Explore the best places for photography at Hawaii, USA
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Ah, the islands of Hawaii. This island state might be the best and certainly one of the most beautiful destinations in the United States. There are lava fields, tropical hikes to waterfalls, and miles of white silky beaches bordered by palm trees.
With 6 possible islands to visit, each a completely unique experience, you need a plan to find the best places to take photos. Browse the existing photo spots or read our photography guide below to make sure you leave Hawaii with some of the best snapshots imaginable.
Top photos from 84 spots at Hawaii
Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs)
photo by Jan Nekvinda
Ukumehame Beach Park
photo by fototante.de
Ukumehame Beach Park
photo by fototante.de
Sunrise at Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii
photo by Gord McKenna
Glass Beach
photo by Seb Voigt
South Shore of O'ahu Drive (Hawaii)
photo by Viktor Elizarov
Napili Bay, Maui - Hawaii
photo by Svein-Magne Tunli
Mauna Kea Observatories - CFHT & Gemini N
photo by Fred Lusk
Shark's Cove
photo by Christian Hering-Junghans
Awa'awapuhi Trail
photo by Eric Helligrath
North Shore, Oahu
photo by Tyler Merrick
Glass Beach
photo by Seb Voigt
No Hawaiian island is like the other. Active photographers come here to hike, like the Moanalua Ridge Trail which brings you to the famous Haiku Stairs on Oahu island. Walking on the stairs over the mountain ridges is forbidden and will result in a hefty fine, but you can walk up to them and take photos.
Stay on Oahu and hike to the peak of Crouching Lion for a sweeping view of the curved Kahana Bay. The white sands of the beach with the mosaic of green and turquoise in the waters and the lush forested mountains make a postcard-worthy picture. The Nu‘uanu Pali Cliffs are best photographed from an amazing lookout that can be driven to (there is a parking fee).
On Maui island, Ukumehame Beach Park is a small area famous for its iconic dead trees juxtaposed with the tropical beach. The Haleakala Crater is an other-worldly landscape with deep, rich colors that can be hiked to. Hikers can climb to the summit of Haleakala National Park, which is a large volcano that forms much of the island of Maui. Much of the island’s wild side can be seen from the top. Capturing sunrises from here brings rich colors and shadows to your photographs.
On Kauai Island, Kalalau Beach is a quiet beach situated at the bottom of impressive mountains and cliffs. Glass Beach is a rocky beach famous for the rounded glass littered on the beach from a nearby plant. The Lava Pools of Mokolea feature holes made from lava that fill up with water and stream back out to the ocean. Capture the full force of the ocean by photographing during high tide.
Stay on Kauai and hike up Waimea Canyon. This is a beautiful green and red deep canyon that makes any hiker feel small in comparison.
Travel tips for Hawaii
Don’t try to visit every island during your trip to Hawaii. You will rush through them and miss countless beautiful moments. Hawaii is full of hundreds of endangered animals and plants that live nowhere else on Earth, so be respectful of the environment when visiting.
Hawaii has beautiful weather year-round, even when the rest of the country is trying to survive harsh winter temperatures. Summer can be horribly humid and the rainy season runs from November to March. Unlike some other tropical destinations, the rain doesn’t fall nonstop during the wet months and there are still plenty of dry days. The very best weather is in April, May, and September.
Hawaii is located in USA, a country with 3258 photo spots that you might want to have a look at as well to find even more beautiful places for your next trip.
Where are the most amazing places for photography? Locationscout is a network of passionate photographers and travelers around the world, discovering it together.
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