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APRIL 7, 2021 5
West O‘ahu Residents Can Chase Rainbows With New App
Affiliates of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa released an app that gives residents an opportunity to chase rainbows. PHOTO COURTESY MATT CHAMPLIN
Research coming out of Uni- versity of Hawai‘i at Mānoa is calling the state the rainbow cap- ital of the world — and for good reason. The islands are optimally located in the Pacific, where trade winds, frequent showers, intermit- tent clear skies and unpolluted air form prime conditions for viewing ānuenue.
He points out that there are many ways to describe rainbows in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i: Earth-clinging rainbows (uakoko), standing rainbow shafts (kāhili), barely visible rainbows (punakea) and moonbows (ānu- enue kau pō), among others.
UH professor of atmospheric sciences Steven Businger pub- lished his findings in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, where he talks about the cultural significance of rainbows, Hawai‘i’s pristine conditions for viewing them, as well as how the community can see these multicol- ored marvels.
“In Hawaiian mythology the rainbow is a symbol of transfor- mation and a pathway between Earth and heaven, as it is in many cultures around the world,” adds Businger.
smartphone app developer Ikayso
to create RainbowChase, which is
now free to the public. Through
the app, users can look at radar and rainbows is reflected in the Ha- waiʻi,” says Businger,.
Learn more about the Rainbow- Chase app online at rainbowchase. com.
To help West O‘ahu residents track down these meteorological phenomena, Businger and Paul Cynn partnered with Hawaiian
satellite images of rain and clouds, waiian language, which has many as well as weather conditions. words and phrases to describe the “The cultural importance of variety of manifestations in Ha-
Bringing brighter futures to
Hawai‘i for 100 years.
Sarah received personalized care for cancer from her team at Straub. Now cancer free, she volunteers at organizations that support children with cancer. It’s one more reason we’re reimagining health care.
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