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The Big Island of Hawaii is a paradise like no other. From its majestic volcanoes to its world-renowned beaches, there’s something here for everyone—especially when it comes to watching epic sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. But if you’re looking for the most beautiful and vibrant sunset skies, then you should consider relocation to Kailua Kona. Let’s take a look at why this part of Hawaii is known for its purple sunset skies.

The Unique Climate of Kailua Kona
Located on the west side of the Big Island, Kailua Kona has an ideal climate that makes it perfect for observing stunning sunsets. This area lies in the rain shadow of Mauna Kea volcano—which blocks moisture from reaching this part of Hawaii—so it experiences less moisture in the air than other parts of the island. This means that when you observe a sunset in Kailua Kona, it’s more likely to have clear skies and vivid colors due to lack of clouds or fog blocking your view.

The Chemistry Behind Those Vibrant Colors
The beauty and brilliance of Hawaiian sunsets are truly awe-inspiring, and much of that can be attributed to what is going on behind the scenes—literally! When sunlight hits particles in the atmosphere such as dust or smoke, it scatters across different wavelengths which cause different colors like red and yellow to light up our sky in brilliant hues. This phenomenon is called Rayleigh scattering and helps explain why certain areas experience more vivid purples in their sunset skies than others with less particles in their air.

 

The Best Places To View A Purple Sky In Kailua Kona

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park – Located just south of Kailua-Kona, this park offers amazing views out over the ocean with unobstructed sightlines perfect for catching those breathtaking purple skies.

Kahalu’u Beach Park – Known as one of the best snorkeling spots on Big Island, this beach also offers incredible views out over the ocean at sunset time. Here you can watch both sea turtles and some truly stunning purple sky panoramas.

 

Courtesy of: Melissa Elliott

When people think about relocating to Hawaii, they often imagine breathtaking sunsets that can only be seen here on these islands…and nowhere else! If you want to see these beautiful purple sky landscapes firsthand, then consider making your home base at Kailua-Kona where you will find some of the best sunset views around! From Kahalu’u Beach Park and Kealekekua Bay State Historical Park, you will never get tired from admiring these luminous displays each night from your lanai