Located in Maui County, Hawaii, Makena State Park is a state park. The nearest town is Wailea-Makena, about 1.8 km (1.1 mi) away (Makena State Park lies WSW of town).
Mākena State Park is a 165-acre (0.7 km2) beachside park in Makena on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Located just south of Wailea, it contains three separate beaches and a dormant volcanic cinder cone. Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Mākena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals. Big Beach is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and more than 100 feet (30 m) wide. The shore is fairly protected from wind. The "Makena cloud" that stretches from the top of Haleakalā to Kahoʻolawe is often overhead, cooling the sand. The beach is informally divided into three sections based on its main three entrances, commonly referred to as "Firsts", "Seconds", and "Thirds". This informal system provided a practical way to specify specific locations along the expansive beach.From the Wikipedia article “Mākena State Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Makena State Park 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) | 6:30 AM | 90° E | 6:37 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:47 AM | 65° ENE | 7:10 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 23m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:15 AM | 89° E | 6:23 PM | 271° W | 70° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:58 AM | 115° ESE | 5:51 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
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:42 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:06 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 01m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:55 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:48 PM | 11h 29m |
| March | 6:13 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:36 PM | 6:58 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:45 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:08 PM | 12h 37m |
| May | 5:26 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:20 PM | 13h 07m |
| June | 5:21 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:33 PM | 13h 23m |
| July | 5:30 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:26 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:35 PM | 13h 16m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:19 PM | 12h 50m |
| September | 5:52 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:01 PM | 6:30 PM | 6:52 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 5:59 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:51 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:25 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:46 PM | 6:09 PM | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:31 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:48 PM | 6:13 PM | 10h 53m |
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 Makena State Park, 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 40° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:10 AM – 5:40 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:20 AM – 5:20 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:21 AM – 4:41 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:18 PM – 4:28 AM | 6.2 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:34 PM – 4:14 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:34 PM – 2:54 AM | 6.3 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:14 PM – 12:44 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:44 PM – 10:44 PM | 3.0 | 37° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:17 PM – 8:47 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.85 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 state park
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Makena State Park, closest first.
Botanical Garden
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical Garden
Volcano
Natural Arch
Volcano
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)30 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Makena State Park?
What time is golden hour at Makena State Park?
Where does the sun rise and set at Makena State Park?
Can you see the Milky Way from Makena State Park?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Makena State Park?
How far is Makena State Park from Wailea-Makena?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.