Last summer, Google announced a loan program for its backpack-like Street View Trekker cameras for organizations that want to help the company create imagery of interesting places. Today, it’s launching the first collection of these images in cooperation with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).
This is probably the ideal collection for all of us who are stuck with rain and snow right now. Google Trends says search interest in “Hawaii” has risen 78 percent in the last 30 days, which is probably a function of the weather in the lower 48.
The new collection features lots of Hawaiian beaches, trails and other sights. When Google announced the Trekker loan program, it already said its first partner would be HVCB. At the time, the plan was to collect imagery from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa Observatory, Onomea Bay, Akaka Falls, Waipio Valley and the Pololu Valley.
Applications for the loan program remain open and Google plans to open this pilot program up to more organizations over time. It’s not clear who will get the Trekker next, though.