When you picture Hawaii weather, snow probably doesn’t come to mind. However, even tropical destinations get some snowfall – provided they’re high enough above sea level. The three tallest mountains in Hawaii, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala, all get light snowfall during winter.
Winter isn’t a prerequisite for Hawaiian snowfall, however – in July 2015, the summit of Mauna Kea briefly had about 1.5 inches of snow on the ground. This all comes down to the elevation – snow is only possibly because of how incredibly tall these mountains are.
That said, don’t expect to see any flurries on the beaches during your Hawaii vacation. Off of the mountains, Hawaii is a whole different kind of winter wonderland – the kind with warm sand and no mittens in sight.
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