Beach Guide

Hanalei Bay Sunset

Hanalei Pier · painted for this minute from Hanalei Bay’s own horizon and tonight’s cloud forecast

Fri Oct 30 · — HSTLIVE

Golden hour begins · the sun is 7° up · overcast at 100% · low clouds 94% on the horizon

The sun goes down at

5:33 PM

T-00:05:00

It drops behind land 9.0 km away to the west-south-west, 31 min before the official sunset time of 6:04 PM. Look west-south-west, to the right of Hanalei Pier. Golden hour starts at 5:32 PM.

Sunset Score · Overcast (100% cover): you may not see the sun go down. Try another night. Thin high clouds (52%) that turn pink after the sun goes down; mid-level clouds (98%) that glow orange from underneath; low clouds (94%) along the horizon could hide the sun a few minutes early.

4 PM · 5:28 PM · 9:30 PM

Prefer the real thing? Watch the live Hanalei Bay Cam cam →

Tonight’s Lineup

artisans & buskers
🏄

Longboarders

at dusk

🐬

Spinner Dolphins

evening

🎸

Hanalei Town Music

all evening

🚣

Outrigger Canoe

golden hour

🦅

Nene Geese

at dusk

Know Before You Go

Best spot

the pier end

walk to the tip for 360-degree mountain and bay view

Golden hour

waterfalls lit

the cliff faces stay in sun 30 min after the beach is in shadow

Admission

free

Hanalei Pier and Black Pot Beach Park are free

Wildlife

dolphins

spinner dolphins enter the bay at dusk to rest

see you at sunset

Tonight’s times, the week ahead and the year by month are below. Hanalei Pier Sunset runs nightly, weather permitting, from about two hours before sunset.

What time is sunset at Hanalei Bay tonight?

Tonight, Friday, October 30, the sun sets at 6:03 PM at Hanalei Bay. From the sand it drops behind land 5.6 miles away 30 min earlier, at 5:33 PM. Golden hour starts at 5:32 PM, and the sky stays light until about 6:25 PM. Tonight's Sunset Score is 3 out of 10. Overcast (100% cover): you may not see the sun go down. Try another night.

Sunrise today was at 6:42 AM, which gives Hanalei Bay 11 hr 21 min of daylight. It is fully dark by about 6:52 PM.

Hanalei Bay sunset times this week

The next seven evenings at Hanalei Bay: when the sun goes down, when golden hour starts and when the last light fades, plus the Sunset Score from each night's cloud forecast.

DaySunsetGolden hourLast lightCloudScore
Tonight5:33 PMfrom 5:32 PM6:25 PM100%3/10
Sat Oct 315:32 PMfrom 5:31 PM6:25 PM98%3/10
Sun Nov 15:31 PMfrom 5:30 PM6:24 PM57%9/10
Mon Nov 25:30 PMfrom 5:30 PM6:24 PM76%6/10
Tue Nov 35:30 PMfrom 5:29 PM6:23 PM99%3/10
Wed Nov 45:29 PMfrom 5:29 PM6:23 PM68%6/10
Thu Nov 55:29 PMfrom 5:28 PM6:22 PM76%6/10

On nights the sun drops behind land, the table shows the time it disappears from the beach, which is earlier than the official sunset.

Where to watch the sunset at Hanalei Bay

Tonight the sun goes down in the west-south-west (252° on a compass), to the right of Hanalei Pier as you face the water. The favorite place to watch is Hanalei Pier.

Tonight’s timeline for Hanalei Pier Sunset is at the top of this page.

Can’t make it to the beach? Watch the live Hanalei Bay Cam cam at sunset.

Where the sun sets through the year

The spot where the sun sets moves along the horizon through the year. Around June 21 it goes down furthest north, in the west-north-west (295°); around December 21 it goes down furthest south, in the west-south-west (242°). In June it drops behind land 1.1 miles away. In December it drops behind land 6.7 miles away.

Golden hour and blue hour at Hanalei Bay

Golden hour tonight runs from 5:32 PM to sunset at 6:03 PM. The sun is low, the light is warm and soft, and shadows are long. It is the best time for photos of people on the beach.

Blue hour follows, from about 6:17 PM to 6:34 PM, when the sun is below the horizon and the sky turns deep blue. The first lights come on along the shore and the water holds the last of the color.

Hanalei Bay sunset times by month

Sunrise, sunset and daylight on the 15th of each month. Over the next year the earliest sunset is 5:55 PM (Fri Nov 27) and the latest is 7:27 PM (Sun Jul 4). Times are local and include daylight saving time where it applies.

MonthSunriseSunsetDaylight
October 20266:35 AM6:14 PM11 hr 39 min
November 20266:52 AM5:56 PM11 hr 5 min
December 20267:11 AM5:58 PM10 hr 47 min
January 20277:21 AM6:16 PM10 hr 55 min
February 20277:11 AM6:36 PM11 hr 25 min
March 20276:48 AM6:48 PM12 hr
April 20276:19 AM6:59 PM12 hr 40 min
May 20276:00 AM7:12 PM13 hr 12 min
June 20275:55 AM7:24 PM13 hr 29 min
July 20276:04 AM7:26 PM13 hr 22 min
August 20276:17 AM7:11 PM12 hr 54 min
September 20276:26 AM6:43 PM12 hr 17 min

Tips for a great sunset at Hanalei Bay

  • Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. The best spots fill up, and the light is often at its best in the last half hour before the sun goes down.
  • Stay 20 minutes after. The clouds often light up brightest after the sun is gone, and most people have already left.
  • Check the Sunset Score. Scattered clouds make the most color. A clear sky gives a clean sunset that fades fast, and a heavy overcast can hide it.
  • Plan your parking. Sunset is a busy time at popular beaches. See Hanalei Bay parking for lots and rates.
  • Look at the water too. Today’s wind, waves and water temperature are on the Hanalei Bay conditions page.
  • Make a night of it. Find places to eat and sunset cruises and things to do at Hanalei Bay.

How we work out the sunset time

The official sunset time is when the top of the sun sinks below a flat sea horizon. We also check Hanalei Bay’s real horizon: the hills, headlands and islands you can see from the sand. When land is in the way, the sun disappears before the official time, and we show you that earlier time. The Sunset Score rates how colorful the sky should be from the cloud forecast at sunset. Buildings are not included, so a tall hotel beside you can still hide the last minute.

Hanalei Bay sunset FAQ

What time is sunset at Hanalei Bay today?

The sun sets at 6:03 PM at Hanalei Bay today (Friday, October 30). From the beach it drops behind land 30 min earlier, at 5:33 PM.

What time is sunrise at Hanalei Bay today?

The sun rose at 6:42 AM at Hanalei Bay today.

How many hours of daylight does Hanalei Bay get today?

11 hr 21 min of daylight, from 6:42 AM to 6:03 PM.

When is golden hour at Hanalei Bay tonight?

Golden hour at Hanalei Bay runs from 5:32 PM to sunset at 6:03 PM, when the sun is low and the light turns warm and soft. Blue hour follows, from 6:17 PM to 6:34 PM.

When does it get dark at Hanalei Bay tonight?

The sky stays light enough to see without a flashlight until about 6:25 PM, the end of civil twilight. It is fully dark by about 6:52 PM.

Will the sunset be good at Hanalei Bay tonight?

Tonight's Sunset Score is 3 out of 10, from the cloud forecast at sunset. Overcast (100% cover): you may not see the sun go down. Try another night.

Which direction does the sun set at Hanalei Bay?

Tonight the sun sets in the west-south-west, at 252° on a compass. Through the year it moves between the west-north-west in June and the west-south-west in December.

Can you see the sun set over the water at Hanalei Bay?

Not tonight. The sun drops behind land 5.6 miles away, to the west-south-west.

What are the earliest and latest sunset times at Hanalei Bay?

Over the next year the earliest sunset at Hanalei Bay is 5:55 PM on Friday, November 27, and the latest is 7:27 PM on Sunday, July 4.

Where is the best place to watch the sunset at Hanalei Bay?

Hanalei Pier is the favorite spot at Hanalei Bay. Get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunset for a good place, and stay 20 minutes after for the afterglow.

Is there a live sunset cam at Hanalei Bay?

Yes. The Hanalei Bay Cam live cam shows Hanalei Bay in real time, linked from this page.

Sunset tonight at beaches near Hanalei Bay

Po'ipu Beach sunset23 mi6:04 PM
Waikiki Beach sunset125 mi5:58 PM
Kailua Beach sunset126 mi5:57 PM
Lanikai Beach sunset128 mi5:57 PM
Hanauma Bay sunset133 mi5:57 PM
Kapalua Bay sunset200 mi5:54 PM

See every beach on one map: sunset times tonight across the US →