Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a National Historical Park 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 Kaloko-Honokōhau 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 | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:06 PM | 248° | 11h 04m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:25 PM | 257° | 11h 31m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 12h 01m |
| April | 6:07 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:43 PM | 281° | 12h 36m |
| May | 5:49 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:53 PM | 291° | 13h 04m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:05 PM | 295° | 13h 19m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:07 PM | 293° | 13h 12m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:24 PM | 6:54 PM | 285° | 12h 48m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:28 PM | 273° | 12h 15m |
| October | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:02 PM | 261° | 11h 42m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:05 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:46 PM | 251° | 11h 12m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:49 PM | 246° | 10h 57m |
Computed for the park's reference point (19.6808, -156.0307); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Kaloko-Honokōhau, 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 41° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:08 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.5 | 27° |
| March | 2:17 AM – 5:17 AM | 3.0 | 38° |
| April | 12:18 AM – 4:48 AM | 4.5 | 41° |
| May | 10:13 PM – 4:23 AM | 6.2 | 41° |
| June | 8:29 PM – 4:19 AM | 7.8 | 41° |
| July | 8:29 PM – 2:49 AM | 6.3 | 41° |
| August | 8:11 PM – 12:51 AM | 4.7 | 41° |
| September | 7:41 PM – 10:51 PM | 3.2 | 38° |
| October | 7:15 PM – 8:55 PM | 1.7 | 27° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in the park is typically hot and sunny, with temperatures in the upper 80's.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show January as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (54%). 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
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is located on the west coast of the island of Hawai'i, approximately 3 miles south of the Keahole International Airport (Kailua-Kona Airport) and 3 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona, on the ocean side of Highway 19. The visitor center, Hale Ho'okipa, is located half a mile north of the entrance to Honokōhau Harbor. The Kaloko Road gate is located across the highway from the Kaloko New Industrial Park (across from the big yellow "Kona Trade Center" building).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Biking
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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