Waikele Stream at Waipahu, Oahu

Flow Statistics for USGS Stream-Gaging Stations Operated in Hawaii from 1909-2005

Project Chief: Delwyn Oki

Released: April 12, 2007

Cooperator: Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management

Since 1909, the USGS Pacific Islands Water Science Center has operated stream-gaging stations on selected streams throughout Hawaii. Although many stations record only peak water levels during storms, more than 250 stations have monitored stream stage (water level) and flow on a continuous basis during selected periods. Data from these continuous-record stream-gaging stations provide information on the frequency of different flow conditions.

As part of a cooperative study with the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management, the USGS compiled existing streamflow data from continuous-record stream-gaging stations and summarized selected flow statistics, including the minimum, maximum, mean, and median streamflow values (computed from daily mean streamflow values), for the period of record at each site. The median streamflow at a site represents the flow that is equaled or exceeded half (50 percent) of the time during a specified period. The flow value equaled or exceeded 99 percent of the time represents a flow that is lower than the median and more frequently exceeded than the median. For each continuous-record stream-gaging station in Hawaii, period-of-record low-flow values ranging from the median flow to the flow that is equaled or exceed 99 percent of the time were summarized in the accompanying map.

To download a map of continuous-record stream-gaging stations historically operated in the State of Hawaii click here (PDF File - 8.3 MB). A description of each continuous-record stream-gaging station and summary of the data from the period of record can be viewed by clicking on the symbol showing the location of the station.

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