I'm going to the big island in two weeks, and will be there for two weeks. I'm trying to figure out as much as I can for shooting while I'm there. Here's what I'm planning so far.
Lava ocean entry (will do this with Bruce and Tom of ExtremeExposures)
Volcano NP
Waipio Valley (are hiilawe and kaluahine falls active? I've read some places that they are mostly dry)
Polulu Valley
Laupahoehoe Point for sunrise
Mauna Kea summit
Place of Refuge - Honaunau Bay
Beach 69
Other than that, would love to hear others experiences with shooting on the big island, and any nice locations you've found.
Thanks much!
Ted
Posted by Greg Vaughn on April 29, 2013 at 2:50 PM
The trailhead for Pololu Valley can also be a nice sunrise location - looking along sheer cliffs above the ocean. The times I've been in Waipio Valley, the waterfalls have been rather wispy and the view is a bit distant, but the valley is a great place to visit, and the view from the lookout at top is wonderful - looking at the same coastline as from the Pololu lookout but from the opposite end.
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau is one of my very favorite places in all Hawaii. Early morning light there is great, and it's a good place for sunsets, too (walk or drive beyond the main part of the park to the picnic area on the coast to the south of the heiau and lava rock wall).
One of the best places for sunsets is Anaehoomalu Bay (Waikoloa Beach Resort) - a nice row of palm trees on the beach. Shoot from the far side of the historic fish pond with the trees silhouetted at sunset.
You don't have Akaka Falls or Rainbow Falls on your list, but if you haven't been there before, you'll likely want to include them. Near Akaka Falls is World Gardens, a private garden with great tropical foliage and also a view of a triple waterfall. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, just north of Hilo is also excellent and has a nice little waterfall.
The black sand beach at Punalu'u is quite spectacular, and there are often endangered sea turtles on the beach.
The Saddle Road between Hilo and the Kona-Kohala Coast is a really interesting drive, up through native rainforest on the Hilo side to barren lava flows in the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, then down to dry ranchland before the rugged lava landscape at the coast. You'll do at least part of this route if you go up to the summit of Mauna Kea.
Good photo locations at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: the rainforest along the trail to Thurston Lava Tube and the trail to Kilauea Iki; pahoehoe lava formations along Chain of Craters Road - a really good area is just before the road drops down to the coast. There is a nice petroglyph trail in the lower area of CofC Rd, too.
Plenty on the Big Island to keep you going for two weeks!
Discussion
3 repliesI'm going to the big island in two weeks, and will be there for two weeks. I'm trying to figure out as much as I can for shooting while I'm there. Here's what I'm planning so far.
Lava ocean entry (will do this with Bruce and Tom of ExtremeExposures)
Volcano NP
Waipio Valley (are hiilawe and kaluahine falls active? I've read some places that they are mostly dry)
Polulu Valley
Laupahoehoe Point for sunrise
Mauna Kea summit
Place of Refuge - Honaunau Bay
Beach 69
Other than that, would love to hear others experiences with shooting on the big island, and any nice locations you've found.
Thanks much!
Ted
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau is one of my very favorite places in all Hawaii. Early morning light there is great, and it's a good place for sunsets, too (walk or drive beyond the main part of the park to the picnic area on the coast to the south of the heiau and lava rock wall).
One of the best places for sunsets is Anaehoomalu Bay (Waikoloa Beach Resort) - a nice row of palm trees on the beach. Shoot from the far side of the historic fish pond with the trees silhouetted at sunset.
You don't have Akaka Falls or Rainbow Falls on your list, but if you haven't been there before, you'll likely want to include them. Near Akaka Falls is World Gardens, a private garden with great tropical foliage and also a view of a triple waterfall. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, just north of Hilo is also excellent and has a nice little waterfall.
The black sand beach at Punalu'u is quite spectacular, and there are often endangered sea turtles on the beach.
The Saddle Road between Hilo and the Kona-Kohala Coast is a really interesting drive, up through native rainforest on the Hilo side to barren lava flows in the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, then down to dry ranchland before the rugged lava landscape at the coast. You'll do at least part of this route if you go up to the summit of Mauna Kea.
Good photo locations at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: the rainforest along the trail to Thurston Lava Tube and the trail to Kilauea Iki; pahoehoe lava formations along Chain of Craters Road - a really good area is just before the road drops down to the coast. There is a nice petroglyph trail in the lower area of CofC Rd, too.
Plenty on the Big Island to keep you going for two weeks!
- Greg (former Hawaii resident)
Thanks!
Sandy