Hawai'i Skies
Aloha State Daily shares your sky photos
The Aloha State is known for its beautiful and varied skies with frequent rainbows, vibrant sunsets, misty clouds hanging near mountains, and clear nights of bright stars that have historically guided Polynesian navigators.
Whether you live here or are visiting, we’d love to share a recent photo that you have captured while enjoying views of the Hawaiian Islands.
Kindly submit your high-resolution, horizontal photo that you own and/or have the rights to, here on this page or by emailing general@alohastatedaily.com. Include the location and date you took the photo, and a brief description of what made it special. We are excited to review and publish your submission on our site!
Follow these steps to get your photo featured at Aloha State Daily:
1
Please upload a horizontal jpeg image with the highest quality possible (Max 1MB)
2
Include information like your name and where the picture was taken. Tell us in 300 words or fewer about what you saw, i.e., what did you like about it, how did it make you feel, why was it special?
3
Review and click the box to accept the legal terms, then submit.
Featured Images

This rainbow photo comes after we weathered the three major storms and the lighting of it, in between stormy and sunny, gave a feeling of transition from foreboding to brightening. A release of tension and hope for the future. The rainbow is representative of everything beautiful about Hawaiʻi.

I loved the way the shadows against the mountain changed by the minute.

I took this picture from my son's home in Makakilo on Feb. 4. I love it because of the colors and because my granddaughter and I watched sunrises together before she went to school. I live in North Carolina and come to Oʻahu two or three times a year — I love being in Hawaiʻi!

My wife and I stayed at a friend’s house in Kailua, and was presented with this God-created ski from their backyard; after a WOW and AHHHH of appreciation, I was thankful for another glorious Kailua evening.

Full moon on April 1. Aloha State Daily had an article this week about the Pink Moon. Here it is, last night from Paukaʻa on the Hilo side of Big Island.

I've taken many great photos in Maui over the years. As you know the sunsets are magnificent. These photos were taken in different spots in Whalers Village. All photos are with my cell phone. And crazy as it sounds my photos seem to come out brighter and more vibrant then most others. Wish I knew why that is. Any way I love sharing my pictures, thanks for giving me the opportunity to do that.

Well, for one thing, I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I still live there and absolutely love it, but we never experience a sunset even remotely close to the ones I've witnessed in Maui. For us, Maui is truly paradise! But, the most important reason this photo means so much to me is the people near me as I took the picture. My wife and I have been coming to a small resort called Kehei Kai since the 1980's. Over the years, we've met eight or 10 couples who return every year at the same time we do. They come from Boulder, CO; Manhattan, KS; Kenai, AK; Minneapolis, MN; Vancouver, BC; and so on. All of us staying there gather every night to watch the Maui sunset. The view is spectacular, but the company ... priceless!

Fishing in high surf on Lānaʻi - under the mixed clouds and expansive ski on the Island of Lānaʻi, Chris and Jean closing out the day at our favorite beach, Hulopo‘e; enjoying the efforts of one last body boarder in high surf conditions, joined by a local beach fisherman as the ski closes out for the evening.

The calm AFTER the storm.

This looks remarkably like a little cloud spirit looking back at you! It's peeking out behind the Lychee's tree in my backyard, here in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island.

I took this picture while sailing on Nov. 9, 2025. It’s not unusual to see a rainbow over Waikīkī, but this one was low and seemed to be hugging the city.

These were taken at Kapi’olani Park right before sunset

This canyon is always breathtaking, but when you spot a rainbow after getting poured on with friends, it’s even more amazing!

Took my usual long morning daily walk to reconnect with my creator, greeted by his paint brushed sky

From the Scenic Point on the Pali town bound before the tunnel. Worth it to pull over for a minute and see this before heading to work!

Clear skies and a faint rainbow after a few rounds of rain, surrounded by laughter in one of my favorite places.

Just as the sun peaked over the back of Diamond Head.

Bingo! This is THE shot I wanted to share for the mission! Full rainbow over Waimea Bay in May 2013, Kaʻena Point in view. It was a very lucky moment!

We take the dogs to walk on Kahala Beach several times a week. We like to go late in the day when most people are gone or leaving. It always amazes us when this gorgeous beach is so quiet, especially so close to town and to our house. We've been coming here for years — actually with two other dogs who have since passed so we have a lot of memories of walking here. I love when there are just a couple of fishermen out or couples watching the sunset. They are always amused by our dogs who go racing down the beach together then charge into the water. The sunsets are glorious and perfectly framed by the trees and I love how the colors gradually go from blue to lavender to pink to yellow. Stunning!

There was no one out in the water. My son was excited to get some practice in before his heat.

It’s never too late to do a hike for the first time. Amazing views!

We get stunning rainbows because of the frequent rains and sunshine at the same time. Especially during the winter months.

Not all sunrises involve flaming skies. Clouds lit by the sun and rain falling from below another Paukaʻa sunrise.

Starting the day with my daughter. The weather was cloudy and windy, but we decided to go for a swim regardless of the weather. We were rewarded with this memorable sunrise.

I enjoy watching the sunrise with its vibrant colors. It only last a few minutes but it’s a peaceful, contemplative way to start the day and the new year. May this year bring more aloha and unity and peace to our islands.

This photo was taken on an early walk up to Punchbowl and the sun was just peeking over the horizon, creating a scene of a tree of life. I walk many times up this road, but have never witnessed this light and color. Left me in awe as I stopped to take a photo and gaze at the beauty of Hawaiʻi’s sky.

2026 has had some spectacular sunrises in East Hawai’i but this got my attention with the blinds closed! What a beautiful sight.

