Permafrost on Mauna Kea is disappearing

[TomK]

I wonder how the lake and permafrost are now after the record breaking winter storms and snowfall?

I hear that Lake Waiua on Mauna Kea is doing just fine but haven't visited for a while so haven't seen it for myself recently. However, since permafrost is not the reason it exists, I'm not sure why you ask the question. As for the permafrost itself, its definition means it's water ice frozen in soil or rock below the surface which exists for at least two years. The winter storms will have made very little difference to it although they would likely have affected the active layer above the permafrost. But that's why it's called the active layer.