What's it like living in Leilani

[BobSDCA]

Just thought I would start a thread that didn’t rely on cold weather! I have been thinking again about the Hilo area of the Big Island and wondered why it does so well when I comes to growing palms? There are wonderful growers in the area and Floribunda Palms is located in Mountain View – not too far away…right! Everyone’s favorite palmy place is in Leilani Estates to the south of Hilo! I never realized that Hilo received so much rain until I read some of the previous posts showing large amounts of rain falling in just 24 hours, and checking the climate data, Hilo gets over 126 inches of rain a year…wow! I have visited Oahu, Maui, and Kauai, but have not had the pleasure to visit the Big Island yet!

So all you local growers in Hawaii could shed some light on this subject. Perhaps it has been discussed before, but what really makes the Hilo area great for growing palms? Is it a combination of rainfall, humidity, sunshine (it looks like every month has an average of less than 50% sun), and/or is it the good volcanic soil?

Since it rains so much in the Hilo area, what is it like to garden there? Does the rainfall impede some of your gardening tasks, or does it just add to the ambience? Have you all grown webbed feet, to deal with the constant rain or does the rainfall often come in the form of brief showers? I have lived my life in California, so here when it rains….it rains all day….usually….when we get rain!

If anyone wants to chime in about the differences between the drier west side of the island and growing palms there, that would also be helpful!

Thanks!

[Wai`anae Steve]

Just thought I would start a thread that didn’t rely on cold weather! I have been thinking again about the Hilo area of the Big Island and wondered why it does so well when I comes to growing palms? There are wonderful growers in the area and Floribunda Palms is located in Mountain View – not too far away…right! Everyone’s favorite palmy place is in Leilani Estates to the south of Hilo! I never realized that Hilo received so much rain until I read some of the previous posts showing large amounts of rain falling in just 24 hours, and checking the climate data, Hilo gets over 126 inches of rain a year…wow! I have visited Oahu, Maui, and Kauai, but have not had the pleasure to visit the Big Island yet!

So all you local growers in Hawaii could shed some light on this subject. Perhaps it has been discussed before, but what really makes the Hilo area great for growing palms? Is it a combination of rainfall, humidity, sunshine (it looks like every month has an average of less than 50% sun), and/or is it the good volcanic soil?

Since it rains so much in the Hilo area, what is it like to garden there? Does the rainfall impede some of your gardening tasks, or does it just add to the ambience? Have you all grown webbed feet, to deal with the constant rain or does the rainfall often come in the form of brief showers? I have lived my life in California, so here when it rains….it rains all day….usually….when we get rain!

If anyone wants to chime in about the differences between the drier west side of the island and growing palms there, that would also be helpful!

Thanks!

I can't talk about the growing of palms on the Leeward Coast of Hawai`i, but I can say that the rain is caused by the fact that cool air can't hold as much water as warm air. So when the winds that have been blowing across the ocean for ovr a 1000 miles, and absorbing water, reach the islands they are forced up by the mountains. As the air cools the water comes down as rain. Kinda simple if you think about it.

On the other side of the mountains the air decends and warms and thus holds onto what ever water is left. THe leeward sides of the islands are much dryer because of this.

[John Case]

The 2 sides of the island could not be more different and Leilani is pretty special with regard to the rainfall.......I like it a lot.

However, if and when we pull up stakes to the Big Island, the rain there dissuaded my beloved spouse. She prefers the Hamakua Coast...of course, it is much pricier.....

figures......

[BobSDCA]

Yeah....I understand the leeward sides of the islands are where most of the resorts have been built to accommodate the needs of vacationers for sunny days! When I was in Kauai and visited Hanalei Bay - I think that was on the windward side in the south - it was very lush and green! It really looked like paradise - just green and beautiful!

Yep! winds backing up the clouds next to the mountains really causes some torrential rainfall - this happens in parts of California too - but not with 126 inches of rain a year! That lava rock/soil must allow the rain to filter quickly!