ATX PLT FAILS TO USE ARPT RWY BOUNDARY LIGHTS FOR A NIGHT TKOF.

Narrative

I WAS THE PLT OF A PA31-350 CHIEFTAIN. I DEPARTED THE HANA AIRFIELD AT XA07 PM; AFTER OFFICIAL NIGHTFALL WITHOUT THE RWY BOUNDARY LIGHTING SYS ACTIVATED. I HAD BEEN ON THE GND WAITING FOR 2 HRS. DURING THIS TIME I HAD BEEN SITTING INSIDE THE ACFT IN THE DARK. MY NIGHT VISION AIDED BY A VERY BRIGHT MOON; WAS SUCH THAT I HAD NO PROB WHATSOEVER IDENTING SHOWERS PASSING ABOUT 5 MI OFFSHORE. I COULD CLRLY SEE THE RWY; THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AND HALEAKALA HILLSIDE EXTENDING TOWARDS KAHULUI. COLORS WERE VISIBLE AROUND THE RWY; IN THE CLOUDS AND ALSO THE HILLSIDE. IN AN ATTEMPT NOT TO SPOIL ANY NIGHT VISION FOR THE FLT HOME I DECIDED THAT WITH SUCH A CLRLY LIT RWY ENVIRONMENT THAT ACTIVATING THE PLT CTLED LIGHTING WOULD ONLY DETRACT FROM MY NIGHT VISION. I PROCEEDED TO DEPART HNM WITH A SAFE RWY 08 WESTERLY DEP. I WAS UNAWARE OF 135.229 2(I). MY DECISION TO DEPART WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE LIGHTS VIOLATED 135.229. ONE OF THE PAX WAS A PLT AND CALLED THE FAA; WHO CONTACTED ME AND INFORMED ME OF THE VIOLATION. I SINCERELY BELIEVED IT TO BE SAFER TO DEPART WITHOUT THE LIGHTING SYS AND BELIEVE THAT TURNING THE LIGHTS ON WOULD HAVE IMPAIRED MY VISION.