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What is the Weather Really Like in Hawaii?

By Braddah Kimo

Yes, it is usually pretty balmy here in Hawaii, but are you prepared for all of the different weather that you will find in the islands?

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The weather can vary greatly within a few miles. For instance, Mount Waialeale on Kauai is the wettest spot on earth with over 460 inches of rain a year (in 1982 it actually rained 666 inches!) However, just a few miles away is a desert that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year. So as you can see the weather varies quite a lot just on one island.

Hawaii weather is greatly influenced by the trade winds that generally blow at speeds of 10-20 MPH. Sometimes the winds will be light to non-existent and sometimes they will blow much stronger–into the 30 MPH range.

The trade winds have a welcome cooling effect. Even though it may be 85 degrees with 80% humidity, the trade winds make it feel much more comfortable.

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The opposite wind is called the kona wind. The kona winds tend to bring hot, humid weather, and sometimes rain. The kona winds are not as prevalent as the trade winds. (Don’t confuse kona winds with Kona side of the Big Island which tends to be hot and dry.)

Hawaii has semi-tropical weather. Temperatures usually range from 75-90 degrees year round in the daytime, and 70-80 degrees at night. Temperatures in the winter months may be a little cooler, where nighttime temperatures can sometimes fall into the 50’s. (It feels much cooler than that with a 20 MPH trade wind blowing.)

At the higher elevations of the islands (such as up country Maui and Big Island) temperatures can drop to the 30’s or 40’s and snow often falls at the very high elevations of Haleakala and Mauna Kea!

Rain showers can appear at any time of the year but they most often fall between the months of November-February. Even though these winter months are technically the “rainy season”, the rains are generally short lived, and sunshine and blue skies return quickly.

We call these short, light showers “blessings.” Sometimes you can’t even seem to find the clouds that are producing these “blessings”, but if you look around you will probably see the rainbows they leave behind!

Hawaii also has what are called “Mauka Showers.” Mauka means “inland” or “toward the mountains.” It will often be raining in the mountains or valleys, but be dry on the beaches.

Sometimes during the winter months it does rain for 2-3 days straight. The good news is that since there are so many micro-climates on the islands, you can often just go a short distance to find dry weather.

Hawaii does, on rare occasion have a hurricane pass our way, although this happens much less often than it does in Florida or other parts of the US mainland. It is always good to be prepared, of course, but the last hurricanes to hit Hawaii was “Iniki” which hit Kauai in 1992. Hurricane season runs between June-December.

Even given these general guidelines, the weather can vary quite a bit depending on where you are on the island. The windward (Northeast) sides of the islands are generally the wettest and coolest, and the leeward (Southwest) sides are generally the driest and hottest.

So as you can see, there can be quite a variety of weather in Hawaii. Be sure to pack a light jacket, rain coat, or sweater so you’ll be comfortable on the cool Hawaiian nights and in your visits upcountry.

If you plan on visiting Maui or Big Island you won’t want to miss the summits of Haleakala (elevation 10,023 feet) and Mauna Kea (elevation 13,796 feet.) Just make sure you pack a heavy jacket!

About the Author

Braddah Kimo is based in Honolulu and has worked in the Hawaii travel industry for over 20 years. His websites are MyHawaiiVacationPackage.com and WholesaleTrip.com

Why a Trip to Hawaii Should Always Include a Visit to the Island of Kauai

By Jeffrey Meier

Kauai the Garden Isle of Hawaii is one of the most popular destination for vacations. It has everything to offer-adventure, beauty and lots and lots of fun. Its lush tropical greenery and sparkling sand beaches attracts thousands of tourists every year. Kauai is the oldest and the forth largest island in Hawaii.

This place is known for its rich culture and tradition. Here everyone is welcomed with open arms and colorful garlands called leis. They are made of carnation, plumeria, ilima a flower associated with royalty, and many others. Lovely anise-scented mokihana lei are very special since they are made of the berries found only on Kauai. It has everything both for the young and old. There are a number of museums where you can learn about the islands heritage and culture. They are very informational and inspiring. It can truly be called the island of discovery as one can get to learn and discover so many things about this Garden Isle. You can enjoy the hula shows, luaus, live Hawaiian music and many such performances by the natives of the place. These memories of island culture are unforgettable and will always remain with you where ever you go.

For food lovers this place offers some exotic traditional mouth watering dishes which are simply awesome. They mostly use ingredients fresh from the farmers’ markets called Sunshine Markets like macadamia nuts, coconuts, taro, poi, malasadas, lilikoi chiffon treats, and other such delicacies .The variety of fruits you get there are incredible. The local fish are very popular like ahi, mahimahi, ono, wahoo, and opakapaka.

If you are looking for adventure you can go hiking as the trails there are abundant, range from easy to challenging, and offer magnificent views. You can enjoy the Island’s beauty first handedly. Some of the popular trails which attract a lot of tourists are Kuilau, Moalepe, Kalalau and Powerline.After the hiking you can rejuvenate and relax in the island’s spas. The spas in Kauai offer numerous treatments based on traditional Hawaiian healing practices. Other outdoor treatments like lomi massage, reiki, etc. are also available. You can also opt for healing meals prepared by special chefs along with the treatment. Pamper yourself with tissue massages, wraps, scrubs, facials, and hydrotherapy in a lush, tropical setting.

You can shop for souvenirs an presents to carry back home like aloha shirts, oriental rugs, pearl bracelets, home and personal accessories, and art. There are many small shops to big malls where you can pick many interesting stuffs. Head to the Coconut Marketplace where you can get precious Hawaiian mementos. The Poipu Shopping Village in the south shore has variety of shops and eating joints.

Enjoy the beauty of the island by hiring a helicopter, you can view the whole island from the air and you will be mesmerized by the sparkling deep blue sea beneath you. You can also tour by land or sea because whatever means you choose you will be captivated by the alluring beauty of the island.

About the Author

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers information articles such as the Island of Kauai, Hawaii at http://www.jam727.com/Kauai/kauai/index.html