Mountain barriers play a significant role in modifying the air masses and topography affects the distribution of precipitation.
The orographic effect takes place on Hawaii's Big Island (i.e) the rising air makes the windward side of the mountains rainy and leeward side of the mountains dry.
Island of Maui:
In the Island of Maui, the high mean of rainfall is found on the windward side of the mountain slopes and the low mean of rainfall is found on the leeward lowlands and on upper slopes of the highest mountains.
