Mount Waialeale also known as Wai'ale'ale is a caldera and is the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. In the Hawaiian language, Wai'ale'ale means "ripple" or (overflow).
Since 1912, the average rainfall of the area began to increase, more than 11,500 mm per year. With 17.300mm pouring rainfall area in 1982 to Mount Waialeale is said to be one of the wettest spots in the world. Rainwater falling at 1569 m height that forms countless beautiful waterfalls flowing down the cliff. A few places on Mount Waialeale are called "wall of tears" because there are so many waterfalls flowing down the sides. Some places flowing like a wind some others like a slug, creating small gaps and white ripples on the surface of crater. Although there are a few hiking trails in the area, but it is not easy to walk to Mount Waialeale because the ridge is almost vertical and the ground is covered with a thick layer of shrubs.
The only way to see the "Wall of tears" is by helicopter. The area is mostly cloudy all year, there is little sunlight, but people still has a chance to observe the full area in clear weather. There are 3 reasons why Wai'ale'ale received a lot of rainfall. The first reason is the island of Kauai is the northernmost island of Hawaii, Mount Waialeale so strong exposure to environmental conditions here, the result is getting a larger than normal rainfall, especially in winter .
The second is due Wai'ale'ale crater-shaped and circular cone. The face of soaring peaks that cause wind and humidity in areas that are saturated. Ultimate cause is due to peak Wai'ale'ale under the trade winds backwards (in the cao1.829m), causing clouds cannot rise above the trade winds are generated around this but only on top of Wai'ale'ale. These cliffs as a shield for moist air rising more quickly (only at 910 m elevation) within less than 800m area receives a large amount of rain pouring down like a waterfall.
The second is due Wai'ale'ale crater-shaped and circular cone. The face of soaring peaks that cause wind and humidity in areas that are saturated. Ultimate cause is due to peak Wai'ale'ale under the trade winds backwards (in the cao1.829m), causing clouds cannot rise above the trade winds are generated around this but only on top of Wai'ale'ale. These cliffs as a shield for moist air rising more quickly (only at 910 m elevation) within less than 800m area receives a large amount of rain pouring down like a waterfall.
Although this area is always receive ample rainfall, but the peak of Mount Waialeale is pretty bare. One of the reasons for making the trees here have received little rainfall peaks preference is acting as a shield large; cloud covers this place all year, making the area always wet and lack of sunlight for photosynthesis plants. Unable to grow into a big tree forest, but we can say this is the ideal environment for nurturing the plants living in low-rise thrive as fungi, lichens and ferns.
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