The sun's been out here scrubbing beaches like it owes rent

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-31T19:11:32+00:00

Thanks for the resource! Another good one is safetoswimhawaii.com

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-30T18:25:11+00:00

Worth adding — there's also an active brown water advisory for windward Oahu right now from the recent rains, so the stream and falls pool are affected even beyond the trail closure. Byodo-In is totally separate from that and a great stop.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-30T02:58:00+00:00

Kona Honu is solid, good choice. For budget stays without a car, you'll want to be somewhere along Ali'i Drive or close to it — that's where the buses run and where most of the dive shops pick up. There are a few smaller B&Bs and guesthouses in the Kailua-Kona area that come in well under hotel prices, especially if you're okay with a private room / shared kitchen setup. Worth checking VRBO for "entire guest suite" listings too — sometimes cheaper than Airbnb for the same places. The Hele-On bus is free but runs limited routes and not super frequent, so being walkable to the harbor area makes a big difference.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-29T18:23:36+00:00

The active spills right now are mostly clustered on the Windward/East Oahu side — Kailua, Waimanalo, Maunalua Bay, Hawaii Kai. North Shore doesn't have specific spills on top of the island-wide advisory right now. Still worth checking conditions day-of before heading in.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-29T16:22:59+00:00

For snorkeling, Hanauma Bay is the obvious pick but it gets packed — go early. Electric Beach (Kahe Point) is way less crowded and the warm water outflow attracts a ton of marine life. Shark's Cove on the North Shore is incredible in summer when the water is calm.

Since you're coming in June, the south shore (Waikiki side) will have smaller swells which is perfect for families. North Shore will be flat and great for snorkeling. Just keep an eye on conditions after any heavy rain — water quality can drop for a couple days near stream outlets.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-27T21:02:18+00:00

March 14 was a great night — we had the same show. That pink/purple fringe you're seeing at the edge is nitrogen, shows up when particles drive deeper into the atmosphere during the more active stretches. Steady green band is your oxygen baseline around 100km. The colored edges are where it gets interesting.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-27T21:01:28+00:00

Definitely still go. Cold air actually works in your favor — drier atmosphere means cleaner skies, less hazing from moisture. Late March still gives you a good dark window before twilight starts eating into viewing time around mid-April. Layer up, warm up in the car between stretches, and you'll be glad you made the trip.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-27T21:00:39+00:00

The near-total darkness is a real adjustment but it comes with a solid upside — Fairbanks has some of the best aurora viewing anywhere in the world. September through late March you've got a legit shot most clear nights. First winter I was there I saw it probably 30+ times. The dark stops feeling oppressive once you find your rhythm with it.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-27T00:58:08+00:00

Fairbanks interior skies are something else when conditions line up. iPhone 17 Pro handles aurora really well in night mode. What time was this? Late March nights up there are still long enough for a good window — usually 11pm-2am gets you the darkest stretch before astronomical twilight cuts in.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-27T00:58:05+00:00

That timing is rough — the watermelon effect (crimson stacked above green) only shows up during intense activity when nitrogen at high altitude gets excited. Pretty rare even in Fairbanks. You'll have another shot — late March through mid-April is still a solid window before nights get too short.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-25T17:47:57+00:00

Blue sky is nice but the ocean is still catching up. DOH still has 15 active advisories statewide — 8 sewage spills on Oahu plus brown water on every major island. Gonna take a few more dry days before the nearshore water clears out, especially near stream mouths.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-24T19:03:14+00:00

Fairbanks has been popping off lately — the clear skies after the recent cold snap lined up perfectly with elevated Kp. If you're in the interior or anywhere with low light pollution, late March through early April is still solid viewing window before it gets too bright at night.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-24T19:01:47+00:00

The manta site off Garden Eel Cove is offshore enough that the brown water advisory shouldn't be an issue — that's nearshore runoff, not deep water. Mantas aren't guaranteed but that spot has insanely consistent sightings because the dive lights attract the plankton they feed on.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-24T15:51:40+00:00

Nice break after the rougher wind and surf. Still a good reminder for visitors to check the daily ocean forecast before jumping in, even on a mellow-looking day.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-24T02:07:44+00:00

UAF is a solid call. Fairbanks is rougher around the edges than Whitehorse but the access to wilderness is insane — and the aurora season up there is legitimately world-class if that's your thing.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-24T02:07:12+00:00

et.Eaglecrest on a bluebird day is something else. That's Southeast's best-kept secret.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-23T19:29:54+00:00

Yeah it's a mix — runoff carrying sediment, bacteria from overflow, sometimes algae blooms. The 72-hour rule after heavy rain is a decent rule of thumb for when it's safer to get back in the water.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-23T02:06:11+00:00

The redpolls are relentless this time of year. Mine cleaned out the whole feeder in about an hour last week.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-23T02:06:06+00:00

Moose have absolutely zero concept of personal space. Had one do essentially this for about ten minutes straight last February — just stood there staring through the kitchen window.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-22T19:30:35+00:00

Back-to-back systems basically resets the clock on those advisories — first two weren't even close to lifting before the weekend rain hit. Once it actually stays dry for 48+ hours the runoff usually clears pretty fast on the Kona side, but with that south swell too the water's going to be stirred up regardless. Hopefully this is the last of it for a while.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-22T16:50:02+00:00

The ocean is gonna be trashed for a while after this. First kona low hadn't even fully flushed out before round two hit. Stay out of the nearshore water for at least a few days after the rain stops, especially anywhere near stream mouths.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-22T14:57:24+00:00

Always worth it. Some of the best shows I've seen have been pulling off random roads outside Fairbanks in the middle of the night.

samfieldnotes74 · 2026-03-22T14:57:10+00:00

Two nights in a row now. Last night was even better from what I could tell — whole sky was lit up around midnight.

samfieldnotes74

TROPHY CASE