After planning for over two years and after numerous setbacks because of COVID, my partner Kira and I were ready to set off on our three-week trip to Hawai’i across four islands: Oahu, the Big Island of Hawai’i, Maui, and Kauai.
In order to see the most sights and experiences we had in mind, we planned to camp for two weeks of our trip, renting modified camping vehicles (namely, a pop-top Jeep and early 2000s converted camping Chevrolet van).
Our rented pop-top modified camping Jeep “Puna” from Campervan Hawaii. Taken in Hawai’i National Park.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/8, 1/5,000, ISO 250, 33mm
COVID forced state and county parks (which hold the majority of campsites) to close down. Sites like HipCamp, national parks (which have kept their campsites open), and private campgrounds made finding unique environments to stay along our journey memorable and easy. HipCamp (like AirBnb for private campsites) made connecting with locals and fostering authentic experiences one of my favourite memories from our trip.
Our favourite food is poke, and with the best poke on the Hawaiian islands coming from grocery stores (Foodland, in particular), this was the clear way to enjoy our photography trip and get the most out of what we enjoyed. As British Columbians, camping is how we’ve spent most of our summers.
We started off in Honolulu on Oahu for our first few days as the entry point coming from Vancouver.
This list comes in chronological order on our journey, highlighting the ones that were our favorites and omitting lowlights from our trip– saving you time when planning your trip on where to target. If you’re looking for the best takeaways, Na Pali Coast (#6) is the one to jump to, with Hawai’i Volcanos National park (#2) coming in as a close second.
1. Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden | Oahu, HI
Honolulu is the most popular tourist hotspot in Hawaii, with the Waikiki Beach area alone generating 46% of all tourism revenue and traffic.
Oahu boasts home to a diverse range of places and natural beauty to see. The John A. Burns highway winds across the sharp peaks and protects the natural forests and fauna beneath. The North Shore boasts the best surf destinations on the island. On your way, the best photography destination is the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden on the Park Access Road, photographed through the sunroof of our rental VW Jetta of the Jeep we tailed through the reserve.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/3.2, 1/800, ISO 100, 42mm
On the Park Access Road (free to drive through), you’ll wind through this expansive botanical reserve with jaw-dropping mountain views. The Park Access Road restricts anyone from leaving their vehicle or stopping on the road. I captured my photos by sticking my camera through our rental car’s sunroof (a Volkswagen Jetta) and Kira driving.
2. Hawaii Volcano National Park | Big Island Hawai’i, HI
Only sevens days before we began our Hawai’i journey, the Kilauea Volcano began erupting. This was the first time since 2018, where the last time it destroyed over 700 homes.
As a national park, their campsites remained open through COVID – with open availability when we went in October and no need for an advanced reservation. As the elevation is 4,000 feet, it gets incredibly cold at night (packable down jackets recommended if you’re staying overnight here).
Staying overnight was an incredible experience because of the glow lighting up the sky from the volcano. You can see it all along the highway and it illuminated our entire campsite. We set out one evening just after sunset to get a closer look at the volcano itself.
After sunset photograph of the Kilauea Volcano erupting.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/2.8, 1/30, ISO 12800, 24mm
The next day, we explored the remainder of the park leading down to where the previous generation’s lava flow had met the ocean. The sharp cliffs and drop-offs gave me one of my favourite photos from our trip and one I now offer prints of on my online print store.
The cliffs of the Kilauea volcano meeting the ocean in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/11, 1/400, ISO 100, 24mm
The Devastation Trail walking across the solidified lava flows in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 400, 24mm
Following a brief tropical rainstorm, a rainbow formed as we drove back up from the Kilauea cliffs and journeyed onto our next stop.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/11, 1/640, ISO 100, 24mm
3. Papakolea Green Sand Beach | Big Island Hawai’i, HI
With only four green sand beaches in the world, capturing one for your photo library is a rare opportunity. The Papakolea green sand beach is no exception to the beauty they bring. That being said, this particular destination may not be for everyone.
From Papakolea’s parking lot, there are three options in order to make it to the beach: make the five-mile roundtrip hike on the gravel and sand path, paying US$20 each to the locals for a roundtrip pickup truck ride, or risk it and take your 4WD vehicle all the way to the top.
After hours of driving, we were ready for the stretch and took the hiking option. We were worried about the 5,500lbs modified camping Jeep we had rented making it (or losing our deposit, more than anything).
The hike itself was not too bad, understanding that it will be a workout (if that’s what you’re up for). We packed our backpacks with everything we thought we’d need and set off. It is incredibly windy on the walk and at the beach. When I say windy, I mean extremely windy.
Although not the emerald green you might imagine when reading “green sand beach”, the lime tones from the sand give a warm glow in the day sunlight.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/11, 1/125, ISO 100, 24mm
This is not a beach to necessarily come and relax for an entire afternoon. For when we went, the wind was so sharp that the sand it picked up felt like it was sandblasting our skin. If swimming and wading in the water, it was a very enjoyable experience – but not somewhere to lay a towel and sunbathe.
Getting back to the parking lot, we chatted with others who mentioned paying the US$20 each for an entire family to make it there was not worth it. We also warned others about making the hike, carrying their Tommy Bahama fold-up beach chairs, 12-packs of beer, and flip-flops that it was not an easy walk.
Nonetheless, we got to capture one of four of these beaches and had a great story to remember it by.
4. Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden | Hilo, Big Island Hawai’i, HI
Unlike the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden which is government-run, the Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve is a non-profit – originally donated by the founder who salvaged the landscape from garbage and disrepair. Because of the private nature, entrance fees are required, but the park is expansive highlighting some of the best flowers, plants, and creatures native to the Big Island.
View from within Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden in Hilo, HI.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/11, 1/250, ISO 100, 27mm
Gecko peeking out from behind a tropical plant.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/9.0, 1/320, ISO 100, 40mm
5. Hamoa Beach | Hana, Maui, HI
When we arrived in Maui, we first stayed near Sugar Beach in a VRBO to shower and do our laundry before venturing back on another camping adventure.
Maui is the island with the most beaches. Its hot, dry weather makes it the perfect destination for relaxing at a resort or spending your time suntanning. While the Big Island was adventure-packed, I found that the photography in Maui wasn’t the same as the less-trafficked islands.
Some may recommend taking sunrise or sunset photos on Haleakala Volcano in Haleakala National Park. Its peak is 10,000 feet above sea level with one of the farthest views you can get in Hawaii; however, they get incredibly crowded with no guarantees of visibility when you make it to the top. When we went for sunset (less busy than the sunrise), and clouds blocked our views from the top. Winter jackets and layers are recommended because of the extreme cold at the top. The best views were from the golden hour glow on the roads leading back down to the base. If you’re tight on time in Maui, Haleakala isn’t recommended.
The winding switchback roads on Haleakala Volcano in Haleakala National Park during golden hour.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO 2000, 45mm
Self portrait in our campervan’s side mirror.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/4.0, 1/1250, ISO 1600, 40mm
Camping through the road to Hana was one of the most beautiful experiences on our trip and is necessary to get to Hamoa Beach. You can also visit the south portion of Haleakala National Park – its waterfalls made for one of the best hiking experiences we had, but not the best views for photos in my opinion (leaving these shots out). If you’re taking pictures on the road to Hana, it does require taking photos out of a moving car because stopping on the road is prohibited.
Captured out of the window of our early 2000’s Chevrolet converted campervan on the road to Hana.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 2500, 24mm
I left my Canon 5D Mark IV locked up while heading to Homoa Beach and captured the two shots below on 35mm film with my Pentax MG with a 28mm f/2.8 prime lens.
Homoa Beach captured in sunset on 35mm Fujifilm Superia 400 ISO film – if you look carefully, you can see the rainbow stretching from the bottom of the cloud to the surface of the water.
Captured on: Pentax MG 35mm film camera (Superia 400) with manual focus 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-M lens
Homoa Beach’s rolling hills and lush forests on 35mm Fujifilm 400 ISO film.
Captured on: Pentax MG 35mm film camera (Superia 400) with manual focus 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-M lens
6. Na Pali Coast | Kauai, HI
The Na Pali Coast is by far my favourite spot we traveled to in Hawai’i. Kauai my favourite island because of the off-the-beaten-path feel, the people, and the natural destinations. When we head there again in the future, Kauai is where I’ll be spending my entire trip. After spending two weeks camping, this last island we stayed in a resort to finish our trip.
The Na Pali Coast is only accessible by boat trip or plane. We took a chartered boat that spent five or so hours on the water, driving us out to the coast for my favourite photography experience. You can expect it to be US$200-250 or so per person.
It is absolutely necessary to bring a plastic bag or covering for your camera to protect it from the saltwater spray – I broke my Canon 5D Mark III in Thailand because of saltwater and swear I wouldn’t let it happen again (the experience where I learned the necessity of camera gear insurance).
I sell a set of three of my Na Pali Coast photos on my print store.
7. Waimea Canyon State Park | Kauai, HI
Waimea Canyon is an incredible valley with breathtaking views. Unlike the dry desert of the Grand Canyon, Waimea Canyon boasts lush green forests throughout its canyon. You’ll be able to capture views through any of its viewpoints.
If you’re looking for more of an off-the-beaten-path approach, try toe Waimea Canyon State Park’s Koaie Canyon Trail. I must admit, this was one of the hardest hikes we’ve done. You’ll hike almost 4,000 feet in elevation. Like many Hawaiian hikes, you’ll start the hike on a steep descent. Be sure to save enough energy (and water) to make it on the way back. Going back up the steep elevation was what made this hike so difficult – you’ll come across many who are camping at the river at the bottom: the main destination along with the many waterfalls.
We did the hike roundtrip in about five hours, including about 45 minutes spent along the riverside. Wild goats and chickens are found around the park. We headed back around 4:00 pm in order to beat the sunset back to our car.
8. Kilauea Lighthouse | Kauaui, HI
This was a quick one on our way to Hanalei Bay on the north side of Kauai. The lighthouse offers an incredible view over the rocky shores. You’ll also find Adam Sandler’s home steps from this location (with the decorated driveway gate).
Kilauea Lighthouse overlooking to the Kauai ocean near Hanalei town.
Captured on: Canon 5D Mark IV with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
Camera settings: f/11, 1/80, ISO 100, 31mm
9. Hanalei Bay | Kauai, HI
The last stop on our trip was Hanalei Bay. This was one of our favourite visits and somewhere we’re excited to return back to soon. If you’re familiar with British Columbia, the Hanalei area reminded us of Tofino on Vancouver Island. The giant, crashing waves makes this a go-to destination for surfers. The mountains towering over the beaches create an oasis. The last photos I shot below were finishing my roll of 35mm Fujifilm Superia film before heading back home to Vancouver the next day to develop.
Hanalei Beach, Kauai in sunset captured on Superia 35mm film.
Captured on: Pentax MG 35mm film camera (Superia 400) with manual focus 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-M lens
The cascading mountains and valleys in Hanalei Town, Kauai, HI.
Captured on: Pentax MG 35mm film camera (Superia 400) with manual focus 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-M lens
When in Hanalei, we recommended kayaking through the rivers that lead out into the bay for another way to enjoy everything Hanalei has to offer.
Hanalei rivers captured on 35mm film while kayaking.
Captured on: Pentax MG 35mm film camera (Superia 400) with manual focus 28mm f/2.8 SMC Pentax-M lens
I hope the suggestions and experiences shared help shed some light on what might be the best fit for your Hawaii trip and photography. If you’ve liked the photos in this series, I invite you to follow my Instagram for more adventures.