Each evening at sunset, visitors and locals alike line the beaches at Waikoloa Beach Resort for front row seats to watch as the brilliant hues of pink, orange, red and gold fill the sky. Just before the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll often hear: “Wait for it. Wait for it!” Then, as the sun casts a final glowing burst of color above the Pacific horizon, an intense flash of green can sometimes be spotted for just a second or two.
Or can it? Better known as the “green f lash,” some people adamantly swear it’s real, while others chalk it up as something akin to urban myth.
No matter which camp you’re in, the green flash is something mariners have told tales of for centuries, often hailing their observations as a sign of good luck or, more eerily, as evidence that a soul has returned from the dead. Others believe that if you witness one, you’ll acquire telepathic powers.
The truth is that behind the legends and folklore, the so-called green flash is a documented meteorological phenomenon, one that is rare but very much real.
In 1869, the green flash was documented by English physicist and mathematician James Prescott Joule in a letter to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. His 1882 novel “Le Rayon Vert” (The Green Ray) further popularized the green flash, describing it as “a green which no artist could ever obtain on his palette, a green of which neither the varied tints of vegetation nor the shades of the most limpid sea could ever produce the like! If there is a green in Paradise, it cannot be but of this shade, which most surely is the true green of Hope.”
In layman’s terms, the green flash is an optical illusion that occurs from the refraction of sunlight in the atmosphere. Acting like a prism, the atmosphere separates the sunlight into various colors, with the shorter wavelengths, such as blue and violet, refracting more strongly than the longer wavelengths such as yellow, orange or red.
While the longer wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths are scattered. As green light has a more mid-range wavelength, it is left as the most visible color when most of the sun is below the horizon.
The beach is an ideal place to spot the green flash, but they can be observed from any altitude and at any unobstructed horizon, such as cloud tops and mountain tops.
On Hawai`i Island, Astronomer Dr. Mai Shirahata viewed and photographed the green flash at Subaru Telescope’s site on Mauna Kea’s summit area on April 5, 2013, just before conducting open-use observations using the telescope.
Anyone who has a knack for taking beautiful photos can take advantage of the clear skies, low levels of air pollution and ideal atmospheric conditions to capture the green flash at sunset at Waikoloa Beach Resort. To maximize your chances during your visit, check local sources or websites for the precise sunset time each day. Arrive at your chosen viewing location well in advance and find an ideal spot to enjoy the green magic at sunset.
Culinary Market
Locals and visitors have been enjoying the new Culinary Market showcasing island-grown produce and local products at Queens’ Marketplace every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 3 to 6 p.m. Featuring over 20 vendors and businesses, the market showcases the rich culinary ingenuity of Hawai`i Island. This vibrant gathering aims to connect the community with exceptional farmers and artisans, celebrating the island’s diverse culinary heritage and fostering community spirit through shared experiences and local flavors. Plus, you can enjoy live music with musicians like Higgs and Scott Buchholz and a Beer Garden hosted by Waikoloa Shrimp Co.
Family Golf
Olukai: Honoring Hawaiian History in Comfort and Style
OluKai is best known for handcrafted shoes, sandals and slippers, made using design elements and details ideal for the ocean lifestyle. The Hawaiian-inspired footwear company goes a step further in the design of their stores, honoring place-based history and storytelling, all of which is evident at their first Hawai`i Island location, recently opened at Queens’ Marketplace.
Working in collaboration with Native Hawaiian designer Keola Naka`ahiki Rapozo, references to the past, present and future can be found throughout the store. Basalt-clad walls reference lava flow, warm wood floors signify the fallen trees and the transitional phase of life, along with plants and colorful artwork, imagery and lighting that represen the bright new life, resiliency of Hawai`i and unique flora and fauna that have survived in this remote place.
The brand is built on three core values: `Ohana, Aloha and Quality, which guide and shape their commitment to customers and the environment. They can also be found in the timeless style and unmatched comfort of their shoes.
“We are excited to provide residents and visitors of Hawai`i Island a brick-and-mortar OluKai experience that offers areas for rest, reflection and the opportunity to admire the abstract local art that is inspired by the natural history of this place,” explains Matt Lindauer, senior vice president of creative at OluKai. “It is essential to honor Hawai`i’s history, and we do so through every element of our design.”