April 18-19 2006

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across Hawaii Tuesday:

Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 82
Kaneohe, Oahu – 79
Kahului, Maui – 81
Hilo, Hawaii – 79
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 85

Temperatures early Wednesday morning ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at the 4 a.m. hour:

Kailua-kona – 75
Hilo airport – 65

Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals during the last 24 hours (as of Wednesday morning) on each of the major islands, including:

0.68 MOUNT WAIALEALE, KAUAI
0.94 POAMOHO 2, OAHU
0.60 MOLOKAI
0.00 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
0.50 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.07 MOUNTAIN VIEW, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing high pressure systems to the NE and NNW of Hawaii. This pressure configuration will keep moderate to locally strong and gusty strong trade winds blowing today through Thursday. Here’s a Weather Map Symbol page for clarification about what all those funny weather symbols mean.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are only available during the daylight hours here in the islands…that is unless there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two!

Satellite Images – To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with the Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around the state during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean…out from the islands. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Aloha Paragraphs
Nice Hawaiian sunset…

The Hawaiian Islands, at least most areas, will continue to bask in warm sunshine. The greatest amount of these sun rays will be beaming down upon the south and west facing leeward beaches. These areas are where most of the famous resorts and condos are located. All these tanning rays will be sending our daytime air temperatures well up into the 80F’s…the mid to high 80F’s in those warmest spots. At the same time, the cooling trade winds will be blowing, helping to temper that afternoon heat.

The other sides of the islands, those north and east windward shores, will be cooler. The trade winds get into these areas more directly, moderating the heat quite a bit. At the same time, these winds are carrying clouds with them, so the shade from those clouds also helps to keep the temperatures down as well. We’ll continue to see some passing showers, falling most generously during the night and early morning hours…which help to keep the tropical vegetation lush and green.

These trade winds are very typical for the month of April, which in most ways mark the end of our winter weather systems. Climatologically speaking, the trade winds will continue blowing through the rest of April. The Hawaiian Islands are famous for their balmy breezes, setting us apart from other areas in the tropics, which don’t receive them. They are a true blessing, helping to keep our otherwise too hot weather, very comfortable. They are a cooling breeze, meant to set the coconut palm trees swaying!

You know, people often ask me: “after living in Hawaii for over 30 years, do you get used to seeing all that beauty Glenn?” The truth is that I don’t… every day I find so many things that catch my eye, which register as beautiful. I find that everywhere I look, there it is, that tropical beauty that keeps me looking all the time. I like looking down the mountain when I’m home, to see the ocean out there. When I’m at the ocean, there are those amazing greens and blues that catch the sunlight so magnificently. The palm trees too I just love, not to mention the Jacaranda trees on my drive home. It’s all simply splendid, and never fails to inspire me!

It’s early Tuesday evening here in Kula, Maui, as I start today’s sunset commentary. I’m home a little early today, as I had my six month dermatology appointment. My Doctor, the esteemed George Martin, whose office is in Kihei, said I was doing quite well. He took a biopsy, and burned off three fairly minor little “pre-cancerous” lesions. As much time as I’ve spent in the sun, it’s always a relief when he doesn’t find anything more serious! Speaking of the sun, I was out in it during my lunch break today, and enjoyed the partly cloudy conditions I found in Kihei. There wasn’t much wind, and unfortunately not many waves either, although it was refreshing. There was a brief break in the windward showers this afternoon, but as I glance over towards Makawao and Haiku, there’s the next, in a near constant series of passing showers over that way. Haiku especially has had lots of showers, over a month’s worth by now, and those folks are experiencing soggy ground to say the least. Here in Kula, it’s nice and warm, with just a slight breeze blowing my wind chimes at the moment. It’s just perfect for ping pong, and if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to inquire whether my neighbor wants to ping some balls back and forth now. I’ll be back early Wednesday morning with the next narrative. I hope you have a good rest between now and then. Aloha for now…Glenn.


p.s. Here’s a link to one of the advertisers on the left hand margin: First Horizon Home Loans…sponsored by Chris Lum, who says: “I want to help you finance your home, and more . . . I want to build a relationship based on unparalleled service and personal attention.”