Z72 



offspring" are always wanting when the conn is puhed too soon. 

 The Chinese commonly pull kalo much earlier than the natives 

 do. As an example of a slow growing kalo we may mention the 

 Ha'okca, a wet-land variety which requires from 12 to 16 months 

 to fully develop. If left in the ground a longer time it rots and 

 is unfit to eat. 



The climate of Hawaii has many characteristic peculiarities, 

 some of which, as suggested above, directly aft'ect kalo culture. 

 The climate, in general, is distinctly sub-tropic. Cool trade winds 

 and ocean currents reduce the temperature about ten degrees 

 below that of any other part of the world in the same latitude. 

 The prevailing wind is the northeast trade, which blows on an 

 average 260 days in the year. 



At ordinary altitudes the maximum summer temperature is 

 rarely above 85° F., and the minimum winter temperature never 

 descends below 50° F. The daily range of temperature averages 

 13°, seldom exceeding 20°. The average annual temperature for 

 Honolulu is 74°. The highest mountains (8000 to 14,000 feet) 

 are sometimes snowcapped. Cloudiness, rainfall, wind and hu- 

 midity vary according to situation in relation to the mountain 

 ranges and to altitude. In general there are no sudden changes 

 of temperature, and very slight and seasonal changes. The cli- 

 mate is a warm, bright monotone, without frost, "northers," thun- 

 derstorms, hurricanes, or cyclones. The contrast is striking be- 

 tween this equable condition and the bizarre vagaries of the east- 

 ern states' weather. "At ordinary elevations the inhabitants of 

 the Territory live practically in the open air the year round, since 

 it is almost never necessary to close windows or seek protection 

 against the weather, except for occasional showers." — Xewell. 



Considering the small area of the Territory, the variation in 

 rainfall is remarkable. Each island has a windward, cooler, rainy 

 side, where the annual rainfall may amount to 250 inches or 

 over; and a leeward, warmer, arid side, where the annual rainfall 

 may not exceed two or three inches. These figures indicate the 

 extremes, however, and frequent light, local showers are typical 

 of the Hawaiian climate. The average relative humidity is 78%, 

 which is low for the tropics. 



"It is popularly supposed that the islands are saturated with 

 moisture. This is because of the fact that at certain points, no- 

 tably on the 'windward side, the precipitaticni is exceeding heavy. 

 * * * Over one-third of the entire land surface of the islands 

 is arid for the greater part of the year. Taking into considera- 

 tion only the areas which ])Ossess a soil of agricultural value, it 

 may be said that one-half of all the good soils of the islands reciuirc 

 the artificial application of water to be of the highest value in 

 crop |)ro(luction. Much of the lands now used for grazing can 

 be utilized for cro])s if water can be had." — Newell. 



Two other conditions make irrii/ation necessary in reuions 



