Feeling shadowless? Lahina Moon Approaches

[Stan Wright]

Feeling shadowless? Lahaina Moon Approaches

The phenomenon known as "Lahaina Noon" is due to hit the Hawaiian islands again in this week in May and again in July. The effect occurs when the sun is directly overhead and vertical objects like flagpoles and utility poles do not cast a shadow.

Lahaina Noon does not happen at precisely 12PM noon on the clock, but rather at "local solar noon" which is the time of day when the sun is at it's zenith in a particular locality. Thus, the effect occurs on different days on different islands.

2011 Lahaina Noon Dates and Times

Hilo
May 18 12:16 p.m. - July 24 12:26 p.m.

Kailua-Kona
May 19 12:20 p.m. - July 24 12:30 p.m.

Lihue
May 31 12:35 p.m. - July 11 12:42 p.m.

Kaneohe
May 27 12:28 p.m. - July 15 12:37 p.m.

Honolulu
May 27 12:28 p.m. - July 16 12:37 p.m.

Kaunakakai
May 26 12:24 p.m. - July 17 12:34 p.m.

Lanai City
May 24 12:24 p.m. - July 19 12:33 p.m.

Lahaina
May 24 12:23 p.m. - July 18 12:32 p.m.

Kahului
May 24 12:22 p.m. - July 18 12:32 p.m.

Hana
May 23 12:20 p.m. - July 19 12:30 p.m.

Lahaina Noon happens twice a year throughout the tropics. In Hawaii it occurs in May and July. The term "Lahaina Noon" was coined in 1990 when Honolulu,s Bishop Museum ran a contest to name the phenomenon. In the Hawaiian language the word "Lahaina" literally means "cruel sun".