Hawaii No Shadow Day: The Eerie Phenomenon of Lahaina Noon

Hawaii is a great place to visit any time of the year, but Lahaina Noon is one of the most interesting.

Without getting too scientific, Hawaii is in a good spot on Earth that puts it closest to the sun’s rays. This makes for a strange sight that happens twice a year during the summer.

During Lahaina Noon, anything standing straight up won’t be able to find a shadow anywhere around it, making it seem almost unreal. As the sun moves across the sky, its rays hit the ground straight on.

The phrase “kau ka l lolo” means “the sun rests on the brains” in the native Hawaiian language. The ancient Hawaiians thought that their shadow would go into their head when it went away. The native people thought this was a powerful “mana,” or blessing.

Hawaii No Shadow Day: The Eerie Phenomenon of Lahaina Noon — This picture was taken at Lahaina Noon when the sun was right in the middle of the sky. | © Daniel Ramirez / Flickr

Even today, people are still amazed by how mysterious it all is. Some people even go all the way to the islands just to see it.

Because the Hawaiian islands are on a subsolar point of the Earth and the rest of the United States is too far north to see this natural phenomenon, this only happens in Hawaii.

Even though it doesn’t happen at the same place and time every time, it can be seen in different parts of Hawaii between May and July. Just before the summer solstice, Lahaina Noon takes place.

If people plan ahead, they will be able to see it on the Big Island from July 23 to July 25 this year. For everyone else, they’ll have to use NASA’s solar calculator to figure out where they are. If you play around with dates in May and June when the sun is 90 degrees above the horizon, you can find out if and when the phenomenon can be seen in your area.

Isamu Noguchi, an artist, made an installation in Hawaii called “Sky Gate” to show this event in a great way. The swirly structure, which is right next to City Hall, casts strange shadows most days of the week. But at Lahaina Noon, the building casts the most perfect shadow, so people can see the oddity in all its glory.

Topic: Hawaii No Shadow Day: The Eerie Phenomenon of Lahaina Noon

Join the “I Left My Heart in Hawaii” in Our Community on Facebook. A place where members can be honest with each other, share their stories and travel photos, and try out a new way to see Hawaii together.