Oahu Photo Locations
There are so many lush and beautiful locations to take photos and videos on Oahu. Here are a handful of the best:
Kaena Point, on the North Shore of Oahu, is an easy hike along the shoreline. Featuring stunning views of ocean and greenery and complemented by an extended golden hour thanks to the mountain backdrop. While here, be sure to stop by the nearby switchback trail to go up the mountain. Nearby is a dirt road lined with palm trees and beautiful lush backdrops at Dillingham Ranch.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Lanikai Beach and Lanikai Pillbox are a 15 minute drive from the botanical gardens. These gardens are in East Oahu near Kailua.
The best time to shoot at the gardens is in the early morning hours. For weddings and more formal events, there is a park permit for road usage with a 4 week lead time through the Hawaii Parks and Recreation. For impromptu sessions, we will have to move from the road as cars pass since it is a hazard if there is a car in the road. I recommend scheduling your imagery early in the morning, as it is less crowded and the road opens for vehicles at 9am. The walking trail is open before the road opens and ample side street parking is available nearby.
Yokes Beach on the West Side of Oahu (also known as Yokohama Bay) + Waimea Valley Overlook Historic Site (Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument) are two of my favorite places on the island. The white sand beach is lined by mountains and vibrant blue waters.
Yokes Beach
Waimea Historic Site
Waimea Historic Site
Waimea Beach Park (above) is the location of multiple film scenes; it’s not hard to see why.
Westside Pillbox This is my favorite Pillbox. It’s essentially a place on a hill that used to be used by military and now people get to hike the trails to see beautiful views. There are pillboxes on the westside, north shore, and east side in Lanikai. I highly recommend the Pink pillbox hike on the west side and Electric Beach snorkeling with fish and dolphins. Electric Beach is only a few minutes from the hike and can be done before or after snorkeling.
Crouching Lion is located on the northeast side of the island just past Laie if coming from the North Shore of Oahu.
East Honolulu has so much to offer. There are so many trails, lookouts, and places to go; it feels a world away from Honolulu.
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail features a stunning lookout, greenery along a paved trail, and tide pools, the furthest eastern lookout is just around the corner from the lighthouse parking lot, Sandy Beach is great for watching shore break and close by as well, and best viewpoint is Deadman’s Catwalk
Puena Beach Park on the North Shore of Oahu features lush palm trees and greenery alongside a harbor, park, and calm beach with a break wall rock jetty. Below is are two images taken at Puena for Native Swim.
Kei kies and Pipeline Beach are my two favorite beach photo locations on the North Shore. It’s the picturesque Hawaii you dream of — white sand beaches with corse grain sand, light blue waters, and an abundance of palm trees in the distance.
Kei keis from above and Pipeline below
If you want smoothie on the island aesthetic photos, you’ll want to visit the Sunrise Shack on the North Shore or Raised by the Waves.
Further down from the Sunrise Shack on the North Shore is Turtle Bay and Kawela Bay. Both offer fields, greenery, lush landscaping, and open bays with bright blue waters. I recommend this location for sunset sessions.
The options for photography locations on Oahu are pretty much limitless. There are so many hikes, beaches, and aesthetic places. Let’s find the ones that work best for you.
