THE HAWAIIAN PEOl'LE. 33 



d grees cooler than thai of ;\<.\y other coiiiili'v in the same latitude. The tem- 

 perature is moderate, at U-ast ten degrees below the noniial. owinL; to tlie in- 

 fluence of the cool ndi'llieast ocean cuiTents. The delightfully cool iKtrtheast 

 trade wind, which is ohvions'.y the pi'iiicipal I'h'ini'iit in the Hawaiian climate, 

 l)l(;ws steadily during at least nine months of the year. During the I'eiiiaining 

 months the wind is variable, and occasionally stoinis with heavy i-ains blow 

 from the southwest, producing what is k'liown as "Kona"' weathci-. Taken 

 through a long period, the temperature at sea level rarely rises aijove 90 

 degrees during the hottest day of the year, and seldom falls below 60 degrees 

 for more than a few hours at a time, with the mean temi)eralnre fluctuating 

 about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The ditference between the daily average mid- 

 sunnner and midwinter temperature is about 10 degrees. With I'cference to 

 human comfort the temperature excells for its equableness. This fact, coupled 

 with the refreshing trade winds that sweep over thousands of miles of cool 

 ocean and the bright and genial warmth of the troi)ical sun, produces the climate 

 of Paradise — a condition found in no other region on the globe. 



Altitude and Its Effect on Climate. 



In fact the Hawaiian language liad no word for "weather," as it is usually 

 understood. Nevertheless, a remarkable difference in climate is experienced 

 in passing from one side of the islands to the other, or from lower to hii^her 

 altitudes. The northeast, oi' windward side of the grou|). which is expnseil to 

 the trade winds, is cool and rainy, while the southwestern or leeward side is, as 

 a rule, unicli drier and warmer. The most important variation, however, is 

 due to altitude; the thermometer falling about four degrees for every 1. ()()(• feet 

 of ascent. It is therefore possible to look from the i)alin groves thai hask 

 in tropical warmth aloiiL;- the coast of Hawaii to the highest mountain pc;ik- of 

 the gi'ouii,- to And it frequently snow-capped, pai'ticularly durini;' the cooler 

 months. As to rainfall, similar variations occur. At Honolulu Ihe average 

 precipitation is thirty-eight inches, at the Pali. Ave miles away in the niunn- 

 taius. 11(1 inches; while at Hilo, on the north side of Hawaii, it is nearly 

 twelve feet. If the group is taken as a whole, almost evei'y variation from 

 warm to cold, wet to dry. windy to calm, may be found. 



Effect of a Sufficient Amount of Fo(ti\ 



The direct influence of thes(> facts on the chai-acter of the people, howevei-, 

 is rather obscure. .Aside from the hearing it may have had on their clolhing, 

 food aud sheltei' it is imleed difficult to trace. .\lthough it is the i^cneral 

 opinion that a warm climate is not liable 1o be couducive to a highei- culture, 

 there is plenty of e\idence to the coiiti'a ry here and elsewhei'e. and. considering 

 the insular i)ositi(»n of the Islands, their limited fcxul sui)pl.\\ the lack of raw 

 materials for manufacture, the absence of such metals as iron and coi)per and 



Southerly. - Maunu Ken, 13.825 feet 



