Palm trees, sandy beaches and tropical breezes typically come to mind when thinking about the Hawaiian Islands.

And when brainstorming a fun Hawaiian activity, the question "Hey bro, wanna go hang ten on some Maui waves?" will pop up more often than "Hey bro, wanna go shred some ?"

You may be surprised to learn that you can actually do both!

Yes, It Actually Snows in Hawaii

Despite its tropical latitude farther south than Miami, snow does fall in Hawaii, thanks to elevation.

According to , an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Hawaii, "it snows here every year, but only at the very summits of our three tallest volcanoes (Mauna Loa, and Haleakala)."

"The snow level almost never gets below 9,000 feet in Hawaii during the winter, but since these mountains are taller than 13,600 feet, 13,700 feet and 10,000 feet, respectively, they get dusted with snow a few times a year. It rarely stays on the ground for more than a few days though."

(MORE: )

Recently, an upper atmospheric low pressure system brought enough moisture and "cold air," by local standards, to Hawaii's Big Island to prompt a Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service in Honolulu. In its warning, the NWS indicated that as much as six inches of snow accumulation was possible for elevations above 12,000 feet on Thursday night, and that temperatures would dip into the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Can You Really Ski in Hawaii?

Technically, it is possible to ski in Hawaii, but there are a lot of caveats.

explains that "Mauna Kea is a National Science Reserve and is not maintained as a ski area. Skiing areas may have unmarked and exposed rocks. Adverse weather conditions may arise unexpectedly... Most runs are for intermediate to advanced skiers/snowboarders -weather permitting."

In addition, the cautions potential skiers that "there are no lifts, no grooming, no resort, but a road goes to the summit to serve the dozen or so world-class located at the summit. You must have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit, which serves as your 'lift'." The club adds that skiers take turns being the driver, picking up the other skiers at the bottom of the runs and ferrying them up to the summit.

"Conditions at the top are extremely variable. Winter temperatures range from 25 to 40 degrees, but wind chill and the high altitude can make it seem much colder. Between April and November the weather is milder, with daytime temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees."

Bottom line, it may be better to hang ten near the beach rather than ski down a Hawaiian mountain. Thankfully though, technology is on snowbirds' side: beautiful views of Mauna Kea's peaks can be seen via the .

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Picture-Proof of Snow in Hawaii