Hawaii’s Mauna Kea mountain top is covered with snow. For the winter season is a normal phenomenon, but the snow a few days ago was a surprise for the islanders.
Mauna Kea Peak (13,799 ft high) on the Big Island, was crossed by a powerful storm, after which the soil was covered by an one inch layer of snow.
In the Hawaiian language, Mauna Kea means “white mountain”. It is one of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii. It is not an active volcano, and its highest point stands at almost 14,000 feet altitude. As a feature, it is the highest mountain in the world. From the sea level is over 13,000 feet, but its base is at 18,000 feet under the Pacific Ocean. Thus, reaching over 30,000 feet.
Pam Akao was one of the about 7,000 people of the Waimea town, surprised by the snowfall. “I do not know whether it is climate change or something else, but we did not expect to snow in June”, said Pam Akao.
The main road access to the Mauna Kea was closed during the weekend, but Sunday afternoon the traffic was reopened.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, the temperature was 80 degrees Fahrenheit.