Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE TSUNAMI SIREN
If you are visiting Maui on the first workday of the month, don't be alarmed when
you hear a loud siren right around noon. This is the island's tsunami warning sys-
tem. The sirens are systematically tested at the this time once a month. The loud
wailing will last for about 30 seconds, after which the regularly scheduled peace and
tranquility will resume. If, however, you hear the tsunami siren at any other time,
ask your hotel about potential tsunami evacuations (which have occurred three times
since 2011).
The Trade Winds
Temperatures in the 50th state are both constant and moderate because of the trade winds,
a breeze from the northeast that blows at about 10-25 miles per hour. These breezes are
so prevalent that the northeast sides of the islands are always referred to as
windward,
re-
gardless of where the wind happens to be blowing on any given day. You can count on the
trades an average of 300 days per year, hardly missing a day during summer and occurring
half the time in winter. Although usually calm in the morning, they pick up during the heat
of the afternoon and weaken at night.
Kona Winds
Kona means “leeward” in Hawaiian, and when the trades stop blowing, these southerly
winds often take over. To anyone from Hawai'i, “kona wind” is a euphemism for bad
weather, for it brings in hot, sticky air. Luckily, kona winds are most common October-
April, when they only appear roughly half the time. The temperatures drop slightly during
the winter, so these hot winds are tolerable, and even useful for moderating the temperat-
ure.
A “kona storm” is another matter. These subtropical low-pressure storms develop west
of the Hawaiian Islands, and as they move east, they draw winds up from the south. Usu-
ally occurring only in winter, they can cause heavy rainfall and considerable damage, often
stretching for the better part of a week. For locals, this is “winter.”
