Hawaii Drought History, Low Rainfall Droughts

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Hawaii Drought History

Drought in Hawaii has been a recurrent and troublesome problem with rainfall totals reaching critically low levels. Severe droughts have occurred in Hawaii in 1983-1984, 1996, and the winters of 1997-2001. Moreover, the Maui County was designated a primary natural disaster area because of the drought from April-September in 2006. Deficient rainfall amounts also reduce crop yields, such as sugar cane, which is one of the major economic bases for the region. Prolonged periods of drought also reduce soil moisture and deplete groundwater supplies.


Source(s):
Department of Geography, University of Hawaii. "Atlas of Hawaii."
Hawaii Drought Monitor
National Weather Service
Stearns, Harold T. "Geology of the Hawaiian Islands." Second Printing, 1967.

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