by Lanny Neel, Garden Director
February 2008
Record Rainfall Hits Eastern Half of Hawaii Island, Forces Garden Closure for Two Days
Weather patterns this winter season were forecasted to be wetter than normal due to the presence on a La Nina in the waters of the equatorial Southwest Pacific. This prediction came true with a vengeance, beginning Jan. 29 and continuing through Feb. 7.
During this time period, Lisa Strandtman, a part-time employee of the Gardens, measured 62.25 inches of rain at her home, located up the hill above the Gardens about 2.5 miles. The city of Hilo reported 37 inches of rain in the first four days of February, making it the 4th wettest Feb. on record in the nation’s wettest city.
Lisa’s rainfall totals by date for the period were as follows:
| Date |
Rainfall |
| Jan 29 |
2.80"
|
| Jan 30 |
4.75"
|
| Jan 31 |
4.05"
|
| Feb 1 |
6.15"
|
| Feb 2 |
17.35"
|
| Feb 3 |
7.90"
|
| Feb 4 |
12.05"
|
| Feb 5 |
2.60"
|
| Feb 6 |
Trace
|
| Feb 7 |
4.60"
|
Admittedly, the hills above the Garden get more rainfall than locations closer to the ocean, but even Richard Alderson, our next door neighbor, reported 20 inches of rain from Feb. 1 - 3.
The extreme amount of rain forced closure of the Gardens on Feb. 1 and 2. Water was flowing over the road to the Falls at least 18 inches deep at times, rockslides were forcing intermittent closures of both State Highways 19 and 11, and the mayor had issued a state of emergency for the area and urged that any unnecessary travel be postponed until the rains let up.
The week of Feb. 10 – 16 has been much more tranquil, with just a few trade wind showers, while attendance at the Garden has improved significantly. We are now looking forward to a good spring, given the cold, stormy conditions on the mainland. Aloha. Lanny Neel, Garden Director.
Have a Great Spring, and if you are a shareholder, plan to attend the annual shareholder meeting for the Gardens in Las Vegas on September 10-12. See the Shareholder Section of the web site for details.
Mahalo and Aloha from your Garden Director, Dr. Lanny Neel.
Please
click here to review the press release announcing Lanny's appointment
to World Botanical
Gardens Garden Director.
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