Overall, a trade-wind weather pattern existed across Hawaii through May.  However, these trades brought only limited amounts of shower-bearing clouds to the islands, keeping conditions generally dry throughout the state.Island of KauaiMay proved to be very dry over the entire island, with 10 of 11 gages reporting less than 20 percent of average rainfall.  Four of these sites; Anahola, Lihue Variety Station, Lihue Airport, and Hanapepe; received less than 10 percent of average rainfall.  Lihue Airport's 0.10 of an inch also broke an all-time record for minimum precipitation for the month of May.  The previous record was 0.42 of an inch set in 1968.  The highest rainfall total for this past May was recorded at the Hanalei gage, though its 1.29 inches was only 16 percent of average. Most of this rainfall fell on 12 May during a short-lived surge in the trades.Island of OahuAll network gages on Oahu reported below average rainfall for May.  Totals were mainly in the 20 to 50 percent of average range, with four sites; Waimanalo, Honolulu Airport, Waianae, and Kunia; being below 10 percent of average.  The 0.03 of an inch recorded at Honolulu Airport broke the all-time record for minimum rainfall for the month of May.  The earlier record was 0.05 of an inch set back in 1949.For the year-to-date, windward Oahu gages were mostly in the range of 30 to 60 percent of average, while leeward gages were at 20 to 40 percent of average.  The highest total by far was from the Manoa Lyon gage with 55.18 inches for the year through May, which is 88 percent of average.Maui CountyUnfortunately for Maui County, May proved to be an extremely dry month over all of its islands.  On Maui itself, 8 out of 10 gages recorded less than 10 percent of average rainfall.  Two of the gages, Waikapu and Pukalani, reported no rain, while the gages at Wailuku and Lahainaluna each recorded only 0.01 of an inch.  The highest Hydronet gage total, 1.70 inches, was from the Haiku site.  The cooperative observer gage at Oheo near the eastern tip of Maui reported 2.84 inches, which was 43 percent of average.  The lack of windward rainfall was significant due to its importance as a source region of water for the drier areas of Upcountry Maui.Island of HawaiiAll gages on the Big Island reported below average rainfall for May, though most sites had higher totals than the other gages across the rest of the island chain.  Most of the totals were in the 2- to 5-inch range, which was 20 to 40 percent of average in most instances.  Gages over the slopes of the Kona region received beneficial afternoon showers, though all sites were still well below both the May and the year-to-date averages.  The highest total for the month was 5.72 inches from the Glenwood gage, which was 48 percent of average.The following list contains rainfall statistics for selected locations from around Hawaii.  The first column is the observed rainfall for May.  The second column is the 30-year average for that location, while the third column lists the percent of average for the month.  The fourth and fifth columns are the year-to-date total and the percent of average, respectively.                                                                                                                                                               YTD                                      May 00                    Avg.                    %Avg.                    YTD                     %Avg.Kauai Kokee                              0.54                      4.00                      14                       19.89                      41 Hanalei                             1.29                     8.10                      16                        27.43                     49 Anahola                            0.05                     3.20                        2                          7.56                      30 Lihue VS                          0.25                      5.70                        4                          9.15                     29 Lihue Airport                    0.10                      3.10                        3                          7.00                     35 Hanapepe                        0.11                      1.50                        7                          4.41                     30Oahu Honolulu Airport               0.03                      1.10                        3                         2.21                      21 Manoa Lyon                     5.16                    12.20                      42                       55.18                     88 Waimanalo                      0.24                      3.10                        8                         8.17                       31 Waihee Pump                 1.88                      9.70                      19                       16.80                      33 Kahuku                            0.90                      2.50                      36                         7.20                       32 Waianae                          0.06                      0.70                        9                         0.58                         5 Kunia                                0.11                     1.20                        9                         3.82                        26Maui Kahului                             0.05                     0.80                        6                         2.71                        22 Hana                                   M                       6.20                        M                          M                           M Kihei                                 0.00                     0.20                        0                         0.13                         1 Lahainaluna                      0.01                    0.70                        1                          0.47                        4 Wailuku                            0.01                    1.20                         1                         4.99                        30 Kula                                  0.08                    2.10                         4                        2.50                         15 Ulupalakua                        0.35                    1.90                       18                        2.67                       15Molokai Kaunakakai                        M                       0.90                        M                           M                          MLanai Lanai City                         0.91                    2.90                       31                        4.03                       20Island of Hawaii Hilo Airport                       3.36                    9.90                       34                       34.81                      59 Pahala                             0.66                    3.80                       17                         7.41                        26 Honaunau                        2.52                    7.00                       36                        6.89                         27 Kamuela (Upper)             3.02                    3.90                       77                      22.10                       76 Glenwood                        5.72                   12.00                      48                       49.41                       60 Laupahoehoe                  2.76                   11.70                      24                       41.90                       55 Kamakoa                         0.17                    0.90                       19                        0.58                          6 Kapapala                         0.59                     4.20                       14                       4.87                        15Drought conditions continue to adversely impact ranchers and farmers in the Aloha State.  The Hawaii Cattlemen's Association estimates that ranchers across the island chain lost $6.5 million last year because the dry conditions affected birth and growth rates of cattle, while forcing many to sell underweight steers.  If the drought lingers on, the association projects the loss at $9 million for this year.There are no firm statistics on how much farmers have lost from the ongoing drought, but a Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company spokesman said it has cost his plantation millions in lost production.  Dry weather starting last year cut yields by about a ton an acre, the spokesman added.  With 6500 acres harvested so far, the plantation has lost $2.6 million with another 11,000 acres still scheduled for harvest.On Lanai, former pineapple fields turned to pastures have been trampled into bare dirt by cattle.  Also, the isle's golf courses are being kept green with the use of treated sewage effluent, although there is not enough of it to keep the grass healthy.The economic impact of the drought may hit hardest on Molokai, where farmers around Hoolehua have been on water-use restrictions since last year.  A combination of low rainfall and pump failures this year mean the Molokai irrigation system could run out of water this summer, putting 200 farmers out of business.Finally, a big concern for public safety officials throughout the state and for some homeowners is the potential for brush fires in the dried out landscape.

Drought in WEST HAWAII, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in OAHU, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SOUTH HAWAII, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LANAI, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MAUI, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MOLOKAI, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in KAUAI, HAWAII
From 01-MAY-00 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-00 23:59:00 (HST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.