June 15-16 2008


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

Lihue, Kauai – 80
Honolulu, Oahu – 87
Kaneohe, Oahu – 82
Kahului, Maui – 88
Hilo, Hawaii – 85
Kailua-kona – 83

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

Kahului, Maui – 86F  
Hilo, Hawaii – 77

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:

0.13  Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.29 Koolau Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai
0.14 Lanai
0.01 Kahoolawe
0.36 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.63 Pahala, Big Island

Weather Chart – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems to the north and northeast of the islands, which would ordinarily provide moderately strong trade winds. A developing trough to the west and NW of the state however, will keep our winds lighter through Tuesday…turning ESE or even SE locally.  

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. 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 weather conditions.

Aloha Paragraphs

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  Wailea Maui
Photo Credit: flickr.com

The trade winds will continue Sunday, bringing their cooling relief from the June sunshine. These trades will blow generally in the light to moderately strong range. Monday will see our winds drop back into the lighter realms again…veering around to the east-southeast, or even southeast locally by into Tuesday. This veering motion will be caused by an unusual trough of low pressure to the west or northwest of Kauai. Whenever we have ESE or SE winds, there’s always that chance of volcanic haze being carried up over the chain from the vents on the Big Island. It will take until later in the week before we see the return of our classic trade winds…which will take us into the beginning of our summer season.

Meanwhile, what few showers that we see falling, will end up along the windward sides for the time being. The ESE or southeast winds spoken of in the paragraph above, will not only make our winds lighter soon, as they split around the Big Island, putting the rest of the islands somewhat in a wind shadow…but will also contribute to afternoon interior clouds, and some possible showers too. The air will begin to feel rather warm and humid during the days, and slightly cooler than normal during the early morning hours. Once the trade winds return by mid-week, we’ll see the bias for showers moving back over to the windward coasts and slopes.

~~~ It’s late Sunday afternoon here in Kula, Maui. I’ve got my clothes for the new week washed, hung out, dried, and put away already. I’ve given my car a quick wash, I’ve done my composting, recycling…and am pretty much completely ready for the new work week ahead.  When you work five days a week, with a schedule as intense and demanding as mine, there’s definitely some staging and preparation involved. It always feels so good to have it all done, so I can relax through the evening hours. I may end up playing ping pong with my neighbors again around sunset, which would be ok with me. I hope you have a great Sunday night wherever you happen to be spending it! I’ll be back very early Monday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise. Aloha for now…Glenn.

Happy Fathers Day all you Dads!