How bad is the rain on Big Island?
 

For the past 20 days, weather.com has shown rain every day in Kona, and it doesn't look to be quitting anytime soon. Is it raining ALL day? Or is it just sporadic showers throughout the day? We are from rainy Oregon and were hoping to escape the rain! Anyone local who could tell us what to expect when we are there in 10 days (or at least what is has been like recently?)

This was discussed on Konaweb recently. Although the weather channels have been reporting lots of rain, Kona itself has only received about an inch - or less - in the past three weeks. You can't depend on the weather reports because they do not take into account the numerous microclimates located relatively close together on the Big Island (and all the Hawaiian island in general).

Well said by the previous poster. With all the microclimates on each of the HI islands, you'll find sunshine. And the Kona/ Waikaloa area of the big island are usually sunny. Like Kihei/ Wailea on Maui. :-)

Oh, and like sunny Poipu beach area of Kauai. My favorite. :-)

We have been on the Big Island since March 1, staying in Waikoloa. While it has indeed been a little cloudier than usual, we have only seen rain once here. It did rain on us once when we headed south to Kona, but even our drive to Hilo was bright and sunny! We came here from "sunny Poipu" where we did indeed have a lot of rain. I wouldn't worry, you should have plenty of good beach days!

Rainy in Poipu, and sunny in Hilo? Well that says it all about weather in Hawaii, LOL. :-)

The past 2 times I have been to the Big Island in March (for spring break) it was cloudy and off and on rainy. Although it didnt prevent us from swimming I now plan my vacations during other months!!

Thanks everyone for the great replies. Living in Oregon, I can handle some clouds, and sporadic rain, I was just hoping not to have a deluge of rain the whole week. You guys have made me feel better--thanks!

Does anyone know how the weather has been and the week's forecast for the Kaanapali (Maui) area? What is a reliable website for Hawaii weather?

We were in Kona in July of 2004 and it had been a rainy summer up to that point. The first night we were there, the gnats hatched. It was incredible, the gnats were literally 1/4 inch thick on the floors. I woke up choking as I was inhaling gnats. We spend the whole night with the vacuum cleaner trying to get ahead of the infestation. By the next day, the infestation had pretty well run its course. Very strange.