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The Pu'u where it rains on your shoes!

When I first came out to Hawaii I was in the 25th Inf Div as the operations officer for the Division Artillery. As such I spent many days and nights on the Big Island at Pahakaloa Training Area.

When firing artillery at PTA you would put your Forward Observers on Pu'u (pronounced Poo ooh) Ahi. The young soldiers called it the Pu'u where it rains on your shoes.

PTA as they call it sits in a valley between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea at about the 6,000 foot level. On my first visit I was out on Pu'u Ahi as night was falling. The clouds came up the valley and covered the training area and came up and covered the top of the Pu'u to KNEE deep. It literally rained on your shoes. It did that almost every evening for about an hour and then as the lava rocks cooled down the cloud would dissipate.

The Big Island of Hawaii has every kind of climate to include snow in the winter and is truly a beautiful place. I highly recommend it to any one visiting our lovely state.

Good Luck, Good Lending, and Aloha

Posted by Bruce Bourgault, Vice President, Mpro on 07/19/2007 05:44 PM

Comments (18)

hawaii, big island, army, va loan officer

18 Comments on The Pu'u where it rains on your shoes!

JUL

2007

Aloha Bruce. I visit the Big Island occasionally and can attest to snow and beach weather the same day depending on location. Come on over and visit us on Kauai No snow here but we have great beaches.

Hi Richard -- Im waiting on the ferry to get going and then coming over to stay out at Barking Sands. I was first on Kauai on RR in 1971. No traffic lights then! Aloha

JUL

2007

Bruce-You bring back great memories of PTA and the Pu'us. There are so many scattered around there. I never spent time on the Pu'us because I was on the gun line firing the artillery but I can attest to the weather. It really changed drastically throughout the day. Damn were the nights cold out there!

Interesting Bruce, I too served in the 25th only recon in Vietnam....it rained on our heads! I have been to the big island a couple of times it is truly beautiful and expensive! Nice post, I am sure PU'us have a special place now more so than when it was happening to you.

Hi David -- PTA is an incredible place and at night looking up at the star filled sky it is almost a religious experience. During part of the year the Southern Cross is visible in the night sky, You are so right about how cold it gets. The average tourist on the Big Island would never believe how cold it is in the middle of the Island. Aloha

HI Gary -- Thank you for your service to our Country and in the Tropic Lightning Division. Yes the Big Island is a bit expensive but it is so beautiful it is worth it. It is such a magical place. When you visit you must find some one who will show you the Kings Trail and explain the Night Marchers. Gives you chicken skin. Thanks for your comments. Aloha

JUL

2007

Hi Bruce,
I hope when I get to visit Hawii you will be available to give me some pointers of where to go and what to see. Thanks.

Bruce,

With all of the traveling I did when married to an AF Officer my one sadness was we never got to Hawaii. It is one place I haavae always wanted to go. Could you tell me something? How do they say "milk" in Hawaian? I will tell you later when I find out what it is. Great post!

You have a good day now, ya hear?

JUL

2007

Cynthia -- Sure just let me know when you are coming and we can meet for a drink or lunch and can give you a local guide to what you must see. By coincidence i just posted a blog on Loco Moco. Please see that too. Aloha

Hi Roberta -- Sure milk is waiu and a milk shake would be waiu luliluli. Please let me know as I am curious. Aloha

JUL

2007

Bruce,

I retired from the AF in 1993. I was stationed on Oahu at Wheeler AFB from 1984 through 1986 and worked in the Kunia Tunnel over by Schofield Barracks. I also had an additional duty of doing CCD with some of the forward air controllers (ROMADS). I went to the Big Island, to PTA, so I know what you are talking about. I have been there and done that. I was there in June and the temp at PTA got down in the low 50's at night which was hard to imagine for Hawaii in June. What a beautiful state.

Mickey -- People do not believe that it can get that cold. I have seen it snow at PTA in Nov. It is so beautiful there though. Thanks for your service and come on back and visit! Aloha

I'm coming back to Oahu in late January next year for a real estate convention in Honolulu. What's the cheapest way to get over to the Big Island or Maui. I haven't been there for 20 years so I have no idea of how to get there. I would like to take my wife, who had never been to Hawaii, to Maui, the Big Island, and Lanai. Suggestions? By the way, when I was at PTA I was working directly with the 25th Infantry Division. Great training spot there for real world living conditions to apply to other parts of the world.

Also, I created my real estate website domain name in hopes that one day I would be near some great beaches. Maybe one day I will open an office near you. That will be great!

Mickey Hayward www.sunsetproperties.net

Hi Mickey -- You are coming back at a GREAT time. Inter Island Air fares are really cheap right now and we just got an Inter Island Ferry. It is not running a schedule yet but they expect to start running by Sept. I would take the ferry as the fare will be competitive with air and you will go right by Molokai, Lanai, and Maui on your way to the big Island. The trip will take about 4 hours but you should see whales and dolphins and flying fish. i think the 4 hour trip will be more than worth it. Come on out and open your office out here!! as we say E KOMO MAI (which loosley translates to Ya'll come) Aloha

Bruce,

Thanks for the info about the Ferry. I will have to check back with you in September and see if a schedule is available at that time. Here's looking forward to a four hour ferry ride through some of the bluest waters in the world. I can't wait.

Bruce,

JUL

2007

Hi Mickey -- Please do -- We are looking forward to going to Kauai on the Ferry to stay at the Barking Sands Naval Base Rec cabins. This ferry is opening doors that we have never had before in that you can take your car and food and clothes with you for a long weekend. It is going to be super! Aloha

SEP

2007

Bruce as you not know I too am an Artillerymen. Served as a canon fire direction specialist in the 82nd Airborne Div Get better soon!

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