The Kona Rain Shadow: As we discuss why Kona gets so little rain, we will also talk about the hurricanes and tropical storms of 2018. Three Pele-grown mountains protect Kona when weather originates from the east (and sometimes to the south): Mauna Kea at 13,803 feet, Mauna Loa at 13,679 feet and Hualalai at 8,271 feet. […]