Here in Hawaii, we’re not at all unfamiliar with rain. We get our fair share and, depending on which island, you can practically set your watch to the regular small showers that we get in Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu.
However, in the last week or two, we’re getting more than our fair share. A great deal more. Kaua’i - known as the Garden Island - is getting flooded, right along with O’ahu (the island known as the Gathering Place) and Hawai’i (the Big Island).
Here on Oahu, the Windward side of the island is taking the full force of the flooding. Although it is an island, those that have never been here would be amazed at the climate differences between one side of the island and another. On most average days, the South Shore [Waikiki] is sunny with the occasional light shower. Windward [Kaneohe] can look like something out of the movie Jurassic Park - extremely tropical with usually strong tradewinds and showers more often than the other parts of the island. North Shore, popular in name due to the fantastic surf conditions that have made it the most popular surfing location on the planet, and host to the popular show Lost, gets a little of everything… sunny conditions, rainy conditions, and windy conditions. In fact, it’s likely that this combination is what makes the surf location what it is today. Finally there is the Leeward side (Waianae) of the island, which enjoys if not sunny, then at least dry conditions most of the time. It is said that, if it rains in the Leeward side [Makaha Valley in particular], then that usually means that the entire Hawaiian island chain is getting rain.
Such is certainly true now. From the Honolulu Star Bulletin:
Nearly a foot of muddy rainwater rushed down Hauula Homestead Road and into at least five homes last night as heavy showers stalled over parts of Windward Oahu still recovering from last week’s flooding.
For a little reference, here is the island of Oahu, with Windward and Leeward sides highlighted. The blue dot indicates Makaha Valley.
RLR