June was a tale of opposite island sides for rainfall around Kauaʻi, with most windward rain gauges recording near to just below average totals and leeward gauges well below average at 50% or less of their average June rainfall totals.
Only 6 sites on the island managed above-average rainfall amounts for the month.
The monthly precipitation summary prepared by Senior Service Hydrologist Tina Stall at the Honolulu forecast office of National Weather Service reports June rainfall on the Garden Isle was concentrated over central higher elevations, extending north and south to the central coasts.
Mount Waiʻaleʻale’s U.S. Geological Survey rain gauge — for the third month in a row — had the highest monthly total for the island and state with 36.69 inches, or 111% of its normal 32.91-inch June average, and highest daily total for the island, collecting 5.41 inches June 2.
Other locations with above-average rainfall for June
| June 2026 rainfall total | June rainfall average | Percent of June rainfall average | |
| Hanalei | 9.41 inches | 5.05 inches | 186% |
| Wainiha | 11.87 inches | 7.22 inches | 164% |
| Kalāheo | 4.45 inches | 3.69 inches | 121% |
| Kilohana | 10.79 inches | 9.89 inches | 109% |
| ʻŌmaʻo | 4.27 inches | 3.99 inches | 107% |
Locations with most below-average rainfall for June
| June 2026 rainfall total | June rainfall average | Percent of June rainfall average | |
| Mākaha Ridge | 0.22 of an inch | 1.08 inches | 20% |
| Hanapēpē | 0.29 of an inch | 1.34 inches | 22% |
| Waiʻalae | 2.69 inches | 7.73 inches | 25% |
| Waimea Tank | 0.09 of an inch | 0.31 of an inch | 29% |
| Waimea Heights | 0.13 of an inch | 0.32 of an inch | 41% |
| Anahola | 0.86 of an inch | 1.88 inches | 46% |
Year-to-date rainfall totals still were near to above average again in June, but less so than at the end of May as impact of significant late-winter rainfall fades.
The highest year-to-date total again belongs to Mount Waiʻaleʻale with 247.90 inches, or 132% of its annual 188.46-inch average, by the end of June.
Other locations with most significant above-average year-to-date rainfall
| Year-to-date rainfall total | Year-to-date rainfall total average | Percent of year-to-date rainfall average | |
| Waimea Heights | 22.10 inches | 10.37 inches | 213% |
| Puʻu ʻŌpaʻe | 31.31 inches | 15.41 inches | 203% |
| Līhuʻe Airport | 35.41 inches | 18.02 inches | 197% |
| Mānā | 18.19 inches | 9.55 inches | 190% |
| Wailuā | 63.26 inches | 37.58 inches | 168% |
| Molaʻa Dairy | 39.91 inches | 25.65 inches | 156% |
| Mākaha Ridge | 28.77 inches | 19.47 inches | 148% |
| Anahola | 33.02 inches | 23.38 inches | 141% |
| Puʻu Lua | 38.57 inches | 27.56 inches | 140% |
U.S. Drought Monitor shows no drought in Kauaʻi County as of July 7. Nearly 50% of the county a year ago — or 49.59% — was experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The county now has been drought-free since before the beginning of 2026.
Statewide rainfall summary for June
June began with a period of wetter-than-normal trade wind weather as a weak surface trough moving in from the southeast brought elevated moisture June 1-2.
Moderate trade winds focused the heaviest rainfall over windward and mauka areas of the islands, while a slight southeast wind enhanced showers across the Kaʻū and Puna districts of the Big Island and the south slopes of Haleakalā on Maui.
Rainfall totals generally ranged from 3 to 5 inches, with isolated amounts of 7 to 10 inches along the Hāmākua and Kaʻū coasts of the Big Island. Flooding closed a portion of Highway 11 between the Kāwā and Honuʻapo areas in Kaʻū.
A more typical early summer trade wind pattern returned June 3-10, with moderate to locally breezy easterly winds and scattered windward and mauka showers.
Trade winds weakened to the light or locally moderate range through June 16, allowing localized land and sea breezes to develop over the more wind-sheltered areas.
Rainfall remained limited overall; although, a brief increase in trade winds June 14-15 produced a modest uptick in windward and mauka showers.
Light easterly winds continued June 17-18 as another weak surface trough increased low-level moisture. Shower coverage briefly expanded, especially across windward portions of the Big Island, Maui and Oʻahu.
Minor flooding also occurred along Kūhiō Highway near Hāʻena on Kauaʻi.
Drier and more stable conditions returned through June 22 under light to moderate east-southeast winds. While rainfall was generally limited, light winds and dew points in the lower 70s produced warm, muggy conditions June 19-20 throughout the smaller islands before slightly drier east-northeast flow provided some relief.
Moderate to breezy trade winds returned for the final week of the June.
A surface trough passing westward through the islands and weak upper-level instability brought a modest increase in windward and mauka showers through June 25. Thereafter, breezy trades persisted, with a return to typical scattered trade wind showers through the end of the month.
