Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is a National Historic Site 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 Puʻukoholā Heiau 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 87° 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 | 5:33 PM | 6:05 PM | 248° | 11h 03m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:23 PM | 257° | 11h 30m |
| March | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:34 PM | 268° | 12h 01m |
| April | 6:06 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:42 PM | 281° | 12h 36m |
| May | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:53 PM | 291° | 13h 05m |
| June | 5:45 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:05 PM | 295° | 13h 20m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:07 PM | 293° | 13h 14m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:53 PM | 285° | 12h 49m |
| September | 6:12 AM | 6:41 AM | 5:58 PM | 6:27 PM | 273° | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:19 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:01 PM | 261° | 11h 42m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:44 PM | 251° | 11h 11m |
| December | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 246° | 10h 56m |
Computed for the park's reference point (20.0277, -155.8212); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Puʻukoholā Heiau, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:07 AM – 5:37 AM | 1.5 | 27° |
| March | 2:16 AM – 5:16 AM | 3.0 | 38° |
| April | 12:17 AM – 4:47 AM | 4.5 | 41° |
| May | 10:13 PM – 4:23 AM | 6.2 | 41° |
| June | 8:28 PM – 4:18 AM | 7.8 | 41° |
| July | 8:29 PM – 2:49 AM | 6.3 | 41° |
| August | 8:10 PM – 12:50 AM | 4.7 | 41° |
| September | 7:41 PM – 10:51 PM | 3.2 | 38° |
| October | 7:14 PM – 8:44 PM | 1.5 | 27° |
| 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 is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. However, the park and or trail does occasionally close 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 57% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (70%). September 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
From Keahole (Kona) International Airport: Head east on Keahole Airport Rd. Turn left at traffic light onto HI-19. Follow HI-19 to Spencer Beach Park Rd. (26.1 mi) Turn left onto HI-270 (0.4 mi) Turn left onto Spencer Beach Park Rd. (0.3 mi) Destination will be second right on Spencer Beach Park Rd. (Approximately 32 minute drive 27.5 mi)
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Camping
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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