Climate à Hawaï
A dream island means a dream climate: the weather is warm and beautiful all year round in Hawaii. The temperature on the coasts does not go below 25°C even in winter! (The term "winter" is a relative concept). So there is no excuse not to enjoy the beaches and the waves no matter what month you choose for your vacation. Be careful though, the relief of some islands is imposing: Mauna Kea on Big Island exceeds 4,000 meters in altitude, so it is not uncommon to see snow in winter, and even sportsmen surfing in the powder. So be sure to bring warm clothes if you want to hike or watch a sunrise from up there. Also, while clouds may gather on the peaks or the east coast, they never delay in the west and south, so if you don't like the weather, drive a few miles to find a different climate
Pleasant temperatures all year round
Like the beauty of its islands, Hawaii's climate is heavenly! Located on the edge of the Tropic of Cancer, the archipelago enjoys a warm tropical atmosphere, aired by the trade winds, which is what every visitor hopes to find in Hawaii: ideal weather. Tempered by the immense ocean, the strong heat is rare, with temperatures generally between 25°C and 30°C all year round. To put it simply, there are two seasons in Hawaii: a warm season, winter, and an even warmer and drier season, summer. August and September are usually the warmest months of the year, while January and February are traditionally the coolest. Although temperatures can vary within the same island, especially depending on the season, it is near the coasts that they are the most constant. For example, the average temperature on Waikiki Beach in the height of summer is 32°C, and in the middle of winter it is 27°C.
(entdossierthemarub)16601:texteLeeward and windward coast
To fully understand the Hawaiian climate, one must consider the orientation of the coasts. The rule is simple and it is the same for every island: the leeward coast, to the west and south, has a hot and dry climate, while the windward coast, to the east and north, is generally more humid and cool. In short, if you are looking for lush nature, go to the Windward Coast and if you prefer to grill in the sun, go to the Leeward Coast. No surprise then: most of the big hotels with the beautiful swimming pools are on the west, sunny side.
Microclimates
The archipelago has a total of 11 of the 13 climate zones in the world! So it often happens that, on the same island, you can change climate in record time. If you find yourself in the middle of a rain shower, just drive a little to find the sun again: apply the above rule and quickly head for the southern or western coasts! The islands are all formed from volcanoes, so they have impressive mountains. And, as on all the reliefs of the world, the higher you go, the more the temperatures drop. Thus, when, in Maui, it is 4°C at the top of the Haleakala volcano (3 055 m), the temperature is 30°C on the beaches of the south coast! It is therefore not unreasonable to always bring several layers of clothing and a fleece in your backpack to Hawaii. Note that the period when it rains the most in the archipelago is from October to March. But nothing to do with an Indian rainy season. Compared to the monsoon season, the rate of rainfall in Hawaii is derisory: barely 40 cm3 of rain per month on average. Although the skies are sometimes grayer than the rest of the year, it rarely rains for more than three days at a time. The driest season is the summer months, with less than 16 cm3 of rain per month.
A tangible balance
Due to its geographical location, lost in the heart of the ocean and far from neighboring continents, and by its distribution in small islands, the archipelago of Hawaii suffers the full force of climate change. 2018 was a rather complicated year in Hawaii in terms of natural disasters... First, there was Kilauea, which experienced very strong eruptions leading to the destruction of part of the volcano park and homes following the lava flows. And then there were very heavy rains on the north coast of Kauai which led to landslides but also the closure of roads at Hanalei (and again in 2021!). Finally, Hawaii narrowly escaped a major hurricane that crossed the Pacific; fortunately, the consequences were minor for the archipelago with only heavy rains for several days. These different elements would be linked to global warming and according to the projections, should become more and more numerous in the future. Hawaii, which has long taken many measures to limit its impact on the environment, has stepped up the pace, hoping to achieve carbon neutrality in terms of energy by 2045. Other measures have been taken to preserve places that are more and more frequented, such as the introduction of permits on certain natural sites, like Haena State Park at the entrance to the Na Pali Coast, where access has been limited since 2021, and Diamond Head State Park in Honolulu, which has been regulated since May 12, 2022. A decision that does not always please vacationers, but that allows to limit the degradation of these threatened sites.
