“April showers bring May flowers” according to a familiar children’s rhyme — although the ditty doesn’t ring particularly true this year.
Kevin Kodama, a National Weather Service senior hydrologist in Honolulu, said in his monthly rainfall summary the islands had “the wettest March in over a decade,” but “the weather pattern over the main Hawaiian Islands was much drier in April, especially during the second half of the month.”
That weather pattern held true for the Big Island, as well.
In East Hawaii, Hilo International Airport, Waiakea Experiment Station and Mountain View all tallied about two-thirds of their normal April rainfall totals, with 7.75 inches, 8.07 inches and 10.9 inches, respectively.
For the year, though, all three spots are well above their average rainfall, with 57.21 inches in Hilo, 72.31 inches at the Waiakea agricultural facility and 84.17 inches in Mountain View.
Bolstering those yearly numbers was the robust March rainfall.
The Mountain View rain gauge had the highest monthly total of 30.44 inches, 168% of average, and the highest daily total of 9.81 inches on March 3. That same day, Hilo airport was pelted with 9.56 inches of rain.
The Big Island’s leeward side found itself mostly bereft of April showers, as well.
Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, which is dry by nature, had just 0.15 of an inch of rainfall drop into its gauge, just 11% of its paltry April norm of 1.36 inches. Its 4.24 inches for the first four months is only 60% of its average of slightly more than 7 inches.
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park was even drier, at 0.13 of an inch for the month, just 8% of its 1.54 inches April norm. The national park, however, is still above its usual total for the first four months, with 8.23 inches.
The four rain gauges in the Kona coffee belt in April had higher rainfall totals than the airport and the park.
Waiaha measured 3.09 inches, Kainaliu had 2.66 inches, Kealakekua recorded 2.53 inches, and Honaunau received 1.48 inches.
Even so, those totals are well below the April average for those spots, although all were still above the year-to-date norm, and all experience their rainy season in the summer.
In cattle country, Waimea’s April was particularly dry with just 1.13 inches of rain, less than one-fifth of its average of 6.19 inches.
For the year, Waimea has received 22.53 inches, 86% of its norm of 26.08 inches. Kahua Ranch had just over a quarter of its April rainfall average, with 1.76 inches, bringing its year-to-date total to 23.33 inches, 85% of its 27.4 inches average.
An extremely dry spot was Kohala Ranch, with 0.69 inches, close to its April norm of 0.73 inches. For the year, it has 7.11 inches — dry, but still above its 5.23 inches norm.
Kodama said a rancher reported pasture conditions deteriorating near Mahukona in North Kohala, and called the report “consistent with the satellite data.”
On March 18, Kodama noted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Hawaii and Maui counties as primary natural disaster areas, which allows the Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to farmers and ranchers affected by drought conditions during recent months.
There were exceptions, however, to the April aridity, including the windward portion of Ka‘u and the southeastern Puna coastline.
Rain gauges at Pahala and Kapapala Ranch, measured 5.81 inches and 7.81 inches, respectively, both well above normal April rainfall for those locations, and in Kapapala’s case, more than double its norm.
Kodama said Kapapala had “its highest April total since 2002.”
Both spots are also well above their year-to-date totals for the first four months of the year, with Pahala at 34.79 inches and Kapapala at 44.31 inches.
The highest rainfall total in April was at Kealakomo on Puna’s southeastern coast, with 17.51 inches, almost quadruple its usual April total of 4.6 inches.
“This was easily the highest April total ever for this site, but its data record is rather short, going back to just 2010,” Kodama said.
Kealakomo also recorded the highest daily total of 5.98 inches on April 14.
Pahoa also had a slightly above average rainfall tally for April, with 12.7 inches, bringing its year-to-date total to 61.72 inches, 129% of its 61.72 average.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.