Anybody in Poipu this month?

[artringwald]

Want a great place to see a green flash at sunset? Then go to the Makahu'ena Point light beacon. We've seen a green flash there many times.

Oh, and while your there, turn 180 degrees, and let me know if they have started construction on one of the Point at Poipu buildings that has a water intrusion problem. Mahalo!

 

[slip]

I've never seen the green flash and really only heard of it after joining Tug.
Does it only happen once or can you see multiple flashes in a night?
It doesn't happen every night correct? Any times of the year it happens more
Often?

 

[artringwald]

It happens as the last tip of the sun dips below the horizon at sunset and only when the western sky is perfectly clear. It only lasts for a brief moment, so if you're looking at your camera while trying to take a picture, you may miss it (as my mother and brother both have done). We've seen it on Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island, and once saw a green flash at sunrise. That's harder to catch because at sunset you can tell how far the sun has to go. Sunset groupies gather at good places to see it, and cheer when one occurs. Many bring their drinks to the viewing spots to enhance the experience.

 

[artringwald]

Some people claim the green flash is just an optical illusion, but here's a picture I was able to take in Poipu by holding the shutter down and taking continuous shots:

 

[Kauai Kid]

the green flash i've seen is a laser emerald green and lasts an instant.

sterling

 

[artringwald]

the green flash i've seen is a laser emerald green and lasts an instant.

sterling

I don't understand why, but I've seen some that only lasted an instant, and others that seemed to last a second or two.

 

[slip]

Is it only seen in Poipu? Do you always have to be on the south side on an island
Because I hear it happens right when the sun goes down. You wouldn't see it in
Princeville correct?

 

[artringwald]

Is it only seen in Poipu? Do you always have to be on the south side on an island
Because I hear it happens right when the sun goes down. You wouldn't see it in
Princeville correct?

You have the chance of seeing it any place where the sun sets over the water, so it has to be a spot facing toward the west. In the summer, the sun may set far enough north that you could see it in Princeville, but in the winter, I think the sun may set too far south.

 

[slip]

Thanks for al, this info, I've got to give some time to try to see it on my
Next visit.

 

[artringwald]

In December, you won't be able to see it from Valley Isle because the island of Lanai will be in the way. The one time we saw it on Maui was when we were staying in Kihei. Even when the sky is clear at sunset, there may be clouds on the very distant horizon that won't be visible until the sun starts to go below the horizon. If you can still see the sun when the bottom of it starts to disappear, chances are good that you'll see a green flash within a couple minutes.

Here's a link to a site that probably has more information about green flashes that most people would want to know:

http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/bibliog/fallacies.html

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Thanks

Here's a link to a site that probably has more information about green flashes that most people would want to know:

http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/bibliog/fallacies.html

Thanks, Art, for the link and also for the great picture. I forwarded it to a bunch of friends.

 

[artringwald]

Thanks, Art, for the link and also for the great picture. I forwarded it to a bunch of friends.

Ever see any green flashes in San Diego?

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Yes, green flashes in SD

Ever see any green flashes in San Diego?

Yes, as a matter of fact, we have seen green flashes at the beach. Maybe 3 or 4 in the last 25 years. We typically go to the beach in Carlsbad.

We used to go boogie boarding in the late afternoon and then grill hamburgers as the sun went down. With the left-over hot coals, we'd put on a "jiffy-pop" popcorn. We'd stay there until it got dark. Late July, August, and most of Sept. are usually good for warmer water. But even at its warmest, the water still only gets up to around 72 degrees. Still a bit chilly. After you're in the water for about an hour you start to feel chilled. We used to bring a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and use a siphon (from the roof of my truck) to shower after swimming and before cooking. Its been a few years since we last did that....