Pauwela Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Maui County, Hawaii. The nearest town is Haiku-Pauwela, about 3.6 km (2.2 mi) away (Pauwela Lighthouse lies NNW of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Pauwela Lighthouse 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 296° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 46° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:30 AM | 90° E | 6:37 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:46 AM | 65° ENE | 7:10 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 24m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:15 AM | 89° E | 6:23 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:59 AM | 115° ESE | 5:50 PM | 245° WSW | 46° | 10h 51m |
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 | 6:42 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:29 PM | 11h 00m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:47 PM | 11h 28m |
| March | 6:12 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:35 PM | 6:58 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:07 PM | 12h 38m |
| May | 5:25 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:20 PM | 13h 08m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:33 PM | 13h 24m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 17m |
| August | 5:42 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:19 PM | 12h 51m |
| September | 5:51 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:52 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 5:59 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:24 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:08 PM | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:12 PM | 10h 52m |
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 Pauwela 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 40° 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 | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:19 AM – 5:19 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:21 AM – 4:41 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:17 PM – 4:17 AM | 6.0 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:33 PM – 4:13 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:33 PM – 2:53 AM | 6.3 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:14 PM – 12:44 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:43 PM – 10:43 PM | 3.0 | 37° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:16 PM – 8:46 PM | 1.5 | 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 ≈ 19.71 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (53%). 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 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 80 |
| Low °F | 64 | 62 | 63 | 65 | 68 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 66 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 KAHULUI, 16.2 km (10.1 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Pauwela Lighthouse, closest first.
Waterfall
Waterfall
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State ParkWaterfall
State Park
Botanical GardenWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pauwela Lighthouse?
What time is golden hour at Pauwela Lighthouse?
Where does the sun rise and set at Pauwela Lighthouse?
Can you see the Milky Way from Pauwela Lighthouse?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Pauwela Lighthouse?
How far is Pauwela Lighthouse from Haiku-Pauwela?
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.