Rain and more rain... (Hilo: renting, condo, university)

[Rosie Sophie]

Hi, I am moving to the BI at the end of August from Vancouver Island, BC and everyone I talk to says that in Hilo it rains non stop. I would prefer to live in Hilo instead of Kona but for the rain. Could someone, please, clarify this for me?
Mahalo

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Rosie Sophie

Hi, I am moving to the BI at the end of August from Vancouver Island, BC and everyone I talk to says that in Hilo it rains non stop. I would prefer to live in Hilo instead of Kona but for the rain. Could someone, please, clarify this for me?
Mahalo

I work in Hilo on a fairly regular basis, and while it isn't non-stop - it is a lot of rain. As big of an issue with Hilo is the frogs and the noise they make.

Here is Vancouver's rainfall, roughly 45 inches a year. Vancouver's wettest month is about the same as Hilo's driest month.

Average Weather for Vancouver, BC - Temperature and Precipitation

And Hilo - roughly 120 inches a year. There is no distinct dry season in Hilo - just some months are even more wet.

Average Weather for Hilo, HI - Temperature and Precipitation

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Could you explain your reasons for wanting to live in Hilo versus Kona, or anywhere else on the BI. If work isn't an issue, maybe there are other areas that you could consider.

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

And Hilo - roughly 120 inches a year. There is no distinct dry season in Hilo - just some months are even more wet.

Average Weather for Hilo, HI - Temperature and Precipitation

Wow, I knew it rained a lot in Hilo but did not realized it rained this much. Is it a constant rain, or periods of extremely heavy downpour intermixed with periods of extended sunshine every day ?

I live in Portland Oregon and have a condo in Waikiki. Those rain averages for Hilo make Portland look dry. Anyway, I'm sure it is also beautiful. Not been to Hilo personally. But would enjoy visiting one day.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by WaikikiBoy

Wow, I knew it rained a lot in Hilo but did not realized it rained this much. Is it a constant rain, or periods of extremely heavy downpour intermixed with periods of extended sunshine every day ?

I live in Portland Oregon and have a condo in Waikiki. Those rain averages for Hilo make Portland look dry. Anyway, I'm sure it is also beautiful. Not been to Hilo personally. But would enjoy visiting one day.

There isn't much to see in Hilo itself - but it is lush and green. The pattern is often a lot of rain in the morning - then a break (usually cloudy) - then mid-afternoon the rain starts up again thru the evening. I'd charactarize it as often a heavy rain but not a wind driven rain like you can get in the Pacific NW.

[HiloDiver]

You just need to visit it for yourself and see what you think personally.

I'm moving there in just a few weeks; my spouse has been there many times and fell in love with it. But then we are used to rain and frogs. Your mileage may vary.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, I say. One man's paradise is another man's hell.

[OpenD]

DebbyDiver nailed it. You need to visit and make up your own mind. Some people hate the weather in Hilo, others love it. It is the largest community on the Island of Hawai'i, and for some folks it is surprisingly compelling.

Hilo is in a Tropical Climate Zone, which means it is wet all year around, with no real dry season. And the temperature mostly stays in the 70-80 band year around, so it is warm and green and lush. Everything grows in Hilo, all year around.

But it doesn't rain all the time, and it rairly rains all day. More often it does a heavy dump then clears up.

The weather folks tell us Hilo averages 36 sunny days a year + 132 partly sunny days, for 168 days with at least some sun. That leaves 201 days to be classified as cloudy (80% or more cloud cover) and yet, having lived in Seattle, I can say it's very, very different than the legendary grey gloom of that great city. For one thing weather in Hilo tends to change rapidly, and frequently, and the clouds are often billowing and dramatic, with beams of sun knifing through. With Mauna Kea looming in the background, it's a stunning sight. I never tire of it.

So check it out for yourself.

[hotzcatz]

It can rain several inches per hour in Hilo so even though it has a high rainfall it doesn't stay gray and gloomy all day. There is also excellent drainage so it doesn't flood unless there are several consecutive hours of multiple inches per hour of rain. Sometimes it rains while the sun shines, too, so you can have rain AND sunshine.

[Rosie Sophie]

Hi, thanks for answering, I am retired, so, jobs are really not an issue but Hilo has a nice university and I would like to attend some courses. Besides the rain my bigg question is about a good swimming beach. I have arthritis and the warm, salty water is very beneficial.
I am landing in Kona and thought about renting a car and cruising the island and have a look around before deciding.
Do you have some advice?
Mahalo
Rosie

[Rosie Sophie]

Hi Debbi,
Thanks for the advice, having leaved in Seattle you know what I am talking about. We had a very gloomy year, last month was name Junuary....
Do you recommend any good beaches around Hilo? I have lots of arthritis and the best thing is a swim in a warm ocean.
Mahalo
Rosie