Most of Big Island sees above average rainfall last month, with 10 sites having wettest June on record
Several locations on the leeward side, on the other hand, didn't fare as well, with much of the Kona and Kohala coasts, slopes and interior higher elevations recording below average rainfall for June.
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When did the wet season end again?
Windward and upper slope rain gauges in June on the Big Island were flooded with rainfall, as most reported well above their normal averages for the month. In fact, the majority of gauges around the island received above average precipitation.
Several locations on the leeward side, on the other hand, didn’t fare as well, with much of the Kona and Kohala coasts, slopes and interior higher elevations recording below average rainfall for June.
The monthly precipitation summary prepared by Senior Service Hydrologist Tina Stall at the Honolulu forecast office of National Weather Service reports the most notable leeward sites were Kaloko-Honokōhau and Kona airport gauges, collecting just 14% and 5%, respectively, of their normal June averages.
On the flip side, 10 sites around the Big Island reported their wettest June on record:
- Hakalau RAWS (since 2004).
- Honokaʻa Ua Net (since 1991 – missing data in 1996, 1999).
- Kapāpala Ranch Ua Net (since 1999).
- Kapāpala RAWS (since 2012).
- Keaumo RAWS (since 2012).
- Kealakomo RAWS (since 2010).
- Nēnē Cabin RAWS (since 2015).
- Pali 2 RAWS (since 2003).
- Puʻu Mali RAWS (since 2015).
- Pāhala Ua Net (since 1991).
The Hilo airport rain gauge also set two daily rainfall records last month:
- 3 inches June 1 (old record of 1.39 inches was set in 2015).
- 1.99 inches June 10 (old record of 1.17 inches was set in 2002).
Overall, the Hilo airport collected a total of 11.39 inches of rain in June, 156% of its average 7.3 inches for the month.
The U.S. Geological Survey gauge at Saddle Road Quarry had the highest monthly total on the Big Island with 26.82 inches, a whopping 322% of its 8.34-inch June average, as well as the island and state’s highest daily rainfall total of 10 inches June 2.
Other notable rainfall totals for June
| June 2026 rainfall total | Average June rainfall | Percent of average June rainfall | |
| Silversword | 12.33 inches | 0.9 of an inch | 1,370% |
| Keaumo | 11.31 inches | 1.27 inches | 891% |
| Hakalau | 19.75 inches | 2.8 inches | 705% |
| Kapāpala | 10.68 inches | 1.6 inches | 668% |
| Kapāpala RWS | 9.6 inches | 1.75 inches | 549% |
| Pāhala | 10.95 inches | 2.06 inches | 532% |
| Honokaʻa | 19.55 inches | 4.62 inches | 423% |
| ‘Ahumoa | 3.73 inches | 1.04 inches | 359% |
| Pōhakuloa Kīpuka ʻAlalā | 1.78 inches | 0.55 of an inch | 324% |
| Kawainui Stream | 25.42 inches | 9.87 inches | 258% |
| Pali 2 | 6.79 inches | 2.82 inches | 241% |
| Puʻu Mali | 3.39 inches | 1.45 inches | 234% |
| ʻUpolu Airport | 6.23 inches | 2.78 inches | 224% |
| Pōhakuloa Keʻāmuku | 1.91 inches | 0.92 of an inch | 208% |
| Kealakomo | 4.95 inches | 2.38 inches | 208% |
| Lower Kahuku | 8.16 inches | 4.05 inches | 201% |
Other notable least rainfall totals for June
| June 2026 rainfall total | Average June rainfall | Percent of average June rainfall | |
| Kāʻināliu | 3.6 inches | 5.8 inches | 62% |
| Kealakekua | 3.75 inches | 6.05 inches | 62% |
| Pūhe CS | 0.35 of an inch | 0.57 of an inch | 61% |
| Mauna Loa | 0.24 of an inch | 0.43 of an inch | 56% |
| Puʻu Anahulu | 0.79 of an inch | 1.97 inches | 40% |
Year-to-date rainfall totals around the island by the end of June were still mostly near to above average, though a few spots in leeward South Kohala were below average.
The highest year-to-date total was recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey rain gauge at Honoliʻi Stream with 154.86 inches, 140% of its normal annual average of 110.78 inches.
Other notable year-to-date rainfall totals for June
| Year-to-date rainfall total | Average year-to-date rainfall | Percent of average year-to-date rainfall | |
| Mauna Loa | 19.74 inches | 5.98 inches | 330% |
| Pāhala | 76.44 inches | 26.9 inches | 284% |
| Kapāpala | 70.9 inches | 25.8 inches | 275% |
| Kapāpala RWS | 69.38 inches | 26.32 inches | 264% |
| Keaumo | 63.01 inches | 25.34 inches | 249% |
| Silversword | 42.59 inches | 17.93 inches | 238% |
| ‘Ahumoa | 24.01 inches | 11.93 inches | 201% |
Just 22.69% of the Big Island is experiencing abnormally dry conditions as of the latest data July 7 from the U.S. Drought Monitor. That’s an improvement from 3 months ago, when 9.6% of the island was under moderate drought with 42.65% abnormally dry as of April 7.
Both are much better than how the island fared a year ago July 8, 2025, with nearly 90% of the island experiencing abnormally dry to extreme drought.
Nearly 3% of the island was under extreme drought at the time, with nearly 57% under moderate drought and another 20.55% coping with severe drought.
Statewide rainfall summary for June
June began with a period of wetter-than-normal trade wind weather as a weak surface trough moving in from the southeast brought elevated moisture June 1-2.
Moderate trade winds focused the heaviest rainfall over windward and mauka areas of the islands, while a slight southeast wind enhanced showers across the Kaʻū and Puna districts of the Big Island and the south slopes of Haleakalā on Maui.
Rainfall totals generally ranged from 3 to 5 inches, with isolated amounts of 7 to 10 inches along the Hāmākua and Kaʻū coasts of the Big Island. Flooding closed a portion of Highway 11 between the Kāwā and Honuʻapo areas in Kaʻū.
A more typical early summer trade wind pattern returned June 3-10, with moderate to locally breezy easterly winds and scattered windward and mauka showers.
Trade winds weakened to the light or locally moderate range through June 16, allowing localized land and sea breezes to develop over the more wind-sheltered areas.
Rainfall remained limited overall; although, a brief increase in trade wind speeds June 14-15 produced a modest uptick in windward and mauka showers.
Light easterly winds continued June 17-18 as another weak surface trough increased low-level moisture. Shower coverage briefly expanded, especially across windward portions of the Big Island, Maui and Oʻahu.
Minor flooding also occurred along Kūhiō Highway near Hāʻena on Kauaʻi.
Drier and more stable conditions returned through June 22 under light to moderate east-southeast winds. While rainfall was generally limited, light winds and dew points in the lower 70s produced warm, muggy conditions across the smaller islands June 19-20 before slightly drier east-northeast flow provided some relief.
Moderate to breezy trade winds returned for the final week of the month.
A surface trough passing westward through the islands and weak upper-level instability brought a modest increase in windward and mauka showers through June 25. Thereafter, breezy trades persisted, with a return to typical scattered trade wind showers through the end of June.
