Why does it rain in Hawaii when the sky is blue?

Question

At first I thought the rain was being carried by the wind from the clouds over the mountains. (I live on Oahu near Diamond Head) but sometimes there are no clouds but it still rains?!

I've never seen that anywhere else...is it a tropical thing?

Answer 1

wind can carry the rain

Answer 2

I think if you're actually feeling rain it did originate in a cloud.  However tropical rain clouds can be quite small and also make relatively small raindrops, so if the trade winds are blowing (which they usually are) the raindrops can be carried a long way from the parent cloud.  Also, if the drops stay aloft long enough, they may outlast the cloud that produced them.