Learn about your climate zone To view detailed map, click the
"Click to Enlarge" button at left. WET AND DRY On all the
islands except Hawaii, the north and east (windward) sides are
wet, the south and west (leeward) sides are dry. From the ocean
off the windward sides, evaporation rises. Carried by trade
winds, this warm, moist air passes over land, increasing clouds
and showers, then over mountains, where it cools. Heavy rains
are the result. Leeward, the air warms as it descends, leaving
these south and west sides mostly sunny and dry. The Big Island,
though, is different. Its high volcanic peaks (Mauna Loa, Mauna
Kea, and Hualalai) block and deflect the trade winds, leaving
local winds to drive Kona Coast weather. Here, especially in
summer, upslope winds give rise to afternoon clouds and rain at
elevatio ZONE H1: Cooler volcanic slopes: 2,000 to 5,000 feet
This zone includes Kula and Ulupalakua on Maui and Kamuela and
Volcano on Hawaii (the Big Island). Cooler air temperatures make
these areas higher up