Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
I'm sure you've all been to or considered taking a trip to Hawaii at some point.
And why wouldn't you? Who wouldn't want to be lounging on the beach, sipping a mai tai, sporting a touristy aloha shirt all day long?
While Elvis' "Blue Hawaii," John Ford's "Donovan's Reef," starring John Wayne, or modern blockbusters like "Jurassic Park" may paint that perfect picture, the truth is the islands are as vulnerable to extreme weather as any other part of the world.
(For example, the set, cast and crew of the aforementioned "Jurassic Park"? They faced down — and survived — powerful Hurricane Iniki in 1992 in the final days of shooting).
That includes snow. Yes, you read that right.
As most of the U.S. is experiencing record-breaking temperatures, snow is falling in Hawaii. Several inches of snow have fallen in Hawaii's Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea just in time for Halloween. pic.twitter.com/FwYTQtgQD9
— ABC News (@ABC) November 1, 2024
While this video may be from earlier this year (on Halloween, no less), it's not unusual to see winter storm warnings resulting from low-pressure systems in Hawaii.
The most dangerous storms often come during the winter (with the exception of hurricane season), with locals often calling them "Kona lows," named for the direction of the westerly winds they blow in on.
One such storm in 2019 not only generated 60-foot surf on the north shore of Oahu but also led to parts of the island of Maui seeing snow at just above 6,000 feet.
🌴❄SNOW IN HAWAII? A winter storm recently brought snow to Maui. pic.twitter.com/enRBqp8ddS
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) February 12, 2019
So, the next time you see a big storm approach my home state, you may want to check out the cameras on top of the summits on the Big Island — it's the closest thing to a winter wonderland in paradise.
Until then, you'll probably need to stick to packing the sunscreen and swimsuits. (And sweaters for when it drops below 72 degrees).
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