Hawaii is the only tropical state in the nation, and it comes with perks like beautiful tropical weather year-round. It also comes with a solar phenomenon called "Lāhainā Noon.” Twice a year the sun is in a position directly overhead, and at that moment objects that stand straight up — flagpoles, telephone poles, etc. — cast no outward shadow. Lāhainā — which means “cruel sun” in the Hawaiian language — takes place in late May and mid-July, before and after the summer solstice. The exact time depends on the latitude. This year, Lāhainā took place in Honolulu at 12:28 p.m. on May 26th and at 12:37 p.m. on July 15th. The beach in Honolulu is judged to be one of the best places to observe Lāhainā. To get an idea of what it looks like, here are some photos showing the absence of shadow.
