Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau 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 Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau 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 | 7:33 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:06 PM | 248° | 11h 05m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 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 | 6:12 PM | 6:42 PM | 281° | 12h 35m |
| May | 5:49 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:52 PM | 291° | 13h 03m |
| June | 5:46 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:04 PM | 295° | 13h 18m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:06 PM | 293° | 13h 11m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:53 PM | 285° | 12h 48m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:27 PM | 273° | 12h 15m |
| October | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:01 PM | 261° | 11h 43m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:46 PM | 251° | 11h 13m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:49 PM | 246° | 10h 58m |
Computed for the park's reference point (19.4127, -155.9009); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| 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 | 10:13 PM – 4:23 AM | 6.2 | 42° |
| June | 8:28 PM – 4:18 AM | 7.8 | 42° |
| July | 8:28 PM – 2:48 AM | 6.3 | 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 | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather in the park is typically hot and sunny with daytime temperatures in the upper 80's. An excellent time to experience the park is in the morning and in the late afternoon when the temperatures are a bit cooler. The park occasionally closes because of high winds or dangerous storm conditions. Please check with the visitor center or your hotel for any weather advisories or hazardous conditions on the day of your visit.
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 | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From Kailua-Kona: Take Highway 11 south, approximately 20 miles. Between mileposts 103 and 104, at the Hōnaunau Post Office, turn right towards the ocean onto Hwy 160. Travel 3.5 miles and turn left at the Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park sign. Travel times will vary due to traffic conditions in North Kona.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Snorkeling
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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