Wai'anapanapa State Park — a beach in Maui County, Hawaii — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Haleakalā National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Hana, about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away (Wai'anapanapa State Park lies NNW of town).
Waiʻanapanapa State Park is a 122-acre (0.49 km2) state park in Hana, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii. It is located at the end of Waiʻanapanapa Road off Hana Highway at mile marker 32, 53 miles (85 km) east of Kahului, Maui. Waiʻanapanapa means "glistening fresh water" in the Hawaiian language, referring to nearby fresh water streams and sparkling pools. The camp offers camping facilities, including a small lawn where campers may pitch a tent, and a public bathroom nearby. The anchialine tide pools at the park turn red several times a year due to the arrival of shrimp species like Halocaridina rubra (ʻōpaeʻula) and Metabetaeus lohena. Local folklore says it is the blood of Popoaleae, a mythical princess who was murdered in a nearby lava tube cave by her husband, Chief Kaʻakea.From the Wikipedia article “Waiʻanapanapa State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Wai'anapanapa State Park the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 65° (ENE) at the June solstice and 115° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 296° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 46° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:29 AM | 90° E | 6:36 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:45 AM | 65° ENE | 7:08 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 24m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:14 AM | 89° E | 6:21 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:57 AM | 115° ESE | 5:49 PM | 245° WSW | 46° | 10h 52m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Beaches facing east suit sunrise and west-facing beaches suit sunset; wet sand mirrors the sky color during golden hour.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:40 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:28 PM | 11h 00m |
| February | 6:32 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:46 PM | 11h 28m |
| March | 6:11 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:34 PM | 6:56 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:43 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:43 PM | 7:06 PM | 12h 38m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:19 PM | 13h 07m |
| June | 5:19 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:32 PM | 13h 23m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:33 PM | 13h 16m |
| August | 5:41 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 51m |
| September | 5:50 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:28 PM | 6:50 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 5:58 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:23 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:44 PM | 6:07 PM | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:30 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 53m |
Local time (Pacific/Honolulu), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Wai'anapanapa State Park, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 40° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:08 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:19 AM – 4:39 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:16 PM – 4:26 AM | 6.2 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:32 PM – 4:12 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:32 PM – 2:52 AM | 6.3 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:12 PM – 12:42 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:42 PM – 10:42 PM | 3.0 | 37° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM | 1.5 | 27° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.79 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 57% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (70%). September is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 79 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 82 | 81 |
| Low °F | 66 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 70 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this beach
- Salt spray coats lenses quickly; wipe often and rinse gear afterward.
- Fog and marine layers can make minimalist images; don't give up on grey days.
- Time visits around low tide to reveal tide pools, sea stacks and reflective sand — check the tide widget below.
- Slow shutter speeds (0.5–2 s) turn receding waves into streaks that lead toward the horizon.
- Watch for sneaker waves; never turn your back on the ocean on exposed coasts.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Winter storms bring dramatic surf on Pacific coasts; summer and autumn sunsets are popular on Atlantic and Gulf beaches.
Suggested gear: Tripod, ND filters, Rain cover, Lens cloths. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Hana, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Wai'anapanapa State Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
WaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
WaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)19.4 km (12.0 mi) · reservable
- Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)24 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wai'anapanapa State Park?
What time is golden hour at Wai'anapanapa State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Wai'anapanapa State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Wai'anapanapa State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wai'anapanapa State Park?
How far is Wai'anapanapa State Park from Hana?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.