trades

Locals across Hawaii use "trades" as shorthand for the tradewinds, the prevailing northeasterly winds that regulate the islands' climate. The presence or absence of the trades is a daily topic of conversation, especially during the humid summer months. When the trades die down, the weather becomes stagnant and uncomfortably hot, often leading to "Kona winds" which bring volcanic smog (vog) up from the Big Island. Complaining about the lack of trades is a universal local pastime, while feeling that first cool breeze after a hot spell is a moment of collective relief.

Kanoa slammed his hand against the steering wheel of his Tacoma, glaring at the endless line of brake lights crawling down the Kapa'a bypass. His AC had busted three weeks ago, and the afternoon sun was baking the cab like an imu. To make matters worse, the air was completely dead. Not a single leaf was moving on the hau bushes along the road.

"I swear, if Maile texts me one more time asking where we stay, I going throw my phone out the window," Kalani grumbled from the passenger seat, wiping sweat off his forehead with a dirty work shirt. "How come every time we pau hana early, the traffic is worse? And of course, today of all days, no more trades."

Kanoa just scowled, rolling his window down another half inch as if that would magically summon a breeze. "Just tell her we stuck behind one tour bus going ten miles an hour. And tell her turn on the fans at the house, cause if I walk inside and it's this hot, I going lose my mind."