Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden — a botanical garden in Honolulu County, Hawaii — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.6 km (1.0 mi) SW of Kaneohe.
The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (approximately 400 acres) is a botanical garden located at 45–680 Luluku Road, Kāne'ohe, Oahu, Hawaii. It is part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, and is open to the public without charge, except for Thursdays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The garden was established in 1982, and designed and built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection. It is a rainforest garden, with plantings from major tropical regions around the world, grouped into distinct collections that focus on Africa, Hawaii, India and Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Melanesia, the Philippines, Polynesia, and the tropical New World. Special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii and Polynesia, as well as arecaceae, aroids, and heliconias. The garden includes a lake (32 acres) and walking trails, as well as a day use area, campgrounds, and a visitor...From the Wikipedia article “Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (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 88° in summer but only 45° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:36 AM | 90° E | 6:43 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 64° ENE | 7:17 PM | 296° WNW | 88° | 13h 26m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:21 AM | 89° E | 6:29 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:05 AM | 115° ESE | 5:55 PM | 245° WSW | 45° | 10h 50m |
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 | 6:48 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:34 PM | 10h 58m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:30 PM | 6:53 PM | 11h 27m |
| March | 6:18 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:41 PM | 7:04 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:50 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:51 PM | 7:14 PM | 12h 39m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:27 PM | 13h 09m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:40 PM | 13h 26m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 19m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:26 PM | 12h 52m |
| September | 5:57 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:35 PM | 6:58 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:05 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:57 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 40m |
| November | 6:20 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:15 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:14 PM | 11h 07m |
| December | 6:38 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 50m |
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 Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, 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 8 (city 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 | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 25° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:25 AM – 5:25 AM | 3.0 | 36° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:27 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:25 PM – 4:25 AM | 6.0 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:41 PM – 4:21 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:41 PM – 2:51 AM | 6.2 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:21 PM – 12:51 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:50 PM – 10:50 PM | 3.0 | 37° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:22 PM – 8:52 PM | 1.5 | 26° | 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.26 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 47% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (61%). 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 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 80 |
| Low °F | 68 | 66 | 66 | 67 | 70 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 69 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
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 Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, closest first.
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Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden?
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Where does the sun rise and set at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden?
How far is Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden from Kaneohe?
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.