Is Kauai the rainiest place in the world?

MOUNT WAIALEALE, Kauai — This legendary peak dominates the geography of Kauai, jutting to an altitude of 5,148 feet and constituting possibly the wettest place on Earth. Or possibly the second-wettest, after Mawsynram, a mountain in India.



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As the northernmost large Hawaiian island, Kauai gets exposed to winter rains and front winds more than other islands in the chain. Because of the mountain's shape and height, it lies under the trade wind inversion layer, which keeps trade winds from rising away and escaping before rain can fall.

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Nicknamed the “Garden Isle” for its magically lush appearance, Kauai is considered one of the rainiest places on earth. Over 460 inches of rain fall annually on this tiny Hawaiian island, making it prone of some flooding at certain times throughout the year.

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Hilo, Hawaii It's also known as the wettest place in the United States, averaging about 12 in. of rain per month. Its wettest month is December where it sees an average of 19 inches of rainfall for the month. But this shouldn't surprise you.

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Cherrapunji, India The town Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra, can be found in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Despite being the second wettest place in the world averaging 11,777 mm of rainfall a year, the region faces acute annual water shortages during the dry months of winter.

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Kauai is considered one of the rainiest places on the planet. Of course, that's one of the reasons it's also so lush. You can often find sunshine on the southern side, but it's not guaranteed, especially in the winter. Maui receives less rainfall than Kauai.

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Kauai is the winner It has a variety of views and terrain to see. Rocky coastlines, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and mountains and valleys. There is so much to see and do.

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With an average annual rainfall of 41.2 inches, Kauai bags the title the rainiest place in Hawaii. It is also home to one of the planet's wettest spots, Mount Wai'ale'ale. If you worry the rain in Kauai will ruin your holiday, don't.

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Your water comes from ground water (underground) sources. Rain that falls in the mountain filters through the ground into formations called aquifers. Wells are drilled into these formations and the water is pumped out. These formations can also be found in the mountains (still considered ground water).

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Kauai sees the heaviest rain of the winter period between December and March. However, even if you are travelling to Kauai in the rainy season, you are unlikely to see rain all day and every day. Generally, it rains overnight and clears up. Otherwise, it may rain sporadically during the day and come out of nowhere.

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Waimea is probably the driest of all the areas on the island but offers fewer accommodation choices than other locations. Poipu or Lawai, which offer an abundance of accommodations on the South Shore, is your best bet for a dry and sunny vacation. The area averages about 30-40 (76-102 cm) of rain each year.

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Things to Do in Kauai When it Rains
  1. Drive around Kauai.
  2. Souvenir Shopping.
  3. Eat and Drink.
  4. Indoor Activities.
  5. Go for a Tasting.
  6. River Cruise.
  7. Relaxation at the Spa.
  8. ATVs.


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For years, two villages have claimed the title as the wettest place on earth. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are just 10 miles apart, but Mawsynram beats its competitor by a mere 4 inches of rainfall. Although it doesn't rain all day in Meghalaya, it does rain every day, Chapple told weather.com.

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The 5 Wettest Places On Earth
  1. Mawsynram, India - 11,871mm. The lush landscape surrounding Mawsynram in Meghalaya's Khasi Hills. ...
  2. Cherrapuni, India - 11,777mm. A spectacular waterfall in Cherrapunji, Meghalaya. ...
  3. Tutunendo, Colombia - 11,770mm. ...
  4. San Antonio De Ureca, Equatorial Guinea - 10,450mm. ...
  5. Debundscha, Cameroon - 10,299mm.


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