About Hawaii’s Trade Winds

June 5th, 2008

You’ve heard about Hawaii’s wonderful trade winds and that they’re the secret of the fantastic weather we enjoy here, right?  But, occasionally, locals might say, “Uh-oh, Kona winds; too bad.”

Do you know exactly what trade winds are?  They prevail about ninety-percent of the time during the summer months and blow from the northeast or east northeast.  They were called trade winds a couple of centuries ago, when trade ships depended on them for fast passage to their Pacific-island destinations.  What we care about now is that they mean perfect temperatures assisted by welcome breezes.

The dreaded Kona winds blow from the opposite direction, the southwest.  They usually don’t last for more than a day or two, but they bring humidity, cloudy skies and rain.  Visitors – especially those from areas with high humidity and frequent summer rains – often don’t notice Kona weather beyond the absence of perfection in the climate, but those of us who live here consider Kona-wind days to be days for indoor, air-conditioned activities.

Entry Filed under: Big Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu