Drought in Hawaii, July 1 to 31, 2001

Maui CountyA wide range of totals were recorded by gages across Maui County, where rainfall amounts went from 0 percent of average at 3 locations to greater than 100 percent of average at 4 locations. Wetter than average conditions were recorded by both gages on Molokai, an area sorely in need of additional rainfall. On the island of Maui, the gage at Hana recorded the highest rainfall total of 3.96 inches (71 percent of average), while the gage at Kahakuloa showed the highest percent of average value at 117 percent (1.75 inches). Gages at Kihei, Waikapu, and Lahainaluna, on the other hand, recorded zero rainfall in July. For the Kihei site, this marked the fourth consecutive month without rain. Four gages around Maui County are now at 50 percent or higher for the year, but the other 11 sites vary from 6 percent to 38 percent of average rainfall for 2001.Island of HawaiiThe Kau portion of the Big Island was the driest in July, where both gages in the area recorded totals at only 14 percent of average. However, for the second consecutive month, all four gages in the Kona section of the island recorded totals above 70 percent of average. The Kainaliu Upper gage recorded a total of 9.45 inches, the highest monthly amount since 9.90 inches in March 1997. This site also had the unusual distinction of having the highest single-day total for the month (3.01 inches on 12 July) across the Big Island, and this was the second month in a row that the highest single-day total came from the leeward, rather than the windward, side of the isle. Upslope pasture lands in South Kohala also received beneficial rains, with the Waikii gage recording 3.14 inches (393 percent of average). Rainfall totals for 2001 through the end of July have slipped below 70 percent of average in the Hilo area. Puna remained near average, and the remaining areas were mainly in the range of 40 to 60 percent of average.The following list contains rainfall statistics for selected locations from Maui County and the island of Hawaii where there have been drought conditions. The first column is the observed rainfall for July. The second column is the 30-year average for each location, while the third column lists the percent of average for the month. The fourth and fifth columns are the year-to-date totals and the year-to-date percent of average, respectively. YTD July 01 Avg. %Avg. YTD %Avg.Maui Kihei 0.00 0.10 0 0.59 6 Lahainaluna 0.00 0.30 0 1.23 10 Kula 0.17 1.40 12 6.11 32 Ulupalakua 0.72 1.60 45 8.04 37Molokai Kaunakakai 0.29 0.20 145 2.26 22 Kamalo 1.63 1.30 125 10.51 50Lanai Lanai City 0.79 2.00 40 9.06 38Island of Hawaii Honaunau 5.18 7.30 71 19.58 50 Kamuela (Upper) 5.65 4.40 128 17.54 48 Waiaha 5.77 7.00 82 21.03 48 Kahua Ranch 1.10 6.10 18 10.35 21 Kealakekua 6.67 8.70 77 23.27 52