On May 26, Honolulu will lose all its shadows. Here’s why
The phenomenon occurs twice a year in certain parts of the world.
At exactly 12:28 p.m. on May 26, 2026, something unusual will happen in Honolulu, Hawaii:
The shadows will vanish.
This is Lāhainā Noon, also referred to as a “zero shadow day.”
It happens because of a precise alignment, when the Sun reaches the subsolar point, i.e., the exact spot on Earth where sunlight hits straight down at 90 degrees.
This is when the Sun is directly overhead at the zenith, positioned at the exact highest point in the sky, directly overhead for an observer.
The moment moves across the Hawaiian Islands like a wave, hitting different regions on different dates — but once it arrives, it only lasts for a few minutes.
Only places between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn can experience this, making Hawaii the only place in North America where Lāhainā Noon occurs. If you miss it, you’ll have another chance to see it.
Lāhainā Noon occurs twice annually, once in spring to early summer, and again in late summer into fall.