Can you see the northern lights in Hawaii tonight?
Unlikely: Kp 1.33 at 11:21 AM HST falls short of the Kp 9 or so that Hawaii's northern horizon requires.
as of
Kp now
1.33
Hawaii needs
n/a
Verdict
No chance
Sky tonight
Clear, 19% cloud
Moon tonight
40% lit, last quarter
Nautical darkness
Darkness 6:57 PM to 5:29 AM
Kp from NOAA SWPC estimated planetary K index. The NWS HFO gridded forecast provides cloud cover for Haleakala summit.
At Haleakala summit, nautical darkness begins at 6:57 PM and holds until 5:29 AM HST. Tonight's moon, in its last quarter phase, shows 40 percent lit. The sun and moon positions, computed for the date and the viewing spot, supply both numbers, and no forecast plays a part.
What is Kp?
A 0-9 scale called Kp rates the current disturbance of Earth's magnetic field. Its name comes from planetarische Kennziffer, German for planetary index. Thirteen observatories worldwide take the measurements. Higher values mean the aurora reaches further south. Most of the northern US needs a Kp of 5 or higher, while northern Alaska sees it at Kp 0. Full Kp guide.
Why Hawaii needs Kp 9
Because the aurora follows the magnetic field rather than the equator, geomagnetic latitude matters more than map latitude. At Hawaii's northern edge, the reading is 23.0° geomagnetic; the oval only draws level with that latitude at about Kp 9, and the Kp number already includes roughly 5 degrees of cushion, because the high-altitude aurora hangs low on the horizon.
Where to watch from in Hawaii
All three spots in Hawaii can differ in cloud cover, so all three are worth a look. Polihale State Park looks clearest tonight, at 11% cover.
| Spot | Cloud tonight | Clearest hour | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haleakala summit | 19% Clear | 12:00 AM HST | Kula |
| Mauna Kea Access Road | 31% Mostly clear | 12:00 AM HST | Waimea |
| Polihale State Park | 11% Clear | 12:00 AM HST | Kekaha |
No matter the storm size, Hawaii remains too far from the auroral oval, even at Kp 9. The islands never see northern lights. Haleakala summit near Kula and Mauna Kea Access Road near Waimea are good stargazing spots, but the aurora stays out of reach. Polihale State Park near Kekaha is another dark site.
Can the northern lights reach Hilo and Honolulu tonight?
| City | Kp needed | Right now |
|---|---|---|
| Hilo | n/a | No chance |
| Honolulu | n/a | No chance |
Each city's Kp value comes from its own coordinates and geomagnetic latitude, so the further south a city is in the state, the higher the Kp it needs.
Cloud cover, averaged over tonight's viewing window for each location, comes from NWS gridded forecasts.
The next three days
NOAA's three-hour Kp outlook. At its highest expected value, Kp 5.00 remains below the Kp 9 threshold Hawaii requires.
| Day | Local window | Kp | In range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 | 2 PM to 5 PM HST00-03UT | 3.00 | No |
| Oct 3 | 5 PM to 8 PM HST03-06UT | 3.33 | No |
| Oct 3 | 8 PM to 11 PM HST06-09UT | 4.33 | No |
| Oct 3 | 11 PM to 2 AM HST09-12UT | 5.00 | No |
| Oct 4 | 2 AM to 5 AM HST12-15UT | 4.00 | No |
| Oct 4 | 5 AM to 8 AM HST15-18UT | 3.67 | No |
| Oct 4 | 8 AM to 11 AM HST18-21UT | 4.67 | No |
| Oct 4 | 11 AM to 2 PM HST21-00UT | 3.00 | No |
| Oct 4 | 2 PM to 5 PM HST00-03UT | 3.33 | No |
| Oct 4 | 5 PM to 8 PM HST03-06UT | 4.33 | No |
| Oct 4 | 8 PM to 11 PM HST06-09UT | 3.33 | No |
| Oct 5 | 2 AM to 5 AM HST12-15UT | 2.67 | No |
| Oct 5 | 5 AM to 8 AM HST15-18UT | 1.67 | No |
| Oct 5 | 11 AM to 2 PM HST21-00UT | 3.00 | No |
| Oct 5 | 2 PM to 5 PM HST00-03UT | 3.33 | No |
| Oct 5 | 5 PM to 8 PM HST03-06UT | 3.67 | No |
| Oct 5 | 8 PM to 11 PM HST06-09UT | 3.00 | No |
| Oct 5 | 11 PM to 2 AM HST09-12UT | 3.00 | No |
| Oct 6 | 2 AM to 5 AM HST12-15UT | 2.33 | No |
| Oct 6 | 5 AM to 8 AM HST15-18UT | 2.00 | No |
| Oct 6 | 8 AM to 11 AM HST18-21UT | 2.00 | No |
| Oct 6 | 11 AM to 2 PM HST21-00UT | 1.67 | No |
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center three-day forecast, issued 2026 Oct 04 1230 UTC.
Watching from Hawaii
- The aurora seldom appears overhead in Hawaii; look at the northern horizon instead.
- Away from town lights, allow 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.
- The aurora is most active from 10pm to 2am local, near magnetic midnight.
- A phone exposure of 3-5 seconds picks up color the eye cannot; a grey glow can photograph green.
Compare every state, ranked right now
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center produces the Kp readings and aurora forecasts on this page. As US government works, they are not subject to copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105; this notice is the notice required by 17 U.S.C. 403. Mention of the center does not imply endorsement or affiliation; for attribution, see Data sources and attribution.