The north and east sides of the island are on the “windward” side of the island, where the winds blow onto the shore. These parts of the island tend to get the most rain, and as a result, are the greenest and most tropical parts of the island.
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What is Kauai windward?
You may hear the words leeward and windward to describe areas of the island, but not know what that means.The leeward side is the drier side or the side where the trade winds pass after they hit a mountain. The windward side is the wetter side.
Which side of the island is best on Kauai?
The Southern Shore of Kauai is where you’ll find the best weather, as it’s both drier and has more sun along this part of the island. This makes this part of the island especially popular with visitors, so you’ll also discover an abundance of great shopping and dining options here in addition to the many resorts.
What does windward side mean in Hawaii?
Perhaps you’ve heard the terms windward and leeward when referring to different parts of the Hawaiian Islands.In general terms, the windward side is the wet, rainy, and therefore more lush, green, and tropical section. The windward side faces North or East, where it receives the benefit of the cool, trade-wind breeze.
Which side is the windward?
Windward (/ˈwɪndwərd, ˈwɪnərd/) is the direction upwind from the point of reference, i.e. towards the direction from which the wind is coming. Leeward (/ˈliːwərd, ˈljuːərd/) is the direction downwind from the point of reference, i.e. along the direction towards which the wind is going.
What is Makai side?
If you ask someone for directions in Kauai, you may hear them use the terms Makai or Mauka to indicate on which side of the road a place is located. Mauka means on the mountainside of the road, and Makai means on the ocean side of the road.
Is the leeward side cooler?
Rain. As condensation occurs, it releases heat into the surrounding air.As the air continues to descend towards sea level, atmospheric pressure increases which causes a temperature increase. Because of all of this (scientifically called adiabatic warming), the leeward side is generally warmer and drier.
Is it better to stay on the north or south side of Kauai?
Proximity to the Beach
Beaches form an integral part of Kauai vacation for most people.While the south shore is preferable in terms of beach proximity, the north shore is for people who prefer “hidden” beaches and gorgeous views.
What side of Kauai has the best beaches?
The North is wetter due to the tradewinds and the mountains. Kauai’s South Shore is drier which means more bright, warm, picture-perfect beach days.
What is the best month to go to Kauai?
The best time to visit Kauai is between September and November or from April to June, when the weather is pleasant and airfare and hotel rates drop.
What are the leeward and Windward Islands?
An island’s windward side faces the prevailing, or trade, winds, whereas the island’s leeward side faces away from the wind, sheltered from prevailing winds by hills and mountains.Thus, an island’s windward side is wetter and more verdant than its drier leeward side.
What is mountain side in Hawaiian?
– Mauka (mow-kah) means on the mountain side of the road in the context of directions. – Makai (mah-kigh) means on the ocean side of the road in the context of directions.
What is the dry side of Hawaii?
west side
The weather conditions can change drastically over the island in a matter of hours, but there is some consistency. The west side (Kona side) is called the ‘dry side’ of the island, and the east side (Hilo side) the ‘wet side’.
Where is the leeward side of Hawaii?
The Leeward Coast is on the northwestern portion of the island, about 30 miles from Waikiki, and includes the Waianae Coast. The islands resorts reside here, in the town of Ko’olina, and this part of the island is largely undeveloped, with small towns, desolate beaches, and stunning landscapes highlighting the area.
Which countries are in the Leeward Islands?
The Leeward group includes: the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthelemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antiqua, Redonda, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
Why are they called the Windward Islands?
Windward Islands Overview
These islands are called Windward because they are more windward to arriving Caribbean cruise ships than the Leeward Islands in the North of the Lesser Antilles. Windward means upwind from a given reference point and leeward means down wind from a given reference point.
Is Waikiki Leeward or windward?
Honolulu and Waikiki are clearly leeward locations. The leeward of Oahu extends from Kaena Point to Koko Head, including the west and south shores of the island; just as windward includes the east and north shores.
Is Kona windward or leeward?
Kona means ‘Leeward’ side. You may have heard of the terms leeward and windward to describe different sides of islands. Leeward is the side of the island that faces away from the incoming winds. On the Big Island, Kona is separated into two districts, north and south.
What is the Hawaiian word for windward?
Koʻolau
Koʻolau — Parker, Haw to Eng / ko’o-lău /,
windward side.
Which side of mountain gets more rain?
windward side
Much of airborne moisture falls as rain on the windward side of mountains. This often means that the land on the other side of the mountain (the leeward side) gets far less rain—an effect called a “rain shadow”—which often produces a desert.
What is a leeward Ridge?
The downwind side of an obstacle such as a ridge. Wind erodes snow from the windward (upwind) side of an obstacle and deposits snow on the leeward (downwind) side. Deposited snow looks smooth and rounded.
