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Sunsets in Hawaii
 The Hawaiian sunset – you’ve heard about it, you’ve seen
photos of it, and now you can finally see for yourself what
all the hype is about! A large part of Hawaii’s spiritual
draw can be attributed to its unique and inspirational sunset
views. Gorgeous red, orange, pink and blue hues leave spectators
in awe as the sun makes its way toward the horizon. The
ubiquitous sunshine that provided 12 hours of life-giving
light and beach and outdoor fun sinks peacefully into the
sea as if being tucked in after a hard day’s work.
Brilliant Colors
 At the time of sunset, more light is piercing the atmosphere
than at other times during the day. The heating process
during the day has created a high number of particles in
the air, which are able to scatter more light. We know that
sunsets derive their red hues because the long wavelengths
are the least scattered. The geography of Hawaii, tropical
temperatures, humidity levels and a variety of other factors
combine to give us the original palette we see as the sun
sets.
Geography
 Hawaii is in the northern hemisphere and is located 20°
north of the equator and 155° west of the Prime Meridian.
Due to Hawaii’s remote geographic location, the view is
truly unique. Sunset on the beach in Hawaii is a favorite
pastime of residents and visitors, and the experience is
like no other sunset you may have witnessed.
Speedy Sunsets
 Sunset in Hawaii is anywhere from about 5:45 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. depending on the time of year. Once the sun seems low
on the horizon, you should find your “sunset” spot quickly
as it will set rapidly. When you see the sun nearing the
horizon, it will surely disappear within a half hour. Look
away and you might miss something! Twilight is also relatively
short in Hawaii. After the sun disappears, you may only
have 15 or fewer minutes of residual light.
The Green Flash
You may have heard of the sunset phenomenon called the “green
flash.” At the precise moment the sun disappears from view
and is seemingly engulfed in whole by the ocean, a fleeting
spot of intense emerald greenish/bluish light can be seen
in its wake. The green flash is caused by the same phenomenon
responsible for the plentiful rainbows in the islands, a
process called dispersion whereby the sunlight is bent at
varying angles and intensities based on its hue.
Green is the hue that is bent most, allowing spectators
to view an intensity of green immediately following sunset.
The green flash may also appear a moment before sunrise.
If you are trying to view the green flash, pick an evening
when the sky is cloudless. The flash happens so quickly
it is nearly impossible to catch the event on film.
Prime Sunset Views
 You may have heard of Oahu’s famous
North Shore beach, aptly named for the amazing color
palette painted at dusk. The pier near the Honolulu yacht
harbor,
Waikiki Beach,
Ala Moana Beach and Magic Island are also great places
to catch a Hawaiian sunset in the winter season from mid-September
to March. For other islands, choose a west-facing shore
where the view is not impeded by close islands.
 If you haven’t had the privilege of experiencing a Hawaiian
sunset yet, you can look forward to viewing the beautiful
and inspiring warm colors that paint the Hawaii evening
sky. Not content with a calm and peaceful beach sunset view?
Try a sunset paddle in a canoe or kayak, a sunset dinner
or cocktail cruise, or a sunset helicopter tour.
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