Three Maui companies were recognized this month by the National Weather Service for their volunteer weather observation services taken at their respective field stations.
Wailuku Agribusiness Co. received a 100-Year Institutional Award for rainfall observations taken at Maui Tropical Plantation; Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. received a 100-Year Institutional Award for rainfall observations taken at its rain gauge near Paia; and the Kapalua-West Maui Airport received a 25-Year Institutional Award for rainfall and temperature observations taken the airport.
The long-term dedicated services of these weather observer volunteers have enabled scientists to adequately describe the climate of the United States and also provide vital data to determine and evaluate the extent of climate change from local to global scales. Hawaii agencies utilize the information from these sites for statewide hydrology and water resource studies.
Article Photos
Wailuku Water Co. waterways system supervisors Cristino Taclan (left) and Rene Chavez stand next to a weather observation station at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu.
In addition, data collected by weather observers help local officials make long-term planning decisions about water resources and are used by a variety of industries on a daily basis, including medical, transportation, agriculture, engineering and communication.
