Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PU'U KUKUI: ONE OF THE WETTEST SPOTS ON EARTH
380. That's about how many inches of rain fall annually on the 5,787-foot summit
of Mauna Kahalawai.
For those of you doing the math, that's over 31 feet. For those more familiar with
snow, going off the general estimate that one inch of rain is equal to a foot of snow,
that's about 380 feet of snow-higher than the tallest point in the state of Florida.
The summit of Mauna Kahalawai-known as Pu'u Kukui-is really,
really
wet.
There aren't many days when you can see Pu'u Kukui, although if you get a clear
morning, take a picture, because it doesn't happen too often.
Even on days when it's sunny along the coastline (Lahaina only gets about 13
inches of rain per year), you can see rain clouds hanging in the valleys of the lushly
forested interior. There aren't any roads back here, and there are barely even hiking
trails. It's just too wet.
Mt. Wai'ale'ale on Kaua'i is regarded as the wettest place in Hawai'i (average
annual rainfall of about 390 inches). Even though a remote area in East Maui known
as the Big Bog is alleged to be even wetter (404 inch mean over the last 30 years),
Pu'u Kukui still holds a number of rainfall records that no other spot can beat.
In March of 1942, rain gauges at Pu'u Kukui recorded 101 inches of rain in a
single month. In 1982, over 704 inches of rain were unleashed on the summit. Ac-
cording to statistics provided by the Weather Channel, both are U.S. records.
OHAI TRAIL
The 1.2-mile Ohai Trail awards hikers with panoramic vistas of the island's North Shore:
the cobalt Pacific stretches out uninterrupted until the fjords of Alaska nearly 3,000 miles
away. This area is often windy, and the way in which the wind drowns out all other sounds
makes it a peaceful respite on the northern coast. The Ohai trailhead is 10 miles past the
entrance to Kapalua by mile marker 41 between the Nakalele Blowhole and Olivine Pools.
Along the moderate, winding trail there are a few placards with information on the island's
native coastal plants. This is also a great perch to watch for tropical seabirds soaring on the
afternoon breeze. There isn't any readily available water on this stretch of coastline.
