May 18 – 19 2006

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

Lihue, Kauai – 79F
Honolulu, Oahu – 81
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78
Kahului, Maui – 80
Hilo, Hawaii – 74
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – 84

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

Kailua-kona – 73
Hilo airport – 67

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

0.08 WAILUA, KAUAI
0.88 MAUNAWILI, OAHU
0.89 MOLOKAI
0.08 LANAI
0.00 KAHOOLAWE
3.74 WEST WAILUAIKI, MAUI
1.19 LAUPAHOEHOE, BIG ISLAND

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map…showing a 1030 millibar high pressure system located far to the north of the islands…extending northward all the way to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. This pressure configuration will cause moderate trade wind speeds today, becoming even a little stronger on Saturday. 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 available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon cloud conditions.

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

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Snails on a branch, near the beach…here in the islands


The tail end of a cold front, called a shearline, which arrived in the state yesterday, is still around Thursday. It’s draped across the central islands, paralleling the windward sides for the most part from Oahu to Maui. Satellite imagery and radar pictures show that there are still some showers falling from this dissipating weather feature. During the last 24 hours or so, the windward sides saw some decent showers, with even some leeward sections getting into the action as well. The largest precipitation totals included: 2.48” on Molokai, and 5.48” out along the Hana coast of east Maui. As I’ve been mentioning lately, this cloud band was very unusual for this time of year, and will likely be the last significant rainfall event of this spring season.

This old front will take the better part of the day to finally fall apart completely. This will keep some form of cloudiness certainly over the windward coasts and slopes, with some leftover showers falling too. The leeward coasts will see some residual clouds as well, although I doubt very much whether they will be dropping any moisture. This will be the transition day back towards more a more normal trade wind weather pattern. The trade winds will have filled in by Friday, with nice weather expected then into the weekend and beyond. These trade winds will prevail through the next week at least, getting a little softer by next Wednesday. Rest assured that favorable weather will dominate, with just those few windward showers falling at times.

It’s early Thursday evening here in Kula, Maui. Today was a big improvement over Wednesday, that is if you prefer dry weather over wet weather. Not that the showers were completely gone, as there were still some light drizzles tracking along over the windward coasts and slopes. The leeward side, on the other hand, were notably drier, with few if any showers occurring there. Temperatures started to warm up nicely as well, edging back up towards the 80F degree mark, with Kona once again the hot spot across the Aloha state…at 83F. It’s warm and cozy in my weather tower, as it’s still about half an hour before sunset. The outside temperature is cooler as usual, reading 66F degrees. I’m listening to an internet radio station playing smooth piano and keyboard. This particular station is broadcasting from the windward side of Oahu, there in Kailua town. I talk to my parents just about everyday, and wanted to let you know that my Dad is holding his own, which is such a relief. I love being able to call home, and have either my Mom or Dad answer the telephone…it’s been like clockwork in that way, all my life. I find that when my family is doing well, I am able to relax all that more deeply. I’m very thankful for this opportunity to experience life in this rather deep way now. I know that life changes, it always does, and yet in the moment, I feel peaceful and content in my routine. I hope you all have a great Thursday night! My alarm clock will wake me at 4am Friday morning, when I’ll climb out from under that warm down comforter, pour a large glass of water over a packet of Emer’gen-C, apply some Dr. Bronners peppermint lip balm, and dig into the latest reality of weather here in the islands, sharing that with you as usual…which is my spiritual practice. Aloha for now…Glenn.