Why Hawaii is called the rainbow capital?

Due to climate change, scientists believe in the coming decades, longer dry spells might lead to fewer rainbows on the arid, leeward sides of the islands

Hyderabad: Serene nature, warm tropical climate, beaches, oceans, volcanoes, clear skies, landscapes, its culture, and history make Hawaii, a unique island State of United States in the Pacific Ocean.

But, what set is apart is — Hawaii’s sunshine, short showers and clean air come together to create some of the planet’s best conditions for rainbows. They’re such a frequent sight that the State is called “rainbow capital of the world.”

---

In the winter rainy season in the islands, the odds of seeing a rainbow are even higher than usual. Rainbows emerge so often in Hawaii they’ve become popular symbols of island life. Pictures of them adorn buildings, the sides of public buses and appear on standard vehicle license plates. Sports teams are even named after rainbows.

Here are things to know about rainbows in Hawaii.

Where to find rainbows?

Rainbows form when raindrops refract sunlight into a spectrum of colours. The brighter the sun, the clearer the rainbow. Look for them when it is both sunny and raining at the same time. They will appear opposite the sun. They will seem larger and higher in the sky in the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is lower on the horizon.

In Hawaii, the archipelago’s trade winds bring many small showers with enough blue sky between them for the sun to shine through. Hawaii’s clean air also helps. Other places tend to have more air particles from dust, pollen and cars. Conditions improve further during Hawaii’s rainy season, which lasts from October through April.

Rainbows are so prevalent that there are about 20 names for them in the Hawaiian language, according to a Manoa website, including distinct words for rainbow fragments and those that sit low on the horizon.

Rainbows in Hawaiian culture

Rainbows represent divine or supernatural power in native Hawaiian tradition. Rainbows are considered a symbol of Kane, one of the four main gods in Hawaiian tradition. Traditionally, it is believed that the closer one got to a rainbow, the more likely they were to encounter a supernatural force, or an extremely powerful or chiefly person.

In one centuries-old story, a rainbow appears over the secluded home of a Hawaiian princess for four straight days. Another emerges above the ocean when her suitor arrives, a man so strong his punch pierces an opponent’s chest like a spear.

According to some, a rainbow signals an ‘aumakua,’ which is a deified ancestor or a family or personal god.

Symbols of island life 

Rainbow imagery decorates everything from buildings and restaurant facades to athletic uniforms. The Hawaii men’s athletic teams are called Rainbow Warriors and the women’s teams are Rainbow Wahine, using the Hawaiian word for women. The teams are called ‘Bows’ for short. The origin of the rainbow mascot dates to New Year’s Day in 1924.

Hawaii was locked in a scoreless tie against the visiting Oregon Aggies when a rainbow appeared over the field. Hawaii scored soon after and reporters began calling the team the Rainbows, according to the book “Hawai’i Sports: History, Facts and Statistics.”

The Hawaii football team in 2000 dropped “Rainbow” from its nickname when a coach expressed concern it carried a “stigma” because of its association with the LGBTQ+ community. The school restored the name in 2013.

Climate change affect on rainbows

An environmental study predicts Brazil, the Mediterranean and parts of Central Africa will have fewer rainbows by 2100. They found places that currently get lots of snow, but that will instead receive more rain, will likely see more rainbows. Alaska falls in that category.

Scientists believe rainbows will continue to be plentiful in Hawaii, but in the coming decades, longer dry spells might lead to fewer rainbows on the arid, leeward sides of the islands. Maui and the Big Island might be particularly affected.