Lahaina Noon interweaves three separate short stories that occur during the yearly tropical solar phenomenon in which the sun passes directly overhead at noon so that upright objects do not cast a shadow. Hawaiians believe at that moment one's shadow crawls back into their body it gives an individual extra mana (or spiritual power.) This belief, paired with Psychologist Carl Jung's theories of unconscious desire known as the shadow self, sets the stage for this film where the characters deepest desires are exposed and amplified by the cruel Lahaina Noon sun.