Hana Highway - Painted Sky - Hawaii
Golden hour clouds lit up in orange, pink and gold
No Painted Sky opportunities in the next 14 days
Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.
Currently
Real-time conditionsUpcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
No opportunities in the next 10 days
See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.
What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis forecast tracks the soft, pastel sunset conditions that give Hawaii its famous watercolor skies. We monitor cloud patterns, trade wind flow, and atmospheric moisture to predict when tropical sunsets will produce gentle, painterly color rather than dramatic fire.
Hawaii's painted-sky conditions create the dreamy tropical sunset aesthetic seen in countless beach resort images—soft pinks, lavenders, and peaches rather than intense oranges and reds. These conditions occur when trade wind clouds scatter light gently, and when volcanic haze is minimal.
What makes Hawaii special for painted-sky photography:
- Trade wind clouds - Gentle cumulus creates soft, diffused sunset color
- Soft watercolor tones - Pinks, lavenders, and peaches instead of intense reds
- Waikiki classic - The iconic Hawaiian beach sunset with palms and soft color
- Gentle tropical beauty - Less dramatic but more romantic than fire-sky conditions
Waikiki Beach offers Hawaii's classic painted-sky experience—palms silhouetted against soft pastel sunset colors, with Diamond Head providing a volcanic backdrop. This softer sunset style occurs when trade winds flow gently, creating scattered cloud cover that diffuses light into pastels rather than concentrating it into intense colors. Oahu's windward coast, particularly at sunrise, offers similar painted conditions. The North Shore's famous beaches like Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay become surprisingly gentle during painted-sky evenings. Maui's Wailea and Kauai's Hanalei Bay offer world-class painted-sky opportunities. These conditions work beautifully for silhouette photography—the soft color gradients create perfect backgrounds for palms, surfers, or volcanic profiles. Unlike fire-sky conditions that demand attention, painted skies create a peaceful, romantic mood. The color show lasts longer than fire-sky events, with gentle pastels persisting through extended twilight.
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72-hour requirements breakdown
What passed or failed, hour by hourTime Pacific/Honolulu | Golden Hour Any | Golden Clouds Potential ≥ 80.0% | Wind Speed ≤ 6.0m/s | Precipitation Chance ≤ 10.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, May 23 | ||||
| 03:00 | ✕ | 23% | 9.8m/s | 94% |
| 04:00 | ✕ | 35% | 9.6m/s | 88% |
| 05:00 | ✓ | 52% | 10m/s | 82% |
| 06:00 | ✓ | 60% | 12m/s | 82% |
| 07:00 | ✕ | 33% | 12m/s | 82% |
| 08:00 | ✕ | 41% | 12m/s | 82% |
| 09:00 | ✕ | 21% | 11m/s | 26% |
| 10:00 | ✕ | 20% | 11m/s | 13% |
| 11:00 | ✕ | 38% | 11m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | ✕ | 26% | 9.9m/s | 13% |
| 13:00 | ✕ | 21% | 9.4m/s | 26% |
| 14:00 | ✕ | 16% | 9.6m/s | 39% |
| 15:00 | ✕ | 19% | 9.8m/s | 46% |
| 16:00 | ✕ | 39% | 9.3m/s | 54% |
| 17:00 | ✕ | 30% | 9.7m/s | 61% |
| 18:00 | ✓ | 69% | 9.8m/s | 72% |
| 19:00 | ✓ | 66% | 9.7m/s | 83% |
| 20:00 | ✕ | 33% | 9.5m/s | 95% |
| 21:00 | ✕ | 26% | 8.2m/s | 90% |
| 22:00 | ✕ | 41% | 8.8m/s | 86% |
| 23:00 | ✕ | 29% | 9.5m/s | 82% |
| Sun, May 24 | ||||
| 24:00 | ✕ | 40% | 9.9m/s | 82% |
| 01:00 | ✕ | 40% | 9.7m/s | 82% |
| 02:00 | ✕ | 40% | 8.8m/s | 82% |
| 03:00 | ✕ | 41% | 8.7m/s | 68% |
| 04:00 | ✕ | 39% | 8.6m/s | 53% |
| 05:00 | ✓ | 70% | 8m/s | 39% |
| 06:00 | ✓ | 70% | 8.5m/s | 39% |
| 07:00 | ✕ | 51% | 8.7m/s | 39% |
| 08:00 | ✕ | 41% | 9.7m/s | 39% |
| 09:00 | ✕ | 20% | 9.1m/s | 31% |
| 10:00 | ✕ | 19% | 9m/s | 23% |
| 11:00 | ✕ | 19% | 9.3m/s | 15% |
| 12:00 | ✕ | 19% | 9m/s | 23% |
| 13:00 | ✕ | 18% | 8.9m/s | 31% |
| 14:00 | ✕ | 18% | 9m/s | 39% |
| 15:00 | ✕ | 21% | 8.9m/s | 43% |
| 16:00 | ✕ | 20% | 9.4m/s | 48% |
| 17:00 | ✕ | 24% | 9m/s | 52% |
| 18:00 | ✓ | 31% | 9m/s | 62% |
| 19:00 | ✓ | 31% | 9m/s | 72% |
| 20:00 | ✕ | 20% | 8.8m/s | 82% |
| 21:00 | ✕ | 42% | 9.1m/s | 68% |
| 22:00 | ✕ | 39% | 9.4m/s | 53% |
| 23:00 | ✕ | 39% | 9.5m/s | 39% |
| Mon, May 25 | ||||
| 24:00 | ✕ | 40% | 9m/s | 53% |
| 01:00 | ✕ | 40% | 9.2m/s | 67% |
| 02:00 | ✕ | 39% | 9.5m/s | 82% |
| 03:00 | ✕ | 40% | 9.4m/s | 67% |
| 04:00 | ✕ | 41% | 9.1m/s | 53% |
| 05:00 | ✓ | 36% | 8.2m/s | 39% |
| 06:00 | ✓ | 34% | 8.7m/s | 45% |
| 07:00 | ✕ | 30% | 8.6m/s | 50% |
| 08:00 | ✕ | 29% | 9m/s | 56% |
| 09:00 | ✕ | 24% | 9.4m/s | 49% |
| 10:00 | ✕ | 29% | 8.9m/s | 42% |
| 11:00 | ✕ | 22% | 8.7m/s | 35% |
| 12:00 | ✕ | 32% | 8.5m/s | 42% |
| 13:00 | ✕ | 20% | 8.3m/s | 49% |
| 14:00 | ✕ | 22% | 9.1m/s | 56% |
| 15:00 | ✕ | 22% | 9m/s | 56% |
| 16:00 | ✕ | 29% | 9.3m/s | 56% |
| 17:00 | ✕ | 28% | 9m/s | 56% |
| 18:00 | ✓ | 65% | 9.3m/s | 60% |
| 19:00 | ✓ | 70% | 8.9m/s | 64% |
| 20:00 | ✕ | 41% | 9.6m/s | 69% |
| 21:00 | ✕ | 36% | 9.7m/s | 64% |
| 22:00 | ✕ | 38% | 9.7m/s | 60% |
| 23:00 | ✕ | 27% | 9.9m/s | 56% |
| Tue, May 26 | ||||
| 24:00 | ✕ | 39% | 9.9m/s | 59% |
| 01:00 | ✕ | 28% | 9.5m/s | 61% |
| 02:00 | ✕ | 35% | 9.8m/s | 64% |
| 03:00 | ✕ | 30% | 9.7m/s | 56% |
| 04:00 | ✕ | 29% | 9.6m/s | 47% |
| 05:00 | ✓ | 63% | 9.9m/s | 39% |
| 06:00 | ✓ | 66% | 10m/s | 39% |
| 07:00 | ✕ | 51% | 11m/s | 39% |
| 08:00 | ✕ | 38% | 11m/s | 39% |
| 09:00 | ✕ | 33% | 10m/s | 26% |
| 10:00 | ✕ | 32% | 10m/s | 13% |
| 11:00 | ✕ | 32% | 9.6m/s | 0% |
| 12:00 | ✕ | 22% | 9.5m/s | 13% |
| 13:00 | ✕ | 14% | 9.4m/s | 26% |
| 14:00 | ✕ | 9.3% | 9.3m/s | 39% |
| 15:00 | ✕ | 10% | 8.8m/s | 39% |
| 16:00 | ✕ | 11% | 8.2m/s | 39% |
| 17:00 | ✕ | 11% | 7.7m/s | 39% |
| 18:00 | ✓ | 22% | 7.6m/s | 45% |
| 19:00 | ✓ | 19% | 7.4m/s | 50% |
| 20:00 | ✕ | 8.5% | 7.3m/s | 56% |
| 21:00 | ✕ | 8.5% | 7.2m/s | 47% |
| 22:00 | ✕ | 8.5% | 7m/s | 37% |
| 23:00 | ✕ | 8.8% | 6.8m/s | 28% |
| Wed, May 27 | ||||
| 24:00 | ✕ | 8.5% | 6.9m/s | 37% |
| 01:00 | ✕ | 8.5% | 7m/s | 47% |
What does Golden Clouds Potential mean?
Inputs that drive the scoreThis derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.
| Time Pacific/Honolulu | Golden Hour | High Clouds % | Low Clouds % | Mid-Level Clouds % | Total Cloud Coverage % | Visibility m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, May 24
Sunrise 05:45
Sunset 18:59 | ||||||
| 03:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 28% | 0% | 28% | 24135m |
| 04:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 32% | 0% | 32% | 20148m |
| 05:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 45% | 0% | 45% | 24134m |
| 06:00 | - | 0% | 29% | 0% | 29% | 24134m |
| 07:00 | - | 0% | 53% | 0% | 53% | 24134m |
| 08:00 | - | 0% | 43% | 0% | 43% | 17185m |
| 09:00 | - | 0% | 5% | 0% | 5% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | - | 0% | 3% | 0% | 3% | 24134m |
| 11:00 | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24135m |
| 12:00 | - | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24134m |
| 14:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24135m |
| 15:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 24135m |
| 16:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24135m |
| 17:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 6% | 0% | 6% | 24135m |
| 18:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 4% | 0% | 4% | 24134m |
| 19:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24134m |
| 20:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 2% | 0% | 2% | 24134m |
| 21:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 30% | 0% | 30% | 24135m |
| 22:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 46% | 0% | 46% | 21997m |
| 23:00 ☾ | - | 4% | 55% | 0% | 55% | 13179m |
| Mon, May 25
Sunrise 05:45
Sunset 19:00 | ||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | - | 5% | 52% | 0% | 52% | 17398m |
| 01:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 51% | 0% | 51% | 15608m |
| 02:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 33% | 0% | 33% | 15679m |
| 03:00 ☾ | - | 1% | 27% | 0% | 27% | 18471m |
| 04:00 ☾ | - | 18% | 25% | 0% | 25% | 18560m |
| 05:00 ☾ | - | 2% | 12% | 0% | 12% | 18674m |
| 06:00 | - | 5% | 9% | 0% | 11% | 24134m |
| 07:00 | - | 4% | 13% | 0% | 14% | 19457m |
| 08:00 | - | 0% | 17% | 0% | 17% | 18526m |
| 09:00 | - | 0% | 11% | 0% | 11% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | - | 84% | 15% | 0% | 84% | 24134m |
| 11:00 | - | 0% | 8% | 0% | 8% | 22009m |
| 12:00 | - | 16% | 6% | 0% | 20% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | - | 100% | 4% | 0% | 100% | 24134m |
| 14:00 ☾ | - | 87% | 4% | 0% | 87% | 24135m |
| 15:00 ☾ | - | 100% | 9% | 0% | 100% | 24134m |
| 16:00 ☾ | - | 89% | 16% | 0% | 89% | 18410m |
| 17:00 ☾ | - | 91% | 24% | 0% | 91% | 18464m |
| 18:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 36% | 0% | 36% | 18617m |
| 19:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 43% | 0% | 43% | 20393m |
| 20:00 ☾ | - | 13% | 40% | 0% | 44% | 18399m |
| 21:00 ☾ | - | 52% | 58% | 0% | 69% | 18268m |
| 22:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 37% | 0% | 37% | 17937m |
| 23:00 ☾ | - | 99% | 32% | 0% | 99% | 13077m |
| Tue, May 26
Sunrise 05:44
Sunset 19:00 | ||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | - | 11% | 63% | 0% | 63% | 20053m |
| 01:00 ☾ | - | 99% | 60% | 0% | 99% | 15702m |
| 02:00 ☾ | - | 5% | 62% | 0% | 62% | 20372m |
| 03:00 ☾ | - | 56% | 65% | 0% | 74% | 17436m |
| 04:00 ☾ | - | 62% | 65% | 0% | 79% | 17408m |
| 05:00 ☾ | - | 3% | 39% | 0% | 39% | 19078m |
| 06:00 | - | 5% | 38% | 0% | 38% | 18360m |
| 07:00 | - | 4% | 50% | 0% | 50% | 19783m |
| 08:00 | - | 2% | 60% | 0% | 60% | 18713m |
| 09:00 | - | 1% | 48% | 0% | 48% | 20520m |
| 10:00 | - | 1% | 37% | 0% | 37% | 22328m |
| 11:00 | - | 0% | 26% | 0% | 26% | 24135m |
| 12:00 | - | 0% | 18% | 0% | 19% | 24135m |
| 13:00 | - | 0% | 11% | 0% | 12% | 24135m |
| 14:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 4% | 0% | 5% | 24135m |
| 15:00 ☾ | - | 2% | 5% | 0% | 6% | 24135m |
| 16:00 ☾ | - | 3% | 5% | 0% | 7% | 24135m |
| 17:00 ☾ | - | 5% | 6% | 0% | 8% | 24135m |
| 18:00 ☾ | - | 3% | 4% | 0% | 6% | 24135m |
| 19:00 ☾ | - | 2% | 3% | 0% | 4% | 24135m |
| 20:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 24135m |
| 21:00 ☾ | - | 2% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 24135m |
| 22:00 ☾ | - | 3% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 24135m |
| 23:00 ☾ | - | 4% | 0% | 0% | 4% | 24135m |
| Wed, May 27
Sunrise 05:44
Sunset 19:00 | ||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | - | 3% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 24135m |
| 01:00 ☾ | - | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 24135m |
| 02:00 ☾ | - | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 24135m |
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