Snow fell on Hawaii’s tallest peak, Mauna Kea, this week, covering the summit with about 2 inches of white powder. Despite Hawaii’s reputation for warm weather, beaches, and rainforests, it is not uncommon for snow to fall at the higher elevations of Mauna Kea, which sits 13,803 feet above sea level. The cold temperatures on the summit can drop below freezing year-round, creating the potential for snow at any time.
This week, an upper level disturbance brought colder temperatures and moisture to the area, resulting in the snowfall. Webcams captured the picturesque scene of the snow-covered ground, which had melted away two days later. Mauna Kea’s summit is sacred to many Native Hawaiians, with stories dating back centuries that describe it as the first-born son of the sky father and earth mother.
The limited light pollution and dry atmosphere at the summit also make it an ideal location for astronomers, who have built about a dozen telescopes there. The mountain has been the site of Nobel Prize-winning discoveries and groundbreaking images of planets outside our solar system. Despite its remote location and harsh conditions, Mauna Kea continues to be a place of wonder and significance for both the scientific community and the Native Hawaiian culture.
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