Snow in Hawaii

Yes we have had snow in Hawaii.  The island of Hawaii, often referred to as the Big Island has two mountain (volcanoes) that are nearly 14,000 feet tall and it is cold enough most of the year to get snow.

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Snow covered Mauna Kea as seen from Honomu, HI, near Akaka Falls

There was quite a bad storm, that dump a lot of rain where we were, about 8 inches in 36 hours.  Some places near us got 20+ inches of rain.  What that translated was 20-30 inches of snow on the top of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Mauna Kea is most known for the number of observatories on top it.  There is a road that goes all the way to the top.  It is a spectacular place to view the sunset and to look up at the stars.  There is 40% less atmosphere to block out the light of the stars.  It is a spectacular sight. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano, and has not erupting in a long time.

Mauna Loa is still an active volcano. It was threatening to destroy Hilo back in the 1980s.  Mauna Loa can be driven to the top with a 4×4.  Only the locals dive up.  At about 11,000 feet there is NOAA weather station that has been contributing the longest running climate change experiment.

Both mountains are very important to the native Hawaiians and their culture.