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Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7

It’s not Goundhog’s Day, but you won’t be casting any shadows on the Big Island this week. At least not for a few moments, anyway.

Lahaina Noon, the minute when the sun is exactly overhead, happens twice a year in the tropics – between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state to experience these groundhog moments, which typically occur in May and July.

This week, Hilo’s ‘local solar time’ is 12:16 p.m. Wednesday and in Kona at 12:20 p.m. Thursday.

The term “Lahaina Noon” was adopted in 1990 when Bishop Museum held a contest to name the phenomenon. In Hawaiian, the word Lahaina means “cruel sun.” The ancient Hawaiian name for the event was kau ka la i ka lolo.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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