This paper analyzed the spatiotemporal change of sunshine duration in Hainan Island during 1961 - 2010,and the climate change tendency rate of the annual,seasonal,monthly variation characteristics of the sunshine duration. The results indicate that,sunshine duration in northeast is less than southwest in Hainan; the inter annual variation amplitude is obviously greater,and the sunshine difference between peak point,the year 1977, and valley point the year,2008,is up to 573. 7 h; in recent 50 years,the sunshine hours decreased at the rate of 50. 9h /10a; the distribution of monthly and seasonal sunshine hours is also non-uniform and present a decrease tendency in general. More than two-third cities and counties show decreased annual sunshine duration. Annual, seasonal,monthly decreased sunshine duration is related to the increase of low-level cloud amount.