rainfall on the East Side

[Mangosteen]

Generally, the farther away you are from the peaks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, the less rainfall there is. (Orographic lift).

Alia Point in Pepeekeo sticks out towards the Pacific and away from Mauna Kea and receives less rainfall than other nearby areas makua the highway.

[terracore]

Generally the "sunbelts" have more punishing heat and humidity.

[TomK]

There is a sun-belt on the east side but agree with the heat and humidity comments. Kaloli Pt, the bit that sticks out into the ocean at the bottom of HPP gets much more sun most of the time, but around late August and September becomes really uncomfortable. I've recorded 95 degrees in the shade while Hilo airport was reporting upper 80s, and the humidity is up in the 70-80s region. Dew points are in the mid to upper 70s at this point which is measure of uncomfortableness, and it's not nice, at least to this Celt. Trade winds disappear at that time of year so finding some air-conditioning is vital.

Having said that, I realize many are used to those conditions, but then get a shock when they see me atop Mauna Kea in a T-shirt and hear me say this is just like home...

As for not wanting rain, then it's the Kona side. Be aware they do get downpours though, just nothing like the east side - downpours there can go on for hours or days. Same for Ka'u, except their downpours tend to be epic. But if the east side is important, Mangosteen is correct. The farther from the mountains you can get the drier it is.

[EightFingers]

I’ve never seen anything over 87 here on Kaloli pt in the last five years.

Puna: Our roosters crow first