Hilo Tropical Gardens — a botanical garden in Hawaii County, Hawaii — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Hilo, about 5.7 km (3.5 mi) away (Hilo Tropical Gardens lies E of town).
Hilo Tropical Gardens (2 acres), located at 1477 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii was a privately run botanical garden with a guest house for budget travelers. It was founded in 1948 as Kong's Floraleigh Gardens by En Loy Kong, a businessman. The garden's founding name was inspired by Flora and Leigh, Kong's wife and daughter, respectively.From the Wikipedia article “Hilo Tropical Gardens”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hilo Tropical Gardens 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 295° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 47° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:25 AM | 90° E | 6:32 PM | 270° W | 70° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:43 AM | 65° ENE | 7:02 PM | 295° WNW | 86° | 13h 19m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:10 AM | 89° E | 6:18 PM | 271° W | 70° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:51 AM | 115° ESE | 5:47 PM | 245° WSW | 47° | 10h 56m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:35 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:26 PM | 11h 04m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:20 PM | 6:43 PM | 11h 31m |
| March | 6:07 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:52 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:32 AM | 6:09 PM | 6:39 PM | 7:01 PM | 12h 36m |
| May | 5:22 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:13 PM | 13h 04m |
| June | 5:18 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:26 PM | 13h 19m |
| July | 5:26 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:27 PM | 13h 13m |
| August | 5:39 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:31 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:13 PM | 12h 48m |
| September | 5:46 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:46 PM | 12h 15m |
| October | 5:53 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:45 AM | 5:28 PM | 5:58 PM | 6:20 PM | 11h 42m |
| November | 6:06 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:05 PM | 11h 12m |
| December | 6:24 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:20 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:09 PM | 10h 57m |
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 Hilo Tropical Gardens, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 41° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| February | 4:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.5 | 27° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:13 AM – 5:13 AM | 3.0 | 38° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:14 AM – 4:44 AM | 4.5 | 41° | SE → S |
| May | 10:09 PM – 4:19 AM | 6.2 | 41° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:25 PM – 4:15 AM | 7.8 | 41° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:25 PM – 2:45 AM | 6.3 | 41° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:07 PM – 12:47 AM | 4.7 | 41° | S → SW |
| September | 7:37 PM – 10:47 PM | 3.2 | 38° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:11 PM – 8:51 PM | 1.7 | 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.99 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (62%). August 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 | 77 | 78 | 76 | 79 | 81 | 80 | 83 | 82 | 79 | 78 | 76 |
| Low °F | 50 | 46 | 48 | 52 | 53 | 55 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 53 | 50 |
| Precip. (in) | 5.6 | 6.6 | 8.6 | 7.7 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 6.7 | 6.6 |
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 botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hilo Tropical Gardens, closest first.
Beach
Beach
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfall
Natural ArchWaterfall
Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hilo Tropical Gardens?
What time is golden hour at Hilo Tropical Gardens?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hilo Tropical Gardens?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hilo Tropical Gardens?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hilo Tropical Gardens?
How far is Hilo Tropical Gardens from Hilo?
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.