Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a National Park in Hawaii. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 9 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
We matched 9 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (5)
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointNatural Arches (1)
Volcanoes (2)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 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 | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:05 PM | 248° | 11h 05m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:23 PM | 257° | 11h 31m |
| March | 6:31 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:03 PM | 6:32 PM | 268° | 12h 01m |
| April | 6:05 AM | 6:34 AM | 6:11 PM | 6:40 PM | 281° | 12h 35m |
| May | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:51 PM | 291° | 13h 03m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:02 PM | 295° | 13h 17m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:04 PM | 293° | 13h 11m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:33 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:51 PM | 285° | 12h 47m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:26 PM | 273° | 12h 15m |
| October | 6:17 AM | 6:46 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:00 PM | 261° | 11h 43m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 7:02 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:44 PM | 251° | 11h 13m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 246° | 10h 58m |
Computed for the park's reference point (19.3355, -155.4700); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, 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 | 4:07 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.5 | 27° |
| March | 2:15 AM – 5:15 AM | 3.0 | 38° |
| April | 12:15 AM – 4:45 AM | 4.5 | 42° |
| May | 10:10 PM – 4:20 AM | 6.2 | 42° |
| June | 8:25 PM – 4:15 AM | 7.8 | 42° |
| July | 8:26 PM – 2:56 AM | 6.5 | 42° |
| August | 8:08 PM – 12:48 AM | 4.7 | 42° |
| September | 7:39 PM – 10:49 PM | 3.2 | 39° |
| October | 7:13 PM – 8:53 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
The weather the summit of Kīlauea (~4000' elevation) varies daily and may be rainy and chilly any time of the year. Temperature varies by elevation. At the summit of the volcano, temperatures may be 12 to 15 degrees cooler than at sea level. The coastal plain at the end of Chain of Craters Road is often hot, dry, and windy with the possibility of passing showers.
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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $100.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located on the Island of Hawai‘i. From Hilo: 30 miles southwest on Highway 11 (45 minute drive); from Kailua-Kona: 96 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2.5 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via Highways 19 and 11 (2.5 to 3 hours).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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