June 8-9 2008


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

Lihue, Kauai – 83
Honolulu, Oahu – 86
Kaneohe, Oahu – 81
Kahului, Maui – 90
Hilo, Hawaii – 86
Kailua-kona – 85

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

Kahului, Maui – 85F  
Hilo, Hawaii – 78

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

0.19  Mount Waialaele, Kauai
0.15 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.16 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.39 Glenwood, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1032 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands. This high pressure cell, along with its associated ridge, will keep moderately strong trade winds blowing across our area Tuesday…locally stronger and gusty in those windiest areas around Maui and the Big Island.

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

The image “http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/497452809_e38df89cef.jpg?v=0” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
Jacaranda trees around Kula, Maui…by the way,
this is the road that I use on a daily basis to go
down the mountain, and then back up again.
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds will remain locally quite breezy through Monday. A moderately strong 1033 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands, is the source of our trade wind flow Sunday evening. Our winds are strong enough now that small craft wind advisory flags will remain up over those windier areas around Maui and the Big Island. It appears that these cooling and refreshing trade winds will ease off just a little starting Tuesday, although remain active through the rest of the week.

We’re moving into a relatively dry period, which will last through the next several days. There will remain those usual few showers along the windward coasts and slopes…especially during the night and early morning hours. There may also be a few afternoon and evening showers falling along the Kona slopes as well. Meanwhile, we find a considerable amount of high cirrus clouds moving our way from the south, as shown on this looping satellite image. This will help to filter and dim our sunshine into Monday, and perhaps give us another nice sunset tonight.

~~~ It’s early Sunday evening as I sit here in Kula, Maui, writing out this last paragraph. It was yet another very warm day here in the islands, with Kahului, Maui hitting 90F degrees for the third straight afternoon. The trade winds have been blowing steadily as well, with Kapalua, Maui gusting to 35 mph Sunday afternoon, as was Kahoolawe…although the winner in the gust department was the 38 mph at South Point on the Big Island. It has been dry, with little change in that regard expected anytime soon. Looking forward into the new week…besides the slight reduction in our trade wind speeds on Tuesday, these tropical breezes will be with us through the entire week. I had a good day today, staying home, with a little work mixed with quite a lot of relaxation. My neighbor and I decided to cut down a stock of bananas, and from there we worked unexpectedly for over an hour…cleaning up the entire patch, ending up with a huge pile of cut leaves and branches. I’ll be back very early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise. I hope you have a great Sunday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Here’s a great music video, which will bring back fond memories to you older folks: Only You by the The Platters (1955).