The idea of snow falling in a tropical paradise like Hawaii seems contradictory, yet the answer is yes, though with significant geographic limitations. Snowfall is an expected annual event, confined exclusively to the highest mountain summits, creating an unusual climatic paradox in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This phenomenon is a direct result of the sheer height of the islands’ volcanic peaks, which pierce the atmosphere high enough to experience sub-freezing temperatures. For the majority of residents and visitors at sea level, the experience of snow remains an abstract concept.
Where Snow Accumulates
The Hawaiian islands that regularly see snow are the Big Island of Hawaii and, less frequently, Maui. On the Big Island, the two massive shield volcanoes, Mauna Kea (13,803 feet) and Mauna Loa (13,678 feet), are the primary recipients of snowfall. This altitude places their summits in an environment where temperatures drop below freezing during winter months.
Snow accumulation typically occurs above the 9,000-to-10,000-foot elevation mark, with the season running from October through April. Maui’s highest peak, Haleakalā, which stands at just over 10,000 feet, occasionally receives a dusting of snow. While the snow may not linger long, the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are temporarily dusted with white nearly every year.
The Altitude Factor: Why Tropical Snow Exists
The reason these tropical mountains collect snow is a result of the atmosphere’s temperature lapse rate, which describes how air temperature decreases with increasing altitude. For every 1,000 feet gained in elevation, the air temperature typically drops by about 3 to 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the highest peaks of Hawaii begin at sea level and rise nearly 14,000 feet, the temperature at the summit is consistently cold enough to allow precipitation to freeze.
The required moisture for this high-altitude snow is often delivered by a specific type of weather system known as a Kona low, or Kona storm. These seasonal cyclones occur during the winter and bring winds from the south or southwest, which is the “Kona” or leeward direction. Kona lows pull copious amounts of moisture from the warm tropical Pacific and transport it high into the atmosphere. As this moisture-laden air is forced up the steep mountain slopes, it encounters the sub-freezing temperatures at the summits, resulting in heavy snow instead of rain at the highest elevations.
Snowfall at Lower Elevations
While snow is a yearly event on the highest peaks, it is not normal for the vast majority of the Hawaiian landscape. Populated areas and coastal regions, such as Honolulu, maintain warm, tropical temperatures. Snowfall in the valleys or at sea level is unheard of, reinforcing the highly localized nature of the phenomenon.
The freezing level rarely dips below 9,000 feet, making snow accumulation at lower elevations extremely rare. For example, in 2019, snow was reported at Polipoli State Park on Maui at the unusual elevation of 6,200 feet. These low-elevation events only occur when an unusually strong cold front or low-pressure system delivers exceptionally cold air from the north.