Oahu in Depth - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 65

Climate
Because Hawaii lies at the edge of the tropical zone, it technically has only two seasons, both
of them warm. There's a dry season that corresponds to summer (Apr-Oct) and a rainy sea-
son in winter (Nov-Mar). It rains every day somewhere in the islands any time of the year, but
the rainy season sometimes brings enough gray weather to spoil your tanning opportunities.
Fortunately, it seldom rains in one spot for more than 3 days straight.
The year-roundtemperature doesn't vary much. At the beach, the average daytime high in
summer is 85ºF (29ºC), while the average daytime high in winter is 78ºF (26ºC); nighttime lows
are usually about 10ºF cooler. But how warm it is on any given day really depends on where
you are on the island.
Each island has a leeward side (the side sheltered from the wind) and a windward side
(the side that gets the wind's full force). The leeward sides (the west and south) are usually
hot and dry, while the windward sides (east and north) are generally cooler and moist. When
you want arid, sunbaked, desertlike weather, go leeward. When you want lush, wet, junglelike
weather, go windward.
Hawaii is also full of microclimates, thanks to its interior valleys, coastal plains, and moun-
tain peaks. So if the weather doesn't suit you, just go to the other side of the island—or head
into the hills.
On rare occasions, the weather can be disastrous, as when Hurricane Iniki crushed Kauai in
September 1992 with 225 mph winds. Tsunamis have swept Hilo and the south shore of Oahu.
But those are extreme exceptions. Mostly, one day follows another here in glorious, sunny pro-
cession, each quite like the other.