Climate & Weather
The Big Island of Hawaii is a tropical island with a fairly mild year round climate tempered by the Pacific Ocean and northeasterly trade winds. Weather here does have variations with seasons and with elevation. The islands each have a "dry" side and a "wet" side. In addition, the temperature can vary greatly with elevation. For example, the temperature may be in the 80's in Kona and as cool as 45 degrees at the 4000 ft elevation on the slopes of Kilauea Volcano.
Vog is something you may have heard of and it is important that you are aware of this weather phenomenon as it may affect those with breathing difficulties. Vog (volcanic fog) is a mixture of water vapor, carbon dioxide , and sulfur dioxide. The trade winds blow the vog from its origin at Kilauea Volcano up the coast to Kona. If you have a severe lung condition you may be bothered by the vog, but it is generally not any worse than the smog in any major city.
Due to the prevailing trade winds, most rainfall hits the north or northeast facing shores, leaving the south and southwest sections relatively dry. As you make your way to various sections of the Big Island, it is interesting to note the differences in terrain brought about by rainfall differentials. If you venture as high as the observatories on the Big Island, you may even see snow!
The weather maps below will help you find your perfect climate (click to enlarge)!
Map Source: NOAA National Data Center
