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19.9044° N155.4907° W2,252 mBortle 2Honolulu

Kaluamakani Photography Guide

Volcano in Hawaii County, Hawaii · 2,252 m (7,388 ft)

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 245°–295°
  • Clearest: January
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct

Kaluamakani is a volcano in Hawaii County, Hawaii at about 2,252 m (7,388 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Honoka‘a, about 19.6 km (12.2 mi) away (Kaluamakani lies S of town).

Elevation
2,252 m
7,388 ft
Nearest town
Honoka‘a
19.6 km (12.2 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
January
50% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
7.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:30 PM
sunset 5:59 PM

Light at Kaluamakani

Live
Sunrise
6:19 AM
Sunset
5:56 PM
Golden hour AM
6:05 AM – 6:49 AM
Golden hour PM
5:26 PM – 6:09 PM
Blue hour AM
5:57 AM – 6:05 AM
Blue hour PM
6:09 PM – 6:18 PM
Full darkness
7:09 PM – 5:06 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 72%
Moonrise / set
2:29 PM / 1:23 AM
Day length
11h 37m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in Pacific/Honolulu. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Kaluamakani 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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:27 AM90° E6:34 PM270° W70°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:45 AM65° ENE7:05 PM295° WNW86°13h 20m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:12 AM89° E6:19 PM271° W70°12h 08m
December solstice (Dec 21)6:53 AM115° ESE5:49 PM245° WSW47°10h 56m

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

Volcanic cones and lava fields have strong shapes that read well in side-light; dark basalt needs careful exposure.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:37 AM7:00 AM7:32 AM5:32 PM6:04 PM6:27 PM11h 04m
February6:29 AM6:52 AM7:22 AM5:52 PM6:22 PM6:45 PM11h 30m
March6:09 AM6:31 AM7:00 AM6:03 PM6:32 PM6:54 PM12h 01m
April5:42 AM6:04 AM6:34 AM6:11 PM6:41 PM7:03 PM12h 36m
May5:23 AM5:47 AM6:18 AM6:21 PM6:52 PM7:15 PM13h 05m
June5:19 AM5:44 AM6:15 AM6:31 PM7:03 PM7:28 PM13h 20m
July5:28 AM5:52 AM6:23 AM6:34 PM7:05 PM7:29 PM13h 13m
August5:40 AM6:03 AM6:33 AM6:22 PM6:52 PM7:15 PM12h 49m
September5:48 AM6:10 AM6:39 AM5:57 PM6:26 PM6:48 PM12h 16m
October5:55 AM6:17 AM6:47 AM5:30 PM5:59 PM6:22 PM11h 42m
November6:08 AM6:32 AM7:03 AM5:12 PM5:43 PM6:07 PM11h 12m
December6:26 AM6:50 AM7:22 AM5:14 PM5:46 PM6:10 PM10h 56m

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 Kaluamakani, 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 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
February4:06 AM – 5:36 AM1.527°SE → SE
March2:15 AM – 5:15 AM3.038°SE → SSE
April12:16 AM – 4:46 AM4.541°SE → S
May10:12 PM – 4:22 AM6.241°SE → SSW
June8:27 PM – 4:17 AM7.841°SE → SW
July8:28 PM – 2:48 AM6.341°SSE → SW
August8:09 PM – 12:49 AM4.741°S → SW
September7:40 PM – 10:50 PM3.238°SSW → SW
October7:13 PM – 8:43 PM1.527°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—8°—
DecemberBelow 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.84 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F797778767981808382797876
Low °F504648525355565656565350
Precip. (in)5.66.68.67.75.44.24.75.44.85.36.76.6

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 volcano

  • Lava rock is sharp and unstable; stay on trails.
  • Long lenses from 20–60 miles away make large stratovolcanoes dominate the horizon.
  • Check local volcanic activity notices and area closures before visiting.
  • Snow-capped volcanoes reflect alpenglow at sunrise — shoot from a lake or meadow for a reflection.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

Season: Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.

Suggested gear: Telephoto lens, Tripod, Sturdy boots. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Kaluamakani, closest first.

Mauna KeaMountain Peak
Mauna Kea9.6 km away · Hawaii County
Lake WaiauLake
Lake Waiau10 km away · Hawaii County · 3,970 m
Kalopa State Recreation AreaBotanical Garden
Kalopa State Recreation Area16 km away · Hawaii County
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge17 km away · Hawaii County
Mauna Kea State Recreation AreaState Park
Mauna Kea State Recreation Area18 km away · Hawaii County
Waterfall
Waiholoa Falls23 km away · Hawaii County · 689 m
Waterfall
Hakalaoa Falls24 km away · Hawaii County · 490 m
Hiʻilawe FallsWaterfall
Hiʻilawe Falls24 km away · Hawaii County · 414 m
Waterfall
Ipuu Falls24 km away · Hawaii County · 457 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Kaluamakani?
January has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer for high trails; winter and spring for snowy cones viewed from below.
What time is golden hour at Kaluamakani?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:30 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:59 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 6:47 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Kaluamakani?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 65° in June to 115° in December; sunset ranges from 295° to 245°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Kaluamakani?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Kaluamakani?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Kaluamakani from Honoka‘a?
About 19.6 km (12.2 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.