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21.6525° N157.3131° WBortle 3Honolulu

Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Photography Guide

Lighthouse in Honolulu County, Hawaii

  • Bortle 3 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 245°–296°
  • Clearest: July
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Honolulu County, Hawaii. It sits roughly 51 km (32 mi) ENE of Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH.

Nearest town
Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH
51 km (32 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
July
47% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
7.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:36 PM
sunset 6:05 PM

Light at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse

Live
Sunrise
6:28 AM
Sunset
6:02 PM
Golden hour AM
6:14 AM – 6:58 AM
Golden hour PM
5:31 PM – 6:15 PM
Blue hour AM
6:05 AM – 6:14 AM
Blue hour PM
6:15 PM – 6:24 PM
Full darkness
7:16 PM – 5:14 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 72%
Moonrise / set
2:38 PM / 1:28 AM
Day length
11h 34m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in Pacific/Honolulu. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse 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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:34 AM90° E6:41 PM270° W68°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:48 AM64° ENE7:15 PM296° WNW88°13h 27m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:19 AM89° E6:27 PM271° W69°12h 08m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:04 AM115° ESE5:53 PM245° WSW45°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

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:47 AM7:11 AM7:43 AM5:36 PM6:08 PM6:32 PM10h 57m
February6:38 AM7:01 AM7:31 AM5:57 PM6:28 PM6:50 PM11h 27m
March6:16 AM6:39 AM7:08 AM6:10 PM6:39 PM7:02 PM12h 01m
April5:48 AM6:10 AM6:40 AM6:19 PM6:49 PM7:12 PM12h 39m
May5:27 AM5:51 AM6:23 AM6:30 PM7:02 PM7:26 PM13h 10m
June5:22 AM5:47 AM6:19 AM6:42 PM7:14 PM7:39 PM13h 27m
July5:31 AM5:56 AM6:28 AM6:44 PM7:16 PM7:40 PM13h 20m
August5:45 AM6:08 AM6:39 AM6:31 PM7:01 PM7:24 PM12h 53m
September5:55 AM6:17 AM6:47 AM6:04 PM6:34 PM6:56 PM12h 16m
October6:03 AM6:26 AM6:56 AM5:36 PM6:05 PM6:28 PM11h 40m
November6:18 AM6:42 AM7:13 AM5:16 PM5:48 PM6:11 PM11h 06m
December6:36 AM7:01 AM7:34 AM5:17 PM5:50 PM6:14 PM10h 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 Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—5°—
February4:22 AM – 5:42 AM1.325°SE → SE
March2:23 AM – 5:23 AM3.036°SE → SSE
April12:26 AM – 4:46 AM4.339°SE → S
May10:23 PM – 4:23 AM6.039°SE → SSW
June8:40 PM – 4:20 AM7.739°SE → SW
July8:39 PM – 2:49 AM6.239°SSE → SW
August8:19 PM – 12:49 AM4.539°S → SW
September7:48 PM – 10:48 PM3.036°SSW → SW
October7:19 PM – 8:49 PM1.526°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
DecemberBelow 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.5 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F797979808183838585848380
Low °F686666677074747575737269
Precip. (in)2.23.03.01.71.31.11.11.31.42.22.62.9

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

  • 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.
  • Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
  • Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
  • Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.

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.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse?
July has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
What time is golden hour at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:36 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:05 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:56 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 64° in June to 115° in December; sunset ranges from 296° to 245°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 3 (rural sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse from Marine Corps Base Hawaii - MCBH?
About 51 km (32 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.