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PalmTreeDude

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When you look at Hawaii on the USDA Zone interactive map, it is all crazy. It goes from 9a all the way to 13a. Are the 9a - 10a parts mountains (volcanoes)? I know that on the very tops of the mountains it can snow simply from high elevations, but wouldn't right below them be warmer? 

 

Hawaii.PNG

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PalmTreeDude

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Yes, you understand correctly.  The peak of Mauna Kea, highest point on Hawaii Island is some 13,800 ft. and it snows up there most winters, though the snow doesn't hang around for long.  The islands are formed by volcanoes, most still considered active, even though not currently erupting. But lava has been flowing from Kilauea more or less continuously since 1983. The lower the elevation, the warmer it tends to be.  You can choose the climate you prefer to live in by choosing your elevation.  On the Big Island, those who prefer cooler weather live up in Volcano or Waimea.  Sun-baked tourists can be found at sea level.  For a grower of palms, perfection resides around the 700 to 800 ft. elevation on the east side of the Big Island.

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Kim Cyr

Between the beach and the bays, Point Loma, San Diego, California USA
and on a 300 year-old lava flow, Pahoa, Hawaii, 1/4 mile from the 2018 flow
All characters  in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hawaii, thanks to its mountains, also has extremes of wet and dry climate.  

There's some excellent books on the archipelago's natural history and conservation efforts.  

Fla. climate center: 100-119 days>85 F
USDA 1990 hardiness zone 9B
Current USDA hardiness zone 10a
4 km inland from Indian River; 27º N (equivalent to Brisbane)

Central Orlando's urban heat island may be warmer than us

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  • 4 months later...

Hawaii has a wide variety of climate types (therefore lots of ecosystem diversity).

Honolulu's climate, I understand, is rather unusual in the world because the dry season occurs in the "Summer"; in most tropical areas, the dry season occurs in the "Winter" and the wet season occurs in the Summer. After my own area's recent Summer, that is sounding rather nice. ;)

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  • 1 month later...

It might be interesting to note that while in most of Hawaii the summer season tends to be the drier time, however, on the Kona coast of Hawaii Island (Big Island), a unique summer maximum rainfall pattern occurs.  There the prevailing winds are effectively blocked by two large mountains, Mauna Loa and Hualalai.  In the absence of strong trades, ocean-land temperature and pressure differences generate local diurnal variations in wind.  Surface heating causes upslope winds during the day that give rise to convectional rainfall at middle elevations in the afternoon.  Increased surface heating in summer intensifies this process, resulting in the only summer rainfall maximum in the state.  

  • Upvote 2

Hawaii Island (Big Island), leeward coast, 19 degrees N. latitude, south Kona mauka at approx. 380m (1,250 ft.) and about 1.6 km (1-mile) upslope from ocean.

 

No record of a hurricane passing over this island (yet!).  

Summer maximum rainfall - variable averaging 900-1150mm (35-45") - Perfect drainage on black volcanic rocky soil.  

Nice sunsets!

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