The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-18

! The Nunanu valley water supply
with a rainfall of 1923 inches. which
Is recorded for Luakaha for the year
F.! ending December 81, 1905, followed up
/ by January of the present year with
4.9l inches for the month, and the
raiDfalls for the months of February
and March, not much less. being 800
and 4.26 respectively, nearly 100 per
cent. more than the recorded rainfall
for the same three months of 1905,
from my experience, foretelis normal
Iy wet year.
From the above mentioned facts, it
seems to me that, had those in author
ity watched the daily supply of the
Nu0anu source more closely. and in the
conserving and the distribution of the
Nuuanu water during a doubtful sea-
son, the reservoirs mentioned would not
have been empty so soon after what L
consider to be a normally wet season.
The supply from Luakaha would have
been holding its own with the demand
instead, until the rains which occur
during the middle and the latter part,
of the month of April relieved the sit
uation. This will happen nine times
out of ten, but | have always consid-
cred the months of March and April as
October is for the fall months during
dry years in this respect.
From my experience and personal OBJ
servations of the rainy and dry seasons
of Nuuanu valley for the past thirty
years and more and more especially
from 1855, when | first established
rain gauge at Luakaha, and. since Off
cially by me in January, 1890, and at
other points of the city. the following
conclusions have been reached: When
the rainfall for November fails to come
up to its average, it is "a pretty sure
sign that the following year will be
dry year, and the rainfall will come be-
low the annual average. If the rain
fall for December is within 20 per
cent of its average, or if it is above its
average. January will fall to within 80
and so per cent. of it's average. But |
when December falls to 80 and 40 per !
cent, then January s rainfall will be up |
to its average. and often over. But !
when the rainfall for November ana |
December both falls less than 60 per |
cent. of the average, then it is sure |
sign that January, February and |
March will follow in the same category,
until April comes to the relief, as pre-
viously mentioned. If it fails, the next
nope is July. This failing, then expect
A drouth unless September comes to the
rescue.
/ make mention of these facts, to
show to those of the waterworks that
by keeping tab of every indication Of
he weather of Nuuanu valley, and
making comparisons with the officially
accorded rainfalls of Luakaha and of
he Government Electric Light Works,
t will give those in charge of the
water system of Nuuanu valley ample
ime TO prepare to meet the situation
,efore it occurs, instead of waiting
ntil taken by surprise, only to find
hat the reservoirs are empty, and with
he probability of dry spell staring
hem in the face before making the
ecessary change in the distributing
ystem of the high levels to meet such
=
What would have been the situation !
adj the rainfall for the past year fallen
Glow 100 inches. instead of being
1924 inches? And that condition I
erhaps to be continued by second
rv year? What has happened twice
ithin my recollection is liable to occur
gain. Constant watching and com
ION sense is what is mostly needed,
nd not rain-makers. =
CHAS. b. WILSON.
WaikahaIulu, April II. 1906.