On the morning of March 9, 2012, a long-lived hailstorm hit the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Lanai. The hailstorm was produced by a supercell thunderstorm, a storm that produces high intensity winds that change trajectory mostly in the mid and lower levels of the storm, which lead to a large amount of energy to be produced resulting in strong updrafts. This marked a memorable day for Hawaiians as these storms are usually unheard of in Hawaii and mostly are formed in the central plain of the United States. This event produced the largest hailstone ever recorded in Hawaii since records began in 1950. Many people stated that the initial hail falling from the sky could be compared to the size of a nickel, golf ball, or even a grapefruit. During the storm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) documented multiple reports of hail in Hawaii, with some hail measuring between 2-3 inches in diameter, and even larger ones as the storm got stronger.The hailstone was measured at 4.25 in (10 cm) long, 2.25 in (6 cm) tall, and 2 in (5 cm) wide. National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Birchard stated that the event was "unprecedented."