Tundra? In Hawaii?
Over the years of traveling, I've spent time on each of the other main Islands in the Hawaiian chain, Kauai, Maui and Oahu. This is my first visit to the Big Island. Each of the Islands seems to be a separate entity unto itself, with it's own lifestyle, climate and history.
The Big Island is so very diverse in its climates and terrain. I learned that there are in effect four main climatic. Zones with subzones under each category totaling ten distinct climate zones. At the tops of both Moana Kea and Moana Loa the temperatures can drop down into the minus zones...I.e. -10 or so. The peaks are zoned tundra. In the temperate zone, mainly in the upper elevations running down the slopes of the volcanos, there is a summer-dry cool area and a summer-dry wet as well as a continuously wet area. Once you get down closer to the ocean you reach the tropical zone consisting of four zones...continuously wet, winter-dry, summer-dry and monsoon. lastly,the arid and semi arid zone which is broken into two sections....dry semi-arid (steppe) and dry and desert. Kailua Kona just happens to be in the dry semi-arid zone, mainly because little rainfall happens here. I read that the Kona Kailua area receives its largest rainfall during the summer months, and that this is an oddity in the Hawaiian Islands which is caused by the enormous mass of the two large volcanoes on the island.
Kauai still has a higher R and R rating than any of the others for me but the Big Island certainly has more to see over much larger areas than the rest. Perhaps not as scenically awe inspiring as the others due to its young age and volcanic activities, but it is certainly interesting just the same with its diversity of climates, flora and fauna and terrain. The black lava rock beaches are a challenge but there are some sandy beaches as well.
The Big Island is so very diverse in its climates and terrain. I learned that there are in effect four main climatic. Zones with subzones under each category totaling ten distinct climate zones. At the tops of both Moana Kea and Moana Loa the temperatures can drop down into the minus zones...I.e. -10 or so. The peaks are zoned tundra. In the temperate zone, mainly in the upper elevations running down the slopes of the volcanos, there is a summer-dry cool area and a summer-dry wet as well as a continuously wet area. Once you get down closer to the ocean you reach the tropical zone consisting of four zones...continuously wet, winter-dry, summer-dry and monsoon. lastly,the arid and semi arid zone which is broken into two sections....dry semi-arid (steppe) and dry and desert. Kailua Kona just happens to be in the dry semi-arid zone, mainly because little rainfall happens here. I read that the Kona Kailua area receives its largest rainfall during the summer months, and that this is an oddity in the Hawaiian Islands which is caused by the enormous mass of the two large volcanoes on the island.
Kauai still has a higher R and R rating than any of the others for me but the Big Island certainly has more to see over much larger areas than the rest. Perhaps not as scenically awe inspiring as the others due to its young age and volcanic activities, but it is certainly interesting just the same with its diversity of climates, flora and fauna and terrain. The black lava rock beaches are a challenge but there are some sandy beaches as well.
Comments