Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a National Historic Trail in Hawaii. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Ala Kahakai 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 295° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 47° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:01 AM | 7:32 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:07 PM | 248° | 11h 06m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:24 PM | 257° | 11h 32m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 12h 01m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:42 PM | 281° | 12h 35m |
| May | 5:50 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:52 PM | 291° | 13h 02m |
| June | 5:47 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 295° | 13h 17m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:05 PM | 293° | 13h 10m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:52 PM | 285° | 12h 47m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:27 PM | 273° | 12h 15m |
| October | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:01 PM | 261° | 11h 43m |
| November | 6:32 AM | 7:03 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:46 PM | 251° | 11h 14m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:22 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:49 PM | 246° | 10h 59m |
Computed for the park's reference point (19.1447, -155.8907); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Ala Kahakai, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 42° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 27° |
| March | 2:17 AM – 5:17 AM | 3.0 | 38° |
| April | 12:17 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.5 | 42° |
| May | 10:12 PM – 4:22 AM | 6.2 | 42° |
| June | 8:27 PM – 4:17 AM | 7.8 | 42° |
| July | 8:28 PM – 2:58 AM | 6.5 | 42° |
| August | 8:10 PM – 12:50 AM | 4.7 | 42° |
| September | 7:41 PM – 10:51 PM | 3.2 | 39° |
| October | 7:15 PM – 8:55 PM | 1.7 | 28° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Hawaiʻiʻs coast is generally sunny and hot. Be prepared with sun protection (hat, mineral-based sunscreen, sunglasses and long sleeves) and water (minimum 2 liters of water per person per day for short hikes). Before visiting the Trail, check weather forecasts and follow all warnings and advisories: - https://www.weather.gov/hfo/ - www.hawaiicounty.gov/active-alerts
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (62%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Open sections of the Ala Kahakai NHT can be accessed through the four Hawai'i Island National Parks: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP, Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau NHP, Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP and Pu'ukoholā Heiau NHS. The Nā Ala Hele State Trails and Access Programʻs "Ala Kahakai Trail" in South Kohala is also open to the public. Additional sections of the trail are opened as they are sufficiently managed to protect the trail and associated areas.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Orienteering
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
Nearby parks
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