Upper Waikani Falls — a waterfall in Maui County, Hawaii — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Haleakalā National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Wailua, about 1.9 km (1.2 mi) away (Upper Waikani Falls lies S of town).
Wikidata describes it as: “waterfall on the Hana Highway in Hawaii”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Upper Waikani Falls 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) | 6:29 AM | 90° E | 6:36 PM | 270° W | 69° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:45 AM | 65° ENE | 7:09 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 24m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:14 AM | 89° E | 6:22 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:58 AM | 115° ESE | 5:49 PM | 245° WSW | 46° | 10h 52m |
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
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:41 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:33 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:29 PM | 11h 00m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:46 PM | 11h 28m |
| March | 6:12 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:35 PM | 6:57 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:07 PM | 12h 38m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:19 PM | 13h 08m |
| June | 5:19 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:32 PM | 13h 23m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:24 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:34 PM | 13h 17m |
| August | 5:41 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 51m |
| September | 5:50 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:42 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:51 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 5:58 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:24 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:08 PM | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:30 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:11 PM | 10h 52m |
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 Upper Waikani Falls, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:39 AM | 1.5 | 26° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:19 AM – 5:19 AM | 3.0 | 37° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:20 AM – 4:40 AM | 4.3 | 40° | SE → S |
| May | 10:17 PM – 4:27 AM | 6.2 | 40° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:33 PM – 4:13 AM | 7.7 | 40° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:33 PM – 2:53 AM | 6.3 | 40° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:13 PM – 12:43 AM | 4.5 | 40° | S → SW |
| September | 7:43 PM – 10:43 PM | 3.0 | 37° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:16 PM – 8:46 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 ≈ 21.58 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 waterfall
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Circular polarizer, 3–6 stop ND filter, Lens cloth, Waterproof footwear. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Upper Waikani Falls, closest first.
Waterfall
State ParkWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfallWaterfall
Botanical GardenWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)13.2 km (8.2 mi) · reservable
- Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)13.9 km (8.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Upper Waikani Falls?
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Sources
Location data: Wikidata. 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.