Haleakalā Wilderness — a wilderness area in Maui County, Hawaii — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Haleakalā National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 15.2 km (9.4 mi) SSW of Wailua.
Haleakalā National Park is a national park of the United States located on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Named after Haleakalā, a dormant volcano within its boundaries, the park covers an area of 33,265 acres (52.0 sq mi; 134.6 km2), of which 24,719 acres (38.6 sq mi; 100.0 km2) is a wilderness area. The land was designated a national park in 1976 and its boundaries expanded in 2005.From the Wikipedia article “Haleakalā National Park”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Haleakalā Wilderness 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) | 5:46 AM | 65° ENE | 7:09 PM | 296° WNW | 87° | 13h 23m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:14 AM | 89° E | 6:22 PM | 271° W | 69° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:57 AM | 115° ESE | 5:50 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
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
| 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 01m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:24 PM | 6:47 PM | 11h 29m |
| March | 6:12 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:35 PM | 6:57 PM | 12h 01m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:36 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:44 PM | 7:07 PM | 12h 37m |
| May | 5:25 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:19 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:19 PM | 13h 07m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:08 PM | 7:32 PM | 13h 23m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:25 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:34 PM | 13h 16m |
| August | 5:42 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:18 PM | 12h 51m |
| September | 5:51 AM | 6:13 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:29 PM | 6:51 PM | 12h 16m |
| October | 5:58 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:24 PM | 11h 41m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:07 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:45 PM | 6:08 PM | 11h 09m |
| December | 6:30 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:11 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 Haleakalā Wilderness, 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 ≈ 21.61 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 wilderness area
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.
Suggested gear: Lightweight tripod, Spare batteries, Headlamp, Navigation. 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 40 km of Haleakalā Wilderness, closest first.
VolcanoVolcanoVolcano
Scenic ViewpointScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Volcano
WaterfallWaterfallCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Haleakalā National Park (Cabin Permits)797 m · reservable
- Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)5.8 km (3.6 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Haleakalā Wilderness?
What time is golden hour at Haleakalā Wilderness?
Where does the sun rise and set at Haleakalā Wilderness?
Can you see the Milky Way from Haleakalā Wilderness?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Haleakalā Wilderness?
How far is Haleakalā Wilderness from Wailua?
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.