Last week, there was a Blizzard Warning for the Big Island of Hawaii. Up to 8″ of snow was forecast and people were fired up about it. Some got out there and got after the Hawaiian powder and these guys even built a road gap jump for good measure.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii snow.
Yes, you can ski on Hawaii.
Skiing Mauna Kea is very real. The Mauna Kea Ski Corporation rents skis and snowboards for $50/day. They claim that 2,500 to 4,500-vertical-foot runs are a very real possibility. These guys can also arrange shuttles to pick you up and drop you off at the top to maximize vertical.
How often does it snow in Hawaii?
“It snows here every year, but only at the very summits of our three tallest volcanoes (Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala).” – Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii
“The snow level almost never gets below 9,000 feet in Hawaii during the winter, but since these mountains are taller than 13,600 feet, 13,700 feet and 10,000 feet, respectively, they get dusted with snow a few times a year. It rarely stays on the ground for more than a few days though.” – Ken Rubin, an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii
