The Arch — a natural arch in Maui County, Hawaii — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 24 km (15 mi) WSW of Wailea-Makena.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At The Arch 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 296° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 87° in summer but only 46° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:31 AM | 90° E | 6:38 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:48 AM | 65° ENE | 7:11 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 23m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:16 AM | 89° E | 6:24 PM | 271° W | 70° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:59 AM | 115° ESE | 5:52 PM | 245° WSW | 46° | 10h 53m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:42 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 01m |
| February | 6:35 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:49 PM | 11h 29m |
| March | 6:14 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:05 AM | 6:08 PM | 6:37 PM | 6:59 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:46 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 6:16 PM | 6:46 PM | 7:08 PM | 12h 37m |
| May | 5:27 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:21 PM | 13h 07m |
| June | 5:22 AM | 5:47 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:34 PM | 13h 22m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:27 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 16m |
| August | 5:44 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:27 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:20 PM | 12h 50m |
| September | 5:53 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:53 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:00 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:52 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:26 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:14 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:09 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:10 PM | 11h 10m |
| December | 6:32 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 54m |
Local time (Pacific/Honolulu), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From The Arch, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.7 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 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| February | 4:11 AM – 5:41 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:21 AM – 5:21 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:22 AM – 4:52 AM | 4.5 | 41° | SE → S |
| May | 10:18 PM – 4:28 AM | 6.2 | 41° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:34 PM – 4:14 AM | 7.7 | 41° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:34 PM – 2:54 AM | 6.3 | 41° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:15 PM – 12:55 AM | 4.7 | 41° | S → SW |
| September | 7:45 PM – 10:45 PM | 3.0 | 38° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:18 PM – 8:48 PM | 1.5 | 27° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.68 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 36% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (53%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 79 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 83 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 80 |
| Low °F | 64 | 62 | 63 | 65 | 68 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 66 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this natural arch
- Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
- At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Midday sun creates hard shadows, but can light the underside through reflection in narrow canyons.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of The Arch, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph The Arch?
What time is golden hour at The Arch?
Where does the sun rise and set at The Arch?
Can you see the Milky Way from The Arch?
Do you need a permit to photograph at The Arch?
How far is The Arch from Wailea-Makena?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.