Hawaiian Paradise Park.

The definitive guide to dark skies and celestial observation in Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI. Verified using National Park Service and NASA Night Sky Network Clubs data.

Bortle Scale
2
Best Regional Reading
Sky Quality
21.78
SQM Zenith Value
Verified Sites
0
Community Vetted
Dark Sky Parks
2
IDA Certified Nearby

Quick Guide for Hawaiian Paradise Park

  • Top Community Pick: local vantage points (~N/A miles)
  • Best Scientific Reading: Bortle 2.0 at Mauna Loa Lookout Road
  • Local Experts: West Hawaii Astronomy Club
  • Verified Observations: 0 distinct spots

If you’re looking to escape the light pollution of Hawaiian Paradise Park, you’re in luck. While enthusiasts often gather at local vantage points for its accessibility, scientific audits conducted by the National Park Service at Mauna Loa Lookout Road provide the most accurate reading of the regional sky quality, measuring at a Bortle 2.0. Atmospheric stability in the Hawaiian Paradise Park region is often influenced by local topography, which can help settle the air for high-magnification viewing.

The Best Times for Stargazing in Hawaiian Paradise Park

For the best results in Hawaiian Paradise Park, aim for a ‘New Moon’ window. In these dark-sky conditions, the absence of moonlight allows the Milky Way to cast visible shadows.

Expert Tips for Hawaiian Paradise Park Observers

Before heading out to local vantage points, we recommend arriving during civil twilight to scout the terrain safely. For the best views this location, try to observe targets when they are highest in the sky to minimize atmospheric interference. Local enthusiasts often frequent this spot, making it a great place to meet experienced observers. Regardless of your gear, allow 30 minutes for your eyes to fully dark-adapt.

Local Top Spots

Community-vetted locations known for clear horizons and accessibility for telescopes and astrophotography.

Scientific Audit

NPS Sky Measurements

Instrumented readings from the National Park Service Night Sky Program, providing the most accurate SQM and Bortle classifications.

Mauna Loa Lookout Road

Hawai'i Volcanoes NP

21.44 SQM
Bortle Class 2

"1st set started in fog and is unuseable, but the fog cleared before the second set and everyting after set on eis good. After fog cleated the transparency continued to improve throught the ngiht and was best during set 5 and 6. Kilauea crater was smoking and the light from the crater was easily visible, although constantly changing. Very little anthropogenic light visible anywhere. Excellent conditions overall, no clouds, good transparency and good seeing. Milky Way bright and detialied. Dust lanes have fine detial, sagittarius and scutum star clouds bright. Prancing horese easily visible."

Observation Date
7/3/2011
Elevation
1763m
Zenith Brightness
21.68

Hilina Pali Road

Hawai'i Volcanoes NP

21.78 SQM
Bortle Class 2

"3 good sets, decent night, hazy, visual range 30 miles toward Mauna Loa, less to the ocean, clouds to south cover sky to 4 degrees. Clouds to the east, creeping over the mountains at twilight, but retreated as night progressed. Glowing lava light produces sky glow to northeast, variable possibly because of clouds, haze, or variations in lava flow. Only source of skyglow visible, no light domes. 3 or 4 light trespass lights visible 10-15 miles to west, apparently on the coast, one may have been a boat, read beacon pulsating, brightest light trespass not brighter than 1st magnitude star. Seeing fair-poor early, settling down to fair later. High frequency twinkling in stars, indicating upper atmosphere wind shear. Transparency variable depending on smoke plume from crater, good overall, occasionally fair, ZLM 7.2 Draco. Center of Milky Way galaxy as it climbs above the horizon becomes brightest natural source. The landscape is dark, mostly lava, low albedo, hard to get around by starlight as a result, white truck reflects it, features in the land difficult to discern. In the Milky Way, the pipe nebula and prancing horse are easy, the fingers of Ophiuchus are not seen. Based on light pollution Class 1, but features seen in the sky don’t compare to other locations where seeing and transparency better. Moisture in the air, volcano plume, poor seeing degrade visual observations. However, a very “natural” sky for the conditions."

Observation Date
6/25/2011
Elevation
825m
Zenith Brightness
22.07

International Dark Sky Parks

Premier locations certified for their exceptional dark sky quality and commitment to light pollution mitigation.

IDA Certified Distance: 2410.3 miles

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Nestled in the heart of the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is located in southern Oregon, United States, and provides a gateway…

Category
International Dark Sky Park
Certified
2024
Land Area
18.42 Sq. Km
Coordinates
42.1032, -123.4019
IDA Certified Distance: 2535.7 miles

Julian, California

The town of Julian, California, is a small village near the center of San Diego County, California, U.S., with a population of about 1,000 inhabitants.

Category
International Dark Sky Community
Certified
2021
Land Area
20.3 km2
Coordinates
33.0740, -116.5878

Local Astronomy Clubs

Connect with experts and fellow enthusiasts through local astronomical societies and community groups.

NASA Night Sky Club ID
#240

West Hawaii Astronomy Club

Kamuela, HI

NASA Night Sky Club ID
#189

Hawaiian Astronomical Society

Honolulu, HI