May 31 – June 1 2008


Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday: 

Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 78
Kahului, Maui – 87 
Hilo, Hawaii – 82
Kailua-kona – 84

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon:

Barking Sands, Kauai – 85F  
Kailua-kona – 79

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

0.11  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.02 Poamoho 2, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.17 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.17 Kamuela Upper, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems strung out from the northwest through northeast of the state of Hawaii. These high pressure cells, along with their associated ridges, will keep moderately strong trade winds blowing across the state through Sunday…locally stronger and gusty in those windiest areas.

Satellite and Radar 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. 

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.

Aloha Paragraphs

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The end of another perfect day here in Hawaii
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds will be quite blustery Sunday into Monday. These trades are strong enough now, that small craft wind advisory flags remain up in the windiest places around Maui and the Big Island. The latest forecast calls for these stronger than normal trades to drop back down into the more normal light to moderately strong realms after the weekend.

The dry weather we’ve seen lately will continue through Sunday. The windward sides will pick up whatever few showers that are around. The leeward sides will find dry weather, with plenty of sunshine. We still expect to see some increase in showers right after the weekend, as the moisture associated with an old cold front gets carried onto the windward sides Monday…last for a day or two.

~~~ As mentioned in the paragraph above, there’s a retired cold front that’s been hanging out to the north of the islands most of this week. The computer forecast models continue showing that the remnant moisture will get carried our way on the trade winds starting Monday. As a matter of fact, there’s a second chance for showers, later in the week, when an upper level trough of low pressure moves into our area…which could bring another surge of wet trade winds into our area.

~~~ I have my fingers crossed, that at least one…and hopefully both of those potential showery episodes manifest as the models suggest. The Hawaiian Islands are dry, too dry as we head into our summer dry season. The spring rains that we usually get, didn’t give us nearly enough water this year. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it bone dry, but there’s no doubt that we need some rainy weather. The bulk of the showers that I spoke of in the two paragraphs above, will arrive along the windward sides.

~~~ I had a great time surfing over on the Lahaina side this morning! The waves were small as I expected, although that kept the crowds down. The winds were very light while I was there, which made for very smooth ocean conditions. This smooth water is referred to as glassy in the surfing community. I got lots of rides, several of which made me happy. I decided to drive to the north shore afterwards, and took a nice walk on the sandy beach near Paia…dipping into the warm ocean again there. My feeling is you can’t get into the ocean too much! I couldn’t resist swinging by the Maui Country Club in Spreckelsville again, to try my hand at putting…although I didn’t do all that well. My concentration was off a bit, but it felt good being on the green there anyway.

~~~ I’ve been home for the rest of the day, enjoying the tranquility of Kula, Maui. I’m celebrating a little, don’t ask me why though. I just popped a bottle of 1995 Champagne Henriot, Brut Millesime, from Reims, France. It’s tasty, and I believe it’s the first bubbly that I’ve ever had that wasn’t non-vintage. I’ve had a glass, and those bubbles are going straight to my head. The sun is still shining brightly, with just a few rather shallow clouds banked up against the slopes of the Haleakala Crater. Looking over towards the beaches, both towards the north and south shores, it looks near totally clear. This Maui weatherman is on to the next thing, whatever that may be. I’ll meet you here again Sunday morning however, and before I sign off, would like to wish you a great Saturday night wherever you’re reading from! Aloha for now…Glenn.

An unknown fact: the two songs below have been a couple of my favorites through the years:

Tears for Fears – Head over heels

Simply Red – Stars