What's your favorite Big Island microclimate? (Hilo, Waimea: 2014, neighborhood, gated)

[iGuessSo]

I know weather's not as big a topic for residents as it is for mainlanders. When I lived there it was a transition I noticed. (Just another day in paradise...)

But I'm curious. Which of the 9 (I think it is) microclimates do you like the most?

My personal favorites are the medium wet ones. Kealakakua, Kalapana, Holualoa...

[OpenD]

According to the professors at UHH, there are 8 climate zones on the Big Island.

Within those climate zones are smaller microclimates, maybe a hundred or more. One of the examples I give is that my property in Volcano is only about 2 miles in a straight line from the golf course, but they only get about half the total rain we get. This is one of the hardest things for people to really "get" about the Big Island, how localized weather can be.

[hawaiian by heart]

Originally Posted by OpenD

According to the professors at UHH, there are 8 climate zones on the Big Island.

Within those climate zones are smaller microclimates, maybe a hundred or more. One of the examples I give is that my property in Volcano is only about 2 miles in a straight line from the golf course, but they only get about half the total rain we get. This is one of the hardest things for people to really "get" about the Big Island, how localized weather can be.

You guys even have a bamboo forest if im correct open?

[Due]

We live in a dry area, but the area is irrigated via private water.
It's nice having lower humidity (current dew point is 56*/humidity 68%) and minimal worries about mold or mildew, which was a concern where we previously lived.

[Due]

I believe South Kohala, North Kohala (near the South Kohala border), Waikoloa are mostly dry with about 10" rain average/annual. It can be windy in the area, but normally there is no or little VOG. Also lava zone 8/9.

See the link below: this is not our private weather station, but it is in a nearby neighborhood:

http://www.wunderground.com/weathers...y=11&year=2014

You can toggle the dates and day/week/month/year/custom to see different history.

[OpenD]

Yes, S Kohala is Arid Desert and Semi-Desert climate zones.

You can also use the City Data profile pages to pull up demographic info, and full year average weather profiles for each significant community in the state. People often miss the weather charts because they are close to the bottom of each page.

Waimea (Kamuela) is another good example of the microclimate nature of the Big 8sland. It's not a very big town, but one side is wet and one side is dry.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Col Hogan

Thanks for the info. While rainfall is an issue, I am most-concerned with humidity.

Look at the CD profiles. They have charts for morning humidity and afternoon.

[Due]

Waimea can be 10* or more cooler (than Kohala) because of their elevation and it rains more on their "wet side".

Look at this site: Weather NOW - Interactive Radar - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Usually the wet/dry line (windward/leeward sides of the mountains) is apparent.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by hawaiian by heart

You guys even have a bamboo forest if im correct open?

The Polynesians brought 2 kinds of bamboo with them in the canoes, and they were very important materials with 100s of uses, so bamboo can be found growing all over the island, and all over the state. The best known bamboo forest on the Big Island is in the Akaka Falls area, northwest of Hilo.

[Fredesch]

Here is a picture of the bamboo at Akaka Falls. The picture was taken yesterday.