Lahaina Noon describes a unique solar event in tropical regions where the sun is directly overhead. During this brief period, upright objects appear to cast no shadows, creating a distinctive visual effect. This phenomenon captivates observers due to its striking departure from everyday shadow patterns.
Understanding Lahaina Noon
Lahaina Noon is when the sun culminates at the zenith, precisely at a 90-degree angle directly above an observer. This causes the sun’s rays to fall perfectly perpendicular to the ground, making upright objects like flagpoles or bollards appear shadowless. This specific alignment of the sun is also known as the sub-solar point, where a location on Earth is directly beneath the sun. The term “Lahaina Noon” was chosen in a contest by the Bishop Museum in 1990. While the name translates to “cruel sun” in Hawaiian, an older Hawaiian term for this event is “kau ka lā i ka lolo,” which means “the sun rests upon the brain,” reflecting the intense midday sun.
Timing and Location of the Event
This shadowless phenomenon occurs twice a year for any location within the tropics, the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Hawaii is the only U.S. state entirely within the tropics, making it the sole state where Lahaina Noon can be observed. For most places in Hawaii, the event typically happens once in late May and again in mid-July, before and after the summer solstice. The precise date and time vary depending on the specific latitude; for instance, in 2025, Honolulu experiences Lahaina Noon around May 26 at 12:28 PM and July 15 at 12:37 PM, while Hilo sees it earlier, around May 18 at 12:17 PM and July 24 at 12:26 PM, due to its more southerly latitude.
The Astronomical Explanation
Lahaina Noon is directly related to Earth’s axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees and its orbit around the sun. As Earth revolves, the point where the sun is directly overhead shifts latitudinally between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South). During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, the sub-solar point moves northward, reaching the Tropic of Cancer around the June solstice, then begins its southward journey. Any location between these two tropical lines will experience the sun directly overhead twice annually as the sub-solar point passes over its latitude, once on its way north and once on its way south.
Observing This Unique Phenomenon
Witnessing Lahaina Noon offers a unique experience where the world momentarily seems to shed its shadows. Observers can notice objects like telephone poles, lamp posts, or even themselves casting a minimal or non-existent shadow directly beneath them. In Honolulu, the Sky Gate sculpture, a large, curvy ring, becomes a focal point during Lahaina Noon, as its typically complex shadows resolve into a perfect circle directly below the structure. To best experience this event, know the exact date and time, as the shadowless period lasts only for a few minutes around local solar noon. Choosing a clear, sunny day and being outdoors with upright objects enhances the visual impact of this natural spectacle.