most other complaints can be dispelled with the proper amount of information.

Exceptions to the Solar Powered Water Heater Law in Hawaii

Hawaiian residents living in areas that do not receive adequate sunshine to power a solar powered water heater, such as home situated in dense forest areas, are exempt from the law. In addition, homeowners who currently have another gas-powered appliance can opt to use a gas water heater.

Why Hawaii Needs Solar Powered Water Heaters

In Hawaii, green living is not simply a politically friendly lifestyle. Because Hawaii is an island state, it must import vast amounts of oil for energy production. With the price of oil nearly triple what it was five years ago, alternative energy sources are becoming more of a necessity every day on the Hawaiian Islands.

According to the Department of energy, a conventional water heater accounts for 15-30% of a household’s energy consumption. It is estimated that a solar powered water heater can reduce energy bills by as much as 25%.

Types of Solar Powered Water Heaters

There are three basic types of solar powered water heaters.

Flat Plate Collectors
These types of solar powered water heaters utilize dark colored absorber plates that soak up the sun’s warmth for use in heating water that flows through a weatherproof box containing the solar powered collector.

Integral Collector-Storage Systems
These types of systems work best in climates where the temperature rarely falls below freezing. This type of solar powered water heater only preheats the water before it passes into a conventional water heater, decreasing the amount of energy required to heat the water to the desired temperature.

Evacuated-Tube Solar powered Collectors
This type of solar powered water heater uses transparent glass tubes that heat the water as the fluid passes through the solar powered box. The insulation helps prevent heat loss. Solar powered water heaters are also connected to a back-up source of energy such as electric or gas for use on rainy days.

The Cost of Solar Powered Water Heaters

A typical residential solar powered water heater costs the homeowner between $5,000 and $7,000. After rebates and tax incentives, a solar powered water heater could cost as little as $1,400. A solar powered water heater saves the average homeowner an estimated $450 a year in energy costs. With the increased cost of energy in Hawaii, a Hawaiian homeowner can save much more.

Homeowners who cannot afford the upfront cost of a solar powered water heater can choose a rental company such as Hawaii Solar Powered Solution. This company installs the solar powered water heater and maintains it for a monthly fee. You can find out more by visiting HawaiiSolarPower.com.

Hawaii’s new law mandating solar powered water heaters is intended to reduce the state’s dependency on fossil fuels for energy. It was first introduced over five years ago and has now come to fruition when oil prices are at an all time high.

Vacation in Hawaii on a Budget: Timing is Everything

When planning a vacation in Hawaii, the dates you select for your visit greatly determine the overall cost of your trip. Visiting Hawaii in the off-season is advisable when traveling on a budget. The off-season in Hawaii occurs between mid-April to mid-June and September to mid-December.

Travel to Hawaii is more expensive around holidays and popular events, such as the annual celebrity golf classic tournament. Air fare and hotel accommodations will be more reasonably priced during the off-season than during the peak tourist months.

To whittle down the cost of your vacation to Hawaii even further, you can plan your trip to avoid weekend stays. Arrive on a Monday and depart before Friday evening to avoid paying higher lodging and air fare costs. Weekends are popular travel times, and not only will hotels and flights be crowded during the weekends, but the price for services can nearly double on the weekends during the peak season.

Vacation in Hawaii on a Budget: Look into Alternate Lodging

Lodging on Hawaii accounts for a large portion of your travel budget. Researching a few non-traditional lodging options can help you cut back on expenses. Some families opt to travel to Hawaii with a time-share company. These companies pay for a percentage of your lodging. In exchange, you agree to listen to a sales pitch for a time-share condominium in the Hawaiian Islands.

These types of services should be investigated thoroughly before agreeing to any terms to avoid hidden charges or undesirable contract terms. You can also research renting a house or apartment during your stay if you are visiting for more than a few days or require more than one bedroom. This option may prove to be less expensive than booking one or more hotel rooms for your stay.

Many tourists who enjoy the outdoors camp out during their visit to Hawaii. Many Hawaiian State Parks offer camping facilities for locals and tourists alike.

Vacation in Hawaii on a Budget: Pack Wisely

Even everyday items like sun block and toothpaste are more expensive in Hawaii so pack wisely. You can pack fewer changes of clothes and include powdered laundry soap for use at your hotel to compensate for the items brought from home. Include items like extra batteries for your camera, pain reliever, an umbrella, sun block and lotion, and even snacks.

Vacation in Hawaii on a Budget: Research Pays Off

Research which Hawaiian Islands you want to visit before booking your trip. Air fare between the islands is expensive. You may find that you are content with visiting only one or two of the islands.

You can purchase entertainment discount books online, including one specifically created for Hawaii. You can get one by visiting www.entertainment.com. In addition, once you arrive on the island, keep your eyes open for promotional offers and coupons found on each island. These coupons can really add up over the course of your stay.

Vacation in Hawaii on a Budget: Creative Souvenirs

The sale of souvenirs is big business in any tourist area- Hawaii is no different. While those colorful t-shirts and leis are tempting, they also can be big budget busters. Consider using your digital camera to create your own souvenirs to save money.

You can write a special message in the sand and take a picture to capture the event. You can even create Hawaii scrapbooks of photos you take during your trip. These are much cheaper to print out on the mainland then collecting a bagful of Hawaiian souvenirs.

Vacationing in Hawaii on a budget is possible with advanced planning, a little knowledge, and some creativity. These money saving ideas can help make your Hawaiian dream vacation a reality.

Its most recent eruption was from March 24 to April 15 in 1984. Mauna Loa is due to erupt again. Scientists predict another eruption in the next few decades, possibly within the next few years. A United States Geological Scientist has said that evidence suggests Mauna Loa is, “on the verge of shifting to a period of long-lived l

Mauna Loa Monitoring

The United States Geological Survey Department publishes a bi-weekly report on the current status of Mauna Loa. You can read current and past conditions on the mountain at http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloastatus.php.

To help limit the amount of damage and save lives during an eruption, scientists monitor four factors during an eruption- the location of the lava eruption, the rate of lava production, the lay of the land (specifically the steepness of the terrain), and the duration of the eruption.

Mauna Loa Facts and History

The lava produced by Mauna Loa is comprised of mostly basalt and very little silicon. This means that the lava flows are very fluid and less likely to erupt into the sky. The trickling lava contributes to the volcano’s gently sloping sides.

Every eruption elongates the Long Mountain. The most recent lava eruptions from Mauna Loa have not caused any loss of life, but in 1926 and again in 1950, Mauna Loa erupted and the lava destroyed several villages and villagers caught in the path of the lava. The modern day city of Hilo is built on top of old lava flows from this period.

In 1935, an eruption threatened the city of Hilo and five United States Air Force bombers dropped bombs in the lava’s path to help divert the lava flow away from Hilo. The eruption stopped just four miles short of reaching the city. About half of the eruptions occur from the volcano’s summit, while others emerge from fissures in the rift lines along the side of mountain.

Volcanologists, geologists, and scientists monitor Mauna Loa very closely for signs of an impending eruption. Because of Mauna Loa’s previous history of eruptions, it is very unlikely that anyone will be harmed during a future eruption, but property damage is unavoidable.

Planning a Trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

If you are planning a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it is best to call ahead. Some roads may be closed due to active lava flows and the park is closed at times to protect visitors when volcanic fumes are at a dangerous level.

Hiking in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

When hiking in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, safety is a priority. Active Lava flows can be dangerous. Vegetation can hide cracks and holes in the ground, making trekking over the terrain difficult.

It is important to wear comfortable hiking shoes and full length, lightweight pants. Hiking through the cooled lava fields is like hiking through a field of broken glass. Protect exposed skin from injury whenever possible.

Park rangers are on hand to help keep you and your family safe during your visit. Please remember that a volcanic eruption can occur at any time. Parents should keep children nearby and be on the lookout for dangerous situations when visiting the park.

The Park experienced an explosion in the Halemaumau Crater on March 19, 2008. The explosion did not include any lava, leading scientists to believe that the explosion was a result of pent up gases in the area. However, the explosion was powerful enough to send debris flying over a 74-acre span.

This was the first documented eruption in the Kilauea caldera since 1924 and the first explosive event in the area since 1924. Recent volcanic activity in the Halemaumau Crater region has significantly increased the amount of sulfur dioxide in the air and resulted in the closure of several hiking trails leading to Crater Rim Trail. Even a portion of Crater Rim Drive is now closed for safety reasons.

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a unique and exciting experience. The opportunity to see volcanic elements, cooled lava fields, and even the occasional active lava flow attracts thousands of visitors to the Park.

While the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provides entertainment for the entire family, it is important to remember that even with docile volcanoes like Mt. Kilauea and Mt. Mauna Loa, there is still a potential for quickly emerging dangerous situations. Be sure to consult a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ranger for guidelines about your visit to the Park.

Birds and sea animals migrated to the islands as well over the centuries. It is not known exactly when man discovered the Hawaiian Islands, but many experts believe that the first Hawaiian settlers arrived sometime between 300-400 AD.

How Volcanic Activity Occurs

Teutonic plates cover the earth’s surface and float along on molten magma. These plates are constantly in motion. As plates shift, cracks and openings are formed where two plates meet that allow the molten magma to escape to the surface.

In the case of the Hawaiian Islands, the Pacific Plate is situated over a hotspot where magma is especially forceful. This Hawaiian Hotspot forces lava through the center of the Pacific Plate, resulting in a high number of volcanoes in the area.

When a volcano is born, the erupting lava can burst high into the air, or present as a trickle down the sides of the opening. The erupting magma is also comprised of a variety of different substances, which in turn affects the way the lava erupts or flows.

The volcanoes forming the Hawaiian Islands contain a high level of basalt, resulting in more fluid lava flows. The Hawaiian volcanoes generally have gently sloping sides from years of lava trickling from the volcanoes’ opening.

The Hawaiian Islands will continue to grow in size as further eruptions add more lava to the landscape, but the shoreline is also continually altered by erosion from wind, rain, and the sea. A series of older islands, known as the Emperor seamounts, is located under the surface of the sea to the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. Older, now inactive, volcanoes also formed these islands.

The Hawaiian Island Volcanoes

Nearly 100 volcanoes are believed to be present in the area near the Hawaiian Islands. Eighteen of those are responsible for forming Hawaii as we know it today. The Islands are situated over the Hawaiian Hotspot, an area of erupting molten lava in the Pacific Ocean. As the Teutonic plate containing the Hawaiian Islands moved east, the Hawaiian Hotspot created a new island in the chain.

The Big Island of Hawaii is currently situated over the Hawaiian Hotspot. As the plate moves away from the Hotspot, the volcanoes become less active until lava is no longer able to reach the volcano’s opening.

Five volcanoes, Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and Kohala, formed the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands are currently home to three active volcanoes, Kilauea, Mauna Loa, and Loihi. Mt. Kilauea has been actively erupting since 1983. Mt. Mauno Loa last erupted in 1984 and experts believe it is building for a new eruption sometime in the next few years. Mt. Loihi last erupted in 1996.

As time passes on, new islands will be formed in the Hawaiian Island chain as new volcanoes are born over the Hawaiian Hotspot.