Located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, Waimea Valley is a botanical garden. The nearest town is Pupukea, about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away (Waimea Valley lies SSE of town).
Waimea Valley is an area of historic cultural significance on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The valley, being an important place in Hawaiian religion, includes several historical structures including stone terraces and walls constructed during the time of the Hawaiian monarchy. The nutrient-rich volcanic soil combined with a rainy environment provided the resourceful Hawaiians of the area the opportunity to create one of the most prosperous farming communities in all of Polynesia. The area had complex fish ponds, domesticated animal pens, various large farming beds, and was famous for the cultivation of pink taro root stock, a coveted item to the Ali`i (the Hawaiian elite). Much of the garden floor was once cultivated for taro, sweet potato, and bananas, with new crops and orchards introduced by Europeans after their arrival.From the Wikipedia article “Waimea Valley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Waimea Valley 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) | 6:37 AM | 90° E | 6:44 PM | 270° W | 68° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 64° ENE | 7:18 PM | 296° WNW | 88° | 13h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:22 AM | 89° E | 6:30 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:07 AM | 115° ESE | 5:56 PM | 245° WSW | 45° | 10h 49m |
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 | 6:50 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:35 PM | 10h 57m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:53 PM | 11h 27m |
| March | 6:19 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:42 PM | 7:05 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:51 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:52 PM | 7:15 PM | 12h 39m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:29 PM | 13h 10m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 27m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:31 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:43 PM | 13h 20m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 53m |
| September | 5:58 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:49 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:37 PM | 6:59 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:06 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 40m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:14 PM | 11h 06m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 49m |
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 Waimea Valley, 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 39° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright 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 | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 25° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.0 | 36° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:29 AM – 4:49 AM | 4.3 | 39° | SE → S |
| May | 10:26 PM – 4:26 AM | 6.0 | 39° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:43 PM – 4:23 AM | 7.7 | 39° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:42 PM – 2:52 AM | 6.2 | 39° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:22 PM – 12:52 AM | 4.5 | 39° | S → SW |
| September | 7:51 PM – 10:51 PM | 3.0 | 36° | 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.36 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 78 | 79 | 78 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 80 |
| Low °F | 70 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 70 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 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 botanical garden
- 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.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Waimea Valley, closest first.
Waterfall
Beach
Beach
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical GardenWaterfall
State Park
Mountain Peak
National Wildlife RefugeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Waimea Valley?
What time is golden hour at Waimea Valley?
Where does the sun rise and set at Waimea Valley?
Can you see the Milky Way from Waimea Valley?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Waimea Valley?
How far is Waimea Valley from Pupukea?
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.