Amateur Radio on Hawaii Island
What a busy weekend! Thanks to some excellent weather, Hawaii Island residents were able to select a range of community events to spend with their families. Our radio station covered a bunch of events, ranging from the Hawaii Island outrigger canoe paddling championships to the July Points meet at the Hilo Drag Strip. The weather has improved considerably since late June, when most of us on "the rock" thought the seasons had been reversed. Usually, our rainy season runs from November to April with generally clear, warm weather balancing out the remainder of the year. However, this year, rainy conditions extended into June. The rain was welcome, since most of the island has been griped in an extended drought that began almost two years ago. There has been rain, but not enough to keep pastures green and crops growing. Even Hilo, which normally gets around 120-130 inches of rain per year, has received only about 40 inches so far, about 20 incles below normal. Since many