Meet the operator of Hawaii’s only snow thrower


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Hawaii is a job for snow removal companies – one of the most unique jobs in Hawaii.”/>

Clearing snow from the road at the top of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawaii is a job for snow removal companies – one of the most unique jobs in Hawaii.

UH Center for Maunakea Stewardship

Hawaii is known around the world for its sunny skies and warm beaches, so it can be a shock to find out that it snows like the beginning of this month. But Hawaii is home to Maunakea, a dormant volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii that is the highest point on the islands at nearly 14,000 feet, so it’s not uncommon for it to snow every year – and snow blowers are sometimes called snow off to clear its streets.

“We used to call a company on the mainland asking about snow equipment and they wouldn’t call us back. They think we’re kidding, ”Tracy Miyashiro, a snow removal worker for Maunakea Support Services at the University of Hawaii, told SFGATE. The 58-year-old was born and raised on the Big Island and has worked in snow removal for over 35 years.

“We’re in the middle of the Pacific and we’re close to the equator and they say, ‘Snow in Hawaii? No, it’s not snowing. ‘ I have to show you a picture. “

Being a snow clearing driver is an unusual job. There are only five people doing it in Hawaii, and they only work on the Big Island at the top of Maunakea, which is also the tallest mountain on earth from foot to top.

Miyashiro got the job at the young age of 22 after serving in the U.S. Army where he worked as a heavy machinery operator. His military experience gave him a competitive advantage as he was the only applicant with snow removal experience at the time.

Sometimes it snows 3 to 4 times a year, according to Miyashiro, who commutes to work 45 minutes from Hilo town, near sea level to the summit of Maunakea. In the 1990s, he remembered a time when the snow was 4 meters deep in some places.

Snow removal driver Tracy Miyashiro stands next to a snow blower that he uses to clear the road on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawaii.  It's one of the most unique jobs in Hawaii.

Snow removal driver Tracy Miyashiro stands next to a snow blower that he uses to clear the road on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s one of the most unique jobs in Hawaii.

UH Center for Maunakea Stewardship

The crew has a short time to clear the public road after a snowfall. Maunakea is home to a number of observatories that workers want access to to make sure the instruments maintain a certain temperature. It is also important for everyone’s safety.

“I like to clear snow, even if it gets very cold sometimes,” said Miyashiro. “It’s something unique that no other Hawaiian does. We have a crew of five who take over the snow removal on the mountain. Where else in Hawaii can you say you’re clearing snow? “

Breaks can mean playtime in the snow, Miyashiro admitted, but the job is not without its dangers.

“When we are in the snowthrower on top of the mountain, we sometimes face white-out conditions, we face very icy conditions, and the biggest factor is that we are faced with strong winds” said Miyashiro. “There were times when I was on top of the mountain clearing snow and it was blowing over 160 mph.”

The altitude is also somewhat manageable, as there is less oxygen on the mountain. Anyone who has ever taken a tour to the summit of Maunakea may remember that just walking across the road can be more difficult. Likewise, the snow removal team – although they are used to the altitude – have to help themselves.

“We can’t work like we’re at sea level,” said Miyashiro. “Basically we have to take our time when walking and observe our physical activities right through to work.”

Once the snow is cleared and the road is clear, there is usually a line of cars waiting to climb the summit. Although it is a natural occurrence, even Hawaiian residents enjoy the unique experience of snow by building snowmen, snowboarding or skiing, or shoveling snow into trucks to bring them back to town.

“As soon as they know we have snow on the mountain, they will wait,” said Miyashiro.

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