Hawaii climate challenge Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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The cache is at the stated coordinates. This is a pretty easy drive-up cache reflected in the difficulty rating. The difficulty of qualifying for this cache may actually be higher based on the fact that you must find nine other caches to qualify for this challenge.
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. It is constantly changing. On the other hand, a generalization of atmospheric conditions over many years for a place or region is called climate.
Due to its latitude just south of the Tropic of Cancer (23 ½°N), and its interaction with the Trade Winds (Easterlies), the water surrounding Hawaii Island is always warm enough to swim in and enjoy, any time of the year, with averages ranging from 72°F (22°C) to 80°F (26.6°C). Due to its close proximity to the equator and the small variation in the length of daylight and altitude of the sun, throughout the year, Hawaii has only two recognizable seasons: summer, which typically takes place from May to October; and winter, spanning the months of November to April. Average daytime temperatures at sea level during summer months are approximately 85°F (29°C), while winter is around 78°F (26°C). Nighttime temperatures on average are approximately 10°F lower. However, this weather generalization only tells part of what to expect when visiting Hawaii’s Big Island. Do not expect sunshine and 85°F throughout your entire travels on Hawaii. It rains here – that’s what makes it beautiful and tropical. You can experience cool, to downright cold, windy conditions, based on location and elevation. You can be freezing your tootsies off grabbing an Earth cache, web cam cache or traditional cache on top of Mauna Kea, then a few hours later you can be snorkeling in the warm waters off the Kona coast. Therefore, in all cases, plan ahead and allow for changing weather conditions to make your island travels comfortable and enjoyable.
Remember, if you are not happy with the weather at any location, jump into the car and drive down the road thirty minutes or so. Most likely the weather will be something completely different –you may like it better!
Four out of the world’s five major climate zones, and ten out of thirteen sub-zones, can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii. Within the Big Island’s various locations there are numerous microenvironments, each boasting a variety of climate and weather conditions. The northeasterly side of the Big Island is the windward side, and is subject to prevailing trade winds. This makes it the wetter side of the island as warm, moist air is forced to rise as it encounters the mountain slopes. Conversely, the leeward side, or the southwesterly part of the Big Island, is protected by the island’s central mountainous terrain (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea) from the prevailing winds, and is therefore typically the drier portion of the island.
I have found two climate zone maps for the Big Island of Hawaii; one using the number system shown below and the other showing the main roads.
This map is just like the other, except without the roads that help pinpoint locations. This map labels each zone with a number to help identify it. I used it's number system in the text of the cache page.
This map is just like the other, except with roads to help pinpoint locations. Use the number system labeled on the other map when logging you find.
The climate zones are as follows:
1. Hot desert (arid) -by definition it is dry, more evaporation potential than precipitation.
2. Hot steppe (semi-arid) - about the same amount of evaporationa and precipitation.
3. Tropical - monsoon (humid)
4. Tropical - continuously wet (humid)
5. Tropical - winter dry (humid)
6. Tropical - summer dry (humid)
7. Temperate - continuously wet warm
8. Temperate - summer dry warm
9. Temperate - summer dry cool
10. Polar (Arctic) - Tundra (periglacial)
In order to log this cache you must find at least one geocache located in at least 9 of the 10 climate zones on the Big Island of Hawaii. Yep, I’m giving you a break, think of it like the “Free Space” in Bingo, except you get to choose the space!. 
Use the two maps provided on this page to determine the climate zones for each cache. Please use the number system used on the map and above on this page when listing the caches in your log. For each cache please include the GC number and the cache name. Please list your chosen “Free Zone” as well. You may find this cache and sign the log prior to your completion of the challenge; however, you may not log the find online and claim the smiley until after you complete the challenge. In your log, please state the date that you signed the log if it is earlier than the date you qualified.
Have fun and keep on caching! Maholo for taking the time to read this page and hopefully, complete the challenge!
Mahalo to Leenah, cachers who live on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii and have agreed to maintain my caches on their side of the island.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vafvqr ba evtug.