Makapuu Point Light — a lighthouse in Honolulu County, Hawaii — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 2.8 km (1.7 mi) NE of Kalama Valley. Its recorded tower height is about 14 m (46 ft). It dates from 1909. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Makapuʻu Point Light on the island of Oʻahu has the largest lens of any lighthouse in the United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.From the Wikipedia article “Makapuʻu Point Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Makapuu Point Light 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) | 6:35 AM | 90° E | 6:42 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:50 AM | 64° ENE | 7:16 PM | 296° WNW | 88° | 13h 26m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:20 AM | 89° E | 6:28 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
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:48 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:34 PM | 10h 59m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:52 PM | 11h 27m |
| March | 6:18 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:11 PM | 6:41 PM | 7:03 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:13 PM | 12h 38m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:26 PM | 13h 09m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:39 PM | 13h 25m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:41 PM | 13h 18m |
| August | 5:47 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:25 PM | 12h 52m |
| September | 5:56 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:35 PM | 6:57 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:05 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:57 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:29 PM | 11h 40m |
| November | 6:19 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:18 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:13 PM | 11h 07m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:52 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 51m |
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 Makapuu Point Light, 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 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 | 4:15 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:25 AM – 5:25 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:27 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:24 PM – 4:24 AM | 6.0 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:40 PM – 4:20 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:40 PM – 2:50 AM | 6.2 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:20 PM – 12:50 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:49 PM – 10:49 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: 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 ≈ 19.04 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 lighthouse
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Waimanalo, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Makapuu Point Light, closest first.
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Waterfall
Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Makapuu Point Light?
What time is golden hour at Makapuu Point Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Makapuu Point Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Makapuu Point Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Makapuu Point Light?
How far is Makapuu Point Light from Kalama Valley?
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.