It changes from minute to minute, and is different from place to place! I live on the “wet” side of Waimea, also euphemistically referred to as the “lush side”, “emerald side”, “green side” etc.  We tend to have wetter weather from January through September, but there have been many summers when we have suffered from drought. On any day of the year, it may sprinkle for a bit, and then the sun will come out.  At other times, such as last night, we can have torrential rain and wind.

We are on the windward side of the Island, while parts of Waimea are on the leeward side.  Those areas are much drier, but tend to have much more wind.  And not 20 miles from here, in Waikoloa, the County has been battling a brush fire for a couple of days. They had enough rain earlier in the year to promote growth of grass and brush, and now that is has dried, it has become fodder for fires.  The fire department has that one under control now, but they’ve closed a road connecting Waimea and Kona, leading to some serious traffic delays.

Recently I was driving up the Hamakua Coast from Hilo, and encountered blinding rains along the way.  When I got home, less than 15 miles from the area where it was pouring, everything was dry. Whether on the windward or leeward side, it varies from spot to spot, season to season, and day to day!