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Rule Rainbow Chaser

Waimea Canyon - Rainbow Chaser - Hawaii

Lihue, Hawaii, United States

Sun breaking through rain — perfect rainbow conditions

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Pacific/Honolulu
Next opportunity
Very Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Today · 15:00–17:00 · 2h window
Medium confidence
46%
Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 09:00–10:00
Medium
Rainbow Chaser
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 10:00–11:00
Medium
Good Chance of Rainbow
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 15:00–16:00
Medium
Rainbow Chaser
Waimea Canyon
Tomorrow · 16:00–17:00
Medium
Rainbow Chaser
Waimea Canyon
Mon, Jan 12 · 09:00–11:00
Low
Rainbow Chaser
Waimea Canyon
Wed, Jan 14 · 09:00–10:00
Low
+13 more windows in the next 14 days

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks Hawaii's world-famous rainbow conditions. We analyze sun position, precipitation patterns, cloud breaks, and visibility to predict when and where rainbows are most likely to appear.

Hawaii sees more rainbows than almost anywhere else on Earth. The combination of consistent trade winds, abundant tropical showers, and reliable sunshine creates the perfect recipe. In Hawaiian culture, rainbows (ānuenue) hold deep spiritual significance—they're even on the state license plate.

What makes Hawaii special for rainbow photography:

  • Frequency - Trade wind showers and sunshine create multiple daily rainbow opportunities
  • Dramatic backdrops - Volcanic peaks, waterfalls, and tropical valleys frame the arcs
  • Double rainbows - Common in Hawaii due to intense tropical light
  • Accessibility - Rainbows appear frequently in easily-reached locations

Rainbows are most common in the morning and late afternoon when sun angle is optimal. The windward (east/north) sides of islands see more rain and therefore more rainbows. Look for conditions where sun breaks through behind you while rain falls ahead—our forecast helps identify these alignments. The Hana Highway on Maui and Hilo on the Big Island are particularly reliable rainbow zones.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
8matching hours in the next 72 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Pacific/Honolulu
Rainbow Probability
≥ 60.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Sat, Jan 10
14:000%24140m
15:0079%23840m
16:0080%24140m
17:0053%20580m
18:000%24140m
19:000%24140m
20:000%24140m
21:000%24140m
22:000%24140m
23:000%24140m
Sun, Jan 11
24:000%24140m
01:000%23720m
02:000%24140m
03:000%24140m
04:000%24140m
05:000%24140m
06:000%24140m
07:000%24140m
08:0042%24140m
09:0065%24140m
10:0070%24140m
11:0048%24140m
12:000%24140m
13:000%24140m
14:000%19580m
15:0063%24140m
16:0070%24080m
17:0058%24140m
18:000%24140m
19:000%24140m
20:000%24140m
21:000%24140m
22:000%24140m
23:000%23920m
Mon, Jan 12
24:000%23740m
01:000%23280m
02:000%16180m
03:000%12800m
04:000%17120m
05:000%17240m
06:000%12740m
07:000%17200m
08:0037%24140m
09:0070%24140m
10:0070%24140m
11:000%24140m
12:000%24140m
13:000%24140m
14:000%24140m
15:000%24140m
16:000%24140m
17:000%24140m
18:000%24140m
19:000%24140m
20:000%24140m
21:000%24140m
22:000%24140m
23:000%24140m
Tue, Jan 13
24:000%24140m
01:000%24140m
02:000%24140m
03:000%24140m
04:000%24140m
05:000%24140m
06:000%24140m
07:000%24140m
08:000%24140m
09:000%24140m
10:000%24140m
11:000%24140m
12:000%24140m
13:000%24140m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Rainbow Probability mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This 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
Rainfall
mm
Showers
mm
Solar Elevation
°
Sunshine Duration
seconds
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Total Precipitation
mm
Sat, Jan 10 Sunrise 07:18 Sunset 18:11
15:00 ☾
0mm 0.3mm 35° 3600seconds 90% 0.3mm
16:00 ☾
0mm 0.2mm 25° 3600seconds 90% 0.2mm
17:00 ☾
0mm 0.1mm 14° 3600seconds 75% 0.1mm
18:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 2° 2659seconds 84% 0mm
19:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -11° 0seconds 64% 0mm
20:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -24° 0seconds 72% 0mm
21:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -38° 0seconds 82% 0mm
22:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -52° 0seconds 78% 0mm
23:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -66° 0seconds 81% 0mm
Sun, Jan 11 Sunrise 07:18 Sunset 18:11
24:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -79° 0seconds 75% 0mm
01:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -87° 0seconds 64% 0mm
02:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -73° 0seconds 68% 0mm
03:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -59° 0seconds 71% 0mm
04:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -45° 0seconds 68% 0mm
05:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -31° 0seconds 66% 0mm
06:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -18° 0seconds 58% 0mm
07:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -4.8° 0seconds 49% 0mm
08:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 8° 569seconds 41% 0mm
09:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 20° 3600seconds 29% 0mm
10:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 31° 3600seconds 56% 0mm
11:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 39° 3600seconds 60% 0mm
12:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 45° 3600seconds 68% 0mm
13:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 46° 3600seconds 60% 0mm
14:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 43° 3600seconds 75% 0mm
15:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 35° 3600seconds 74% 0mm
16:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 26° 3600seconds 59% 0mm
17:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 14° 3600seconds 54% 0mm
18:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 2.2° 2939seconds 49% 0mm
19:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -11° 0seconds 52% 0mm
20:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -24° 0seconds 56% 0mm
21:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -38° 0seconds 60% 0mm
22:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -52° 0seconds 67% 0mm
23:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -65° 0seconds 53% 0mm
Mon, Jan 12 Sunrise 07:18 Sunset 18:12
24:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -79° 0seconds 89% 0mm
01:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -87° 0seconds 99% 0mm
02:00 ☾
0.3mm 0.1mm -73° 0seconds 99% 0.4mm
03:00 ☾
2.7mm 0.3mm -59° 0seconds 99% 2.9mm
04:00 ☾
1.3mm 0.2mm -45° 0seconds 100% 1.5mm
05:00 ☾
0.1mm 0mm -31° 0seconds 82% 0.1mm
06:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -18° 0seconds 81% 0mm
07:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -4.8° 0seconds 52% 0mm
08:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 8° 230seconds 65% 0mm
09:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 20° 3600seconds 46% 0mm
10:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 31° 3600seconds 30% 0mm
11:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 39° 3600seconds 23% 0mm
12:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 45° 3600seconds 9% 0mm
13:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 46° 3600seconds 33% 0mm
14:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 43° 3600seconds 41% 0mm
15:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 36° 3600seconds 36% 0mm
16:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 26° 3600seconds 38% 0mm
17:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 14° 3600seconds 42% 0mm
18:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 2.3° 2984seconds 25% 0mm
19:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -11° 0seconds 4% 0mm
20:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -24° 0seconds 0% 0mm
21:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -38° 0seconds 0% 0mm
22:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -52° 0seconds 0% 0mm
23:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -65° 0seconds 0% 0mm
Tue, Jan 13 Sunrise 07:18 Sunset 18:13
24:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -79° 0seconds 3% 0mm
01:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -87° 0seconds 41% 0mm
02:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -73° 0seconds 41% 0mm
03:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -59° 0seconds 44% 0mm
04:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -45° 0seconds 36% 0mm
05:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -31° 0seconds 24% 0mm
06:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -18° 0seconds 33% 0mm
07:00 ☾
0mm 0mm -4.8° 0seconds 43% 0mm
08:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 8° 567seconds 42% 0mm
09:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 20° 3600seconds 39% 0mm
10:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 31° 3600seconds 46% 0mm
11:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 40° 3600seconds 51% 0mm
12:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 45° 3600seconds 63% 0mm
13:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 47° 3600seconds 82% 0mm
14:00 ☾
0mm 0mm 43° 3600seconds 73% 0mm
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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