Evening star., 1939-02-16
Hawai- Weather Forecustina

u1OWOI1 " COAu
This Is one of series Of ar
ticles on Hauau BY Gideon A.
Lyon, associate editor OF Tho
Star, .Dho Is udcationtng IN the
islands.
If the Weather Bureau in Wash
ington were ever to adopt a system
Of giving forecasters working vaca-
tions by sending them to a place
where "Old Probability" as the
weather man" was called q long
time ago, would have an easy time,
Honolulu should be the location.
For it would seem to me, mahhim
though I am, that climatic fortune
telling here Is by the nature OF
things almost automatic. In the
first place, there are no extremes
of heat and cold. Unless he goes
at certain times to the big Island" !"
where the volcanoes are situated, the
home-staying Hawaiian will never
see snow. Nor will he ever. suffer
from a sizzling summer.
The Honolulu morning newspaper
conducts q daily weather forecast
feature that exemplif1es the sim
plicity of the prediction system here.
SO otonously similar are the Of
fetal predictions that this little
illustrated "box" on the first page,
with its half column cartoonlet, be-
comes interesting mainly because of
its digressive manner of statement.
Here as an example is today's fore
cast" under the tWo-line head, "Sol
Won't Take Chance on Fish:
Labor and its problems were
finally called to the attention yes
terday of Sol Pluvius, Advertiser
weather reporter, when he heard the
sampan fishermen were on strike.
Well, it's not my policy to take
sides in any such controversy, said
Sol, but I'm going to be busy for
awhile smoking and drying some
fish for luau just in case this strike
lasts a while DEPRESSING moment,
Sol remarked that today would be
partly cloudy, with scattered show
ers in the uplands."
"Luau" Popular Diversion.
Before proceeding on the weather
theme, should state that "luau'
means a feast. Anything in the
way of what may be styled or
ganized "eats" Is q luau. And the
luau is one of Hawaii's most popu-
lar diversions. It is arranged upon
the slightest provocation. If ar
islander goes to the mainland fol
any purpose for any length Of time
he is given luau. If the islander
returns-and he Is certain to re-
turn if physically able-he gets an
other luau.
But about the weather. Thai
scattered showers" forecast might
almost be made into the theme
song of the islands, sort Of
national anthem if the Hawaiian!
did not recognize THE Star Spanglee
Banner" as such. A completely
rainless day is such a rarity or
this island of Oahu that I verify
believe that it would be marked a.
an omen of something strange ant
awesome to come. Nor are cloud
necessary for the making of rain
Out OF a perfectly clear sky, with
the sun ablaze In full glory, ma.
come q gentle drizzle at any time
It is called liquid sunshine" No
body bothers about 1t. To raise al
umbrella against it is to confess al
embarrassing inexperience, to mari
ones self as a tenderfoot.
A virtually idle gesture Of inquir,
is made by the Honolulan ever
morning as he looks "mauka," whicl
means toward the mountains tina
raise their lovely heights along tn
northeastern shore of the island Q
Oahu. There, 10 times out Of 20, h
will see masses Of clouds, piling higl
and rolling over the ridge into tn
valleys that score down In dee
gulches to the plain. And usual
some of these clouds will be spillin
showers into the valleys. But tina
is so characteristic a feature of tn
scene that the kamaaina-whom
have heretofore introduced as tn
old timer, whether native or other
wise-takes no heed of the clouds 9
even of the valley mists or showers
He knows that If the clouds shoul
get clear across the mountains an
over the city-ward slopes and drenc
the outskirts of Honolulu with rail
the downtown streets will be fairl
free from moisture, at least after a
initial dousing or two.
Winter Holds No Terrors.
So when SOL Pluvius" says "scat
tered showers in the uplands" he
taking no chances. He could real
afford to run that line as standin
feature of his forecast. Especial
at this season of the year, which
the Hawaiian winter" even as it
the Washington winter. But "wintel