Going to Hawaii in may, need ideas on what to shoo

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/17/2011 02:12:14 AM · #1

Hey guys, so im going to be spending 2 weeks in Hawaii come May, and im looking for some ideas on what I should shoot? Im all about landscape shots, so what are some awesome locations I should go to? We aren't firm on which island we're going to (though it WONT be the big one, too many people). So if you have a favorite island you've been to, please make suggestions. Pictures for reference would be awesome too!

smardaz

02/17/2011 02:20:43 AM · #2

...the geckos away

Maggye

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/17/2011 02:48:22 AM · #3

I was living in Oahu and I have visited Maui, both are beautiful island, but I might be able to tell you more about Oahu, if you decide to go there.

Here are some picture I took while living there, I have not idea why when you see the book on line runs on the wrong direction. book

And if you are referring to Oahu when you said the BIG one, you are in a misundestanding, there is not a LOT of people there, except of course on Waikiki, and still you can go to certain spots there where you can take picture and not be bother by anyone, then there are a lot of places that you will find mainly locals in there, so there is no reason for you to skeep that Island. I've been to Maui and there is as much people in there as you will find in Oahu.

Message edited by author 2011-02-17 12:48:11.

Maggye

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/17/2011 03:00:03 AM · #4

Originally posted by smardaz:

...the geckos away

Sounds funny, but you do get to see a lot of them!

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

02/17/2011 03:12:50 AM · #5

Surfer girls (or guys depending on your proclivity). Waterfalls. Skies and rainbows and weather. Under water. Jungles. Bamboo. Flowers. Hula girls (w/ or w/o chi chi cups). Surf. Sunsets. Stars. Milky way. Outriggers. Windsurfers. Beaches. Beach babes. Tattoos. Bikinis. Food. Umbrella drinks. Need I continue???

Hussar1812

Nikon D7500

02/17/2011 03:25:47 AM · #6

Originally posted by kawana:

First of all, O'ahu is significantly more populated and touristy than the Big Island (Hawaii)(in fact about 6 times more people there). Second, for a landscape shooter, the Big Island offers some of the most amazing scenery in the world....not to mention active volcanoes! Volcanoes National Park is truly amazing and watching the eruption / lava flow (from land, helicopter or sea) is an incredible experience. In addition, the Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls are also amazing.

Personally, O'ahu is my least favorite island as it is overly urbanized and very commercial. You're likely flying to Honolulu so I would wake up early and go see Pearl Harbor Memorial (a must for anyone vising there), and then check out Waikiki beach (great for people watching....some interesting photo ops).

As already mentioned above Maui is absolutely beautiful and if you get a car, and a talking guided GPS, check out the Hana Highway (pack a tripod and lunch/dinner). It is possibly the most beautiful road in the world....albeit pain in the ass to drive when its pitch black out.

Message edited by author 2011-02-17 03:27:07.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/17/2011 04:20:48 AM · #7

Someone mention a gecko?

Took this yesterday on the lanai of the condo I'm staying at on Kauai yesterday.

Since you want to stay away from Oahu (Honolulu) and you want less people then my vote is for Kauai, the Garden Isle. They don't call it that for nothing. It has very varied landscapes from wet jungle (north) to dry sanvannah (south) to the Grand Canyon of the Pacfic, Waimea Canyon (west).

They have filmed dozens of movies here becasue of its scenery. It also has tons of monk seals, turtles, reef fish, great beaches, surfers, etc. It is a bit cooler, which should be good in May, maybe 5 degrees F, and a touch wetter but that is dependent on where you are on the island and it is small enough that you can always drive to a dryer part.

I would also choose Maui for the reasons mentioned by others plus it has two remote drives, Hana and another on the north coast. And don't forget Haleakala:

This guy puts out the best Guidebooks for the different islands:
The Ultimate Guidebooks
You can order them on Amazon or just pick one up at Costco when you arrive on either Isalnd, they always carry them here.

You really can't go wrong if you have never been here before.

Hey, I notice you are from Abbotsford, not far from me. Let me know what you decide and maybe we can compare notes on what you find out. I've been to the Islands quite often.

Message edited by author 2011-02-17 04:28:28.

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

04/10/2011 04:35:31 PM · #8

Just a little bump, we leave to maui in 25 days, so I just want as many ideas as possible. Im trying to find some "Off the beaten path" spots too.

bassbone

Nikon Z8

04/10/2011 04:40:10 PM · #9

Originally posted by kawana:

Just a little bump, we leave to maui in 25 days, so I just want as many ideas as possible. Im trying to find some "Off the beaten path" spots too.

Which islands are you visiting while there? Just Maui? Or others?

Here is my take on the various islands we have visited:

Oahu - This is the most commercial of the islands (it is where Honolulu is located). It is not the biggest island but it has the most people. Oahu has some great locations and I personally like it a great deal but you need to know where to go.

Maui - Most popular vacation destination. Lots of great sand beaches on the leeward side, some wonderful sets of waterfalls etc on the "road to Hana", the most amazing views of sunrises on the top of Haleakala (A MUST!). A lot to see, a great place to visit, but there can be a lot of traffic on the two lane roads due to the popularity.

Hawai'i (The Big Island) - This is my favorite of the Islands. This is where the active volcano is - worth a trip to the Volcano National Park. The most amazing landscapes due to the new-ness of the island. There are not many people on Hawai'i and it actually has one of the largest cattle ranches in the US....very cool

Kaua'i (The Garden Island) - The oldest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands, lush rain forests, fantastic waterfalls, lots of hiking, kayaking, zip lines, diving, and Waimea Canyon (little Grand Canyon), and Napali coastline. Worth the trip.

Lana'i - A smaller island with few resorts etc. I have only visited one day at it is much less rainforest like than many of the other islands. Some very good beaches however!

Moloka'i - The 'lepers island. This is where St Damien (recently sainted) did is work to help the lepers. It is a gorgeous island with some of the most amazing waterfalls and sea cliffs in the world. I would personally consider taking a helicopter ride to Moloka'i as much you would want to see is hard to get to...

I hope this helps and PM me if you have specific questions about the islands.

Here are a couple of sets of pictures I have taken from my last few trips there...

Hawaii 2009

More Hawaii

Surfers on Hawaii

Message edited by author 2011-04-10 16:54:35.

alohadave

Pentax K-5

Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4.0 ED AL AF

04/10/2011 05:21:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by kawana:

The Big Island has far fewer people than Oahu. Oahu has about 800k people, most of them in Honolulu.

Once you get out of the towns, the beaches pretty much all look similar. Kauai has very scenic and deep mountain valleys (many are only accessible via helicopter). Maui is slower paced than Oahu and probably what you think Hawaii is all about. Molokai is mostly ranches, not too many people live there.

If you want scenery, you really can't go wrong on any island.

FourPointX

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

04/10/2011 05:30:32 PM · #11

spent a day on molokai on my honeymoon 22 years ago, and it was one of the best days of our two weeks there. rode bikes through the sugar canes, roasted a pig, lay in a hammock on the beach. everything slowed down.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

04/10/2011 09:49:44 PM · #12

Originally posted by kawana:

Just a little bump, we leave to maui in 25 days, so I just want as many ideas as possible. Im trying to find some "Off the beaten path" spots too.

If it is Maui then you must shoot at Haleakala

For some of the off the beaten path shots head north and drive the road around the north side of the West Maui mountains. Most of the tourist info still says you can't drive that, ti will violate your rental agreement etc, but that is not the case anymore. It is paved the whole way but is only one lane in many spots. There are some great views and short hikes at some of the pull offs. This is a shorther drive and not as remote as driving around the south side. I think the scenery is better also.

Message edited by author 2011-04-10 21:50:36.

04/10/2011 11:56:53 PM · #13

We were on a cruise around this time last year, and it included stops at Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Our favorite was Maui, with the beauty of the Road to Hana, Haleakala, Iao, and the great time we had at the Old Lahaina Luau.

I did literally HUNDREDS of hours of research leading up to this trip, and I have an extensive collection of GPS waypoints on file, if you're going to have a GPS with you. I'm more than happy to share those coordinates with you if they'd be helpful. I had marked many points of interest for my GPS, and they were extremely helpful once we got to each of the islands.

Anyway... you're going to love it there -- enjoy! Here's one of my shots of Haleakala, since everyone else seemed to post one, too ;)

PS -- When you decide what island(s) you'll visit, be sure to get the "Hawaii Revealed" book for those individual islands. They're fantastic for tips on all sorts of "hidden gems," etc.

Message edited by author 2011-04-10 23:59:50.

04/11/2011 02:00:08 AM · #14

we are going to be bringing a GPS, Id love it if you could send the coordinates! The sunrise at Heleakala is the one thing im looking forward to most! Im not sure if we're going to be visiting any other island yet.

04/11/2011 11:10:49 AM · #15

Can you handle a GPX file? Many GPS units will allow you to upload a GPX file to the unit, and *poof* all of the waypoints are up & running. If you know what to do with one of those files, you can download mine from my web site.

If you want the coordinates in some other format, just let me know and I should be able to convert them to something else for you.

Originally posted by kawana:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/11/2011 11:13:47 AM · #16

Oh, and if you're planning to do the sunrise at Haleakala, be SURE to get there ridiculously early! We left the parking area by the ship at 3:00 a.m., and literally got the last parking spot at the summit. The next option is downhill just a bit at a visitor center, and you'd probably want to walk back up to the top. And expect it to be SHOCKINGLY cold up there, even during the day. I didn't see a thermometer, but it was incredibly windy and winter-like cold. Be prepared!

It is worth the wait though -- seeing the sunrise from above the clouds is a really, really cool thing!

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/11/2011 05:47:55 PM · #17

The stars are supposed to be incredible if you can get up where its clear..

04/11/2011 06:08:51 PM · #18

Originally posted by Simms:

The stars are supposed to be incredible if you can get up where its clear..

There's an observatory at the top of Haleakala for exactly that reason... there's very little light pollution to interfere with them.