Located in Honolulu County, Hawaii, Waimea Falls is a waterfall at about 51 m (167 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Pupukea, about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) away (Waimea Falls lies SSE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Waimea Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (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 88° in summer but only 45° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:37 AM | 90° E | 6:44 PM | 270° W | 68° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 64° ENE | 7:18 PM | 296° WNW | 88° | 13h 27m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:22 AM | 89° E | 6:30 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:07 AM | 115° ESE | 5:55 PM | 245° WSW | 45° | 10h 49m |
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 | 6:50 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:35 PM | 10h 57m |
| February | 6:41 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:31 PM | 6:53 PM | 11h 27m |
| March | 6:19 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:42 PM | 7:05 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:51 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:52 PM | 7:15 PM | 12h 39m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:28 PM | 13h 10m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:42 PM | 13h 27m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:31 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:43 PM | 13h 20m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 53m |
| September | 5:58 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:49 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:36 PM | 6:59 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 6:06 AM | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 40m |
| November | 6:21 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:14 PM | 11h 06m |
| December | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:17 PM | 10h 49m |
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 Waimea 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 39° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright 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 | 4:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.3 | 25° | SE → SE |
| March | 2:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.0 | 36° | SE → SSE |
| April | 12:29 AM – 4:49 AM | 4.3 | 39° | SE → S |
| May | 10:26 PM – 4:26 AM | 6.0 | 39° | SE → SSW |
| June | 8:43 PM – 4:23 AM | 7.7 | 39° | SE → SW |
| July | 8:42 PM – 2:52 AM | 6.2 | 39° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:22 PM – 12:52 AM | 4.5 | 39° | S → SW |
| September | 7:51 PM – 10:51 PM | 3.0 | 36° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:22 PM – 8:52 PM | 1.5 | 26° | 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.48 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (58%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 78 | 79 | 78 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 80 |
| Low °F | 70 | 67 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 76 | 76 | 74 | 70 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
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
- 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.
- Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
- Bracket shutter speeds: 1/8 s, 1/2 s and 2 s give very different water textures and you can choose later.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Waimea Falls, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Beach
Beach
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
State Park
Mountain Peak
National Wildlife RefugeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Waimea Falls?
What time is golden hour at Waimea Falls?
Where does the sun rise and set at Waimea Falls?
Can you see the Milky Way from Waimea Falls?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Waimea Falls?
How far is Waimea Falls from Pupukea?
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.