SUNRISE LOCATIONS
These are a majority of the locations I prefer to shoot at for sunrise sessions. The lighting in the mornings are perfect at these locations, and they are dependent on the weather conditions as well. The sun rises way quicker than it sets here on Oahu, so being on time for Sunrise is very important. The more clouds, the better, so if you choose a location and I tell you the weather will not be prime for that location, I will choose a location where your images will come out beautiful and that will portray my portfolio the best. I cannot control Mother Nature, and there are times last minute I have to change the location of the photo session because of the weather.
Halona
Sunrise- Located on the Windward Side of the Island and is about a 25 minute drive to this location from Waikiki Beach. It is a cove, below the road, with lava rocks and a small beach area. It includes a short steep hike down a few rocks and sand. It is typically busy in the mornings for sunrise sessions, but there is enough parking.
ALAN DAVIS
Sunrise- Located on the Windward Side of the Island and is about a 25 minute drive to this location from Waikiki Beach and a 60 minute drive from Koolina. It is a 20 minute walk to this location down a path, but it’s so worth it. The water is always calm, and there is never anyone there. There are no facilities at this location.
POUNDERS
Sunrise- Located on the Northside of Oahu near the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is about a 60 minute drive from Waikiki and about 45 minutes from Koolina. This location has mountains in the backdrop, trees, greenery, blue water, a large wide beach and is usually pretty empty. There are no restrooms at this location and parking is easy.
PYRAMID BEACH
Sunrise- Located on the Marine Core Base, so veterans, retired or active duty couples or family are the only people permitted to access this location. It’s a long stretch of beach, with mountains in the backdrop. There are no restrooms here and parking is easy. The beach has lava rocks in random locations on the far east and west side. It is a nice location and is really easy to get too.
Kualoa
Sunrise- Located on the Northside of Oahu near Kualoa Ranch about 45 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its small beach, with white sand and turquoise waters and it is a great beach for swimming as well.
Makaapuu
Sunrise- Located on the Windward Side of Oahu approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its unique lava rocks, tide pools, and a large mountain in the backdrop. This beach is not great for swimming and the water is typically rough, but the tide pools you can easily go swimming in if the marine conditions allow for it.
Makua
Sunrise- Located on the far west side of the island. This location is approximately 60 minutes from Waikiki beach and 40 minutes from Koolina. The beach is wide, and there are large mountains in the backdrop. For sunrise, the gates open at 6am, there is ample parking, and there are restrooms at this location. The sun does not rise on this side of the Island so you don’t typically get golden tones and colors here.
EL POINTE
Sunrise – Located on the North Shore about 60 minutes from Waikiki Beach and 70 minutes from Koolina. It is in Laie, and near the University. This beach has ample parking, and the walk to this location is less than 10 minutes. There is sand, crystal blue calm water, rocks, and trees that line the beach. There are no facilities here.
YOKS
Sunrise- Located on the far west side of the island. This location is approximately 60 minutes from Waikiki beach and 40 minutes from Koolina. The beach is wide, and there are large mountains in the backdrop. For sunrise, the gates open at 6am, there is ample parking, and there are restrooms at this location. The sun does not rise on this side of the Island so you don’t typically get golden tones and colors here.
Moks
Sunrise- Located on the Northshore approximately 50 minutes from Waikiki Beach. It is a small secluded beach with green trees, typically calm water and ample parking. It is a short 1 minute walk to the sand! There are not facilities at this location.
Sandys
Sunrise- From Waikiki it is about a 30 minute drive to this location, from Koolina it is approximately 80 minutes. There is a wide beach with sand, crazy waves, lava rock formations and mountains in the backdrop. There is plenty of parking available, and there are restrooms and showers nearby. If you want to take a dip in the water, there are tide pools here that we can do so safely.
KAIWO
Sunrise- From Waikiki it is about a 30 minute drive to this location, from Koolina it is approximately 80 minutes. There is a wide beach with sand, greenery, crazy waves, and lava rocks. There is plenty of parking available, and there are restrooms and showers nearby, but open at 7am. If you want to take a dip in the water, we can, but need to be a bit cautious.
Waimanalo
Sunrise – Located on the East Side of the Island near Kailua. It’s approximately 35 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its white sand beach, pine trees, and mountains in the backdrop. Parking is simple and the walk to the sand is less than a minute long. The water here is usually calm and is good for swimming. This location is best when there are clouds in the sky.
HAUULA BEACH
Sunrise – Located up towards the Northshore. It is about 55 minutes from Waikiki, 75 minutes from Koolina, and 20 minutes from Turtle Bay. It’s a small little beach, calm water, with mountains in the backdrop. There are no facilities here. For sunrise it’s always empty and nobody is around. Parking is on the side of the road and the sand is right there. The water is always calm, and the sun rises right over the water.
SUNSET LOCATIONS
These are a majority of the locations I prefer to shoot at for sunset sessions. The lighting in the evenings are perfect at these locations, and they are dependent on the weather conditions as well. The more clouds, the better, so if you choose a location and I tell you the weather will not be prime for that location, I will choose a location where your images will come out beautiful and that will portray my portfolio the best. I cannot control Mother Nature, and there are times last minute I have to change the location of the photo session because of the weather.
SANDYS
Sunset- Located closer to Waikiki. It is about a 30 minute drive to this location. There is a wide beach with sand, crazy waves, lava rock formations and mountains in the backdrop. There is plenty of parking available, and there are restrooms and showers nearby. If you want to take a dip in the water, there are tide pools here that we can do so safely.
KAIWO
Sunset- Located closer to Waikiki. It is about a 30 minute drive to this location. There is a wide beach with sand, crazy waves, lava rock formations and mountains in the backdrop. There is plenty of parking available, and there are restrooms and showers nearby. If you want to take a dip in the water, there are tide pools here that we can do so safely.
EL POINTE
Sunset (weekdays)- Located on the North Shore about 70 minutes from Waikiki Beach and 80 minutes from Koolina. It is in Laie, and near the University. This beach has ample parking, and the walk to this location is about 15 minutes down the beach. There is sand, crystal blue calm water, rocks, and trees that line the beach. There are no facilities here.
Crouching Lion
Sunset- Located in Kaaawa which is up near the Northshore and around the block from Kahana Bay. It’s approximately 55 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its large green mountain, green trees, grass and a wooded area with trees. It is typically always cloudy which makes for a great mooy sunset. There is ample parking, but not restrooms nearby.
Tracks (temporarily closed)
Sunset (Weekdays only)- Located towards the West side of the Island. This location is 10 minutes from Koolina, and 80 minutes from Waikiki. It is a nice location, with white sand, and mountains in the backdrops as well. It is a good beach to swim at, and the water is typically calm. This location is best for couples, or smaller sized families. There are no facilities at this beach.
Pounders
Sunset- (Weekdays only) – Located on the Northshore of Oahu, near the Polynesian Cultural Center. This beach is about a 75 minute drive from Waikiki and Koolina and 15 minutes from Turtle Bay. It is a beautiful wide beach, with nice sand, a huge rock that you can walk up on that juts out into the ocean and the beach is lined with trees and shrubbery. There is ample parking, and fresh water showers, but no restrooms.
NOAA
Sunset- Located on the East Side of Oahu. This beach is 35 minutes from Waikiki, and over 60 minutes from Koolina. It is small, but the water is always calm, there are small rock cliffs and trees that line the beach. There aren’t many people around, parking is easy, and there are no bathrooms available.
LEFTOVERs
Sunset (Weekdays Only/Summertime only) – Located on the Northshore of Oahu. Leftovers is about 75 minutes from Waikiki Beach and 75 minutes from Koolina. It is known for its rock formations in the water and the water is calm here and you are able to swim in the summertime only. You will get wet at this location, and there isn’t much sand, so couples or smaller families only. There are no restrooms at this location, and there is ample parking.
el pointe cliffside
Sunset (weekdays only) – Located on the North Shore of Oahu approximately 75 minutes from both Koolina and Waikiki Beach. This is a cliffside peninsula that overlooks a beach and the Pacific Ocean. The views are unreal, but there is no beach here. There are no facilities here and this location is best for couples or smaller families.
Kaena Point North
Sunset- Located on the far North West side of Oahu. Ka’ena Point is approximately 70 minutes from Waikiki Beach. It is known for its straw grass, lava rocks, choppy water, and really unique beaches. There are lava rock cliffs at this location that are on the side of the water that makes it unique. Parking is easy to come by, but there are no restrooms nearby.
Kaena Point West
Sunset – Located on the furthest West side of the Island approximately 90 minutes from Waikiki Beach and 55 minutes from Koolina. This location is known for its wide beaches, mountains in the backdrop, hills, green grass, lava rocks and a wide open ocean. It is easy to park, there are restrooms, and it is usually quite crowded on the weekends, so weekdays are preferable. This beach closes promptly at 7pm, and if sunset is after that time, we will be locked in the park.
GERMAINES
Sunset- Located on the West Side of the Island near Ewa Beach and Koolina. It is a 50 minute drive from Waikiki, and a 20 minute drive from Koolina. This location has a lighthouse, sand, a rocky reef on the waters edge, and some palm trees. When the weather is right, the sunset is epic. There are bathrooms where the parking lot is, and there is ample parking. Its a very short walk from the parking lot to the sand.
Kahana Bay
Sunset- Located in Kaaawa which is up near the Northshore. It’s approximately 50-60 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its large green mountain, green trees, grass, and a wooded area with trees. It’s usually always cloudy here and it’s always a very moody sunset with lots of color. There is ample parking, and it a 5-10 minute walk down the beach to get here. There are no restrooms here, but there is fresh water showers and feet rinse offs.
kuli beach (temporarily closed)
Sunset- Located in Waianae which is about a 15 minute drive from Koolina (Aulani, 4 Seasons). It’s approximately 80 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its wide open beach, rough waves, and a lonely tree. There is ample parking, there are restrooms and fresh water showers too. This is not a good beach for swimming.
Kawela Bay
Sunset- (Weekdays Only) – Located on the North Shore. This location is about 70 minutes from Waikiki Beach and 55 minutes from Koolina. It is one of the only locations on the Island that has beautiful banyan trees and a really nice wooded area that is very photogenic for photo sessions. It is popular on the weekends because of the banyan trees and hiking trails. The beach is gorgeous as well and has a tree line surrounding the sand. There is plenty of parking, and from the parking area, it is a 5 minute walk to the sand. The water is always calm here too and is a great beach for swimming.
Kualoa Regional
Sunset- Located on the Northside of Oahu near Kualoa Ranch about 50 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its small beach, with white sand, and turquoise waters and it is a great beach for swimming as well. The big green mountain is very unique to the Island and there isn’t anything like it anywhere else. There is plenty of parking, and also has restrooms available too.
Lanai Lookout
Sunset- Located on the East Side of the Island approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach. It’s unique to the Island and there is no place similar. It is all lava rocks and they are rough on your feet. When it is windy or rough seas, it could be dangerous. If you aren’t into being risky, this is not the location for you. It is hard to get around this spot. I recommend going barefoot, but bringing easy slip ons or slides to walk to certain locations at this spot. Parking is easy, and the views are unreal.
Makaapuu
Sunset- Located on the Windward Side of Oahu approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its unique lava rocks, tide pools, and a large mountain in the backdrop. This beach is not great for swimming and the water is typically rough, but the tide pools you can easily go swimming in. There is ample parking, and the sand is about a 5 minute walk from the parking lot.
TEE POOLS
Sunset (Weekdays Only) – Located on the Windward Side of Oahu approximately 35 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its unique lava rocks, tide pools, and a large mountain in the backdrop. This beach is good for swimming and the water is pretty calm. There is ample parking, and there are showers nearby to rinse your feet off.
Makaapuu Cliffside
Sunset- This location is about 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach. The cliffs and grassy area are very unique, and the view is epic. There is plenty of parking, and it’s a very short walk to this location. There are no facilities located here.
makua (temporarily closed)
Sunset – Located on the far west side of the Island. This location is about a 55 minute drive from Koolina and about a 90 minute drive from Waikiki Beach. It has lava rocks, beautiful lush fields with a big mountain in the backdrop. Parking is limited, but not impossible. It is a short 5 minutes walk to the sand.
Owopala
Sunset – This beach is 60-70 minute drive from Waikiki, and 10 minutes from Turtle Bay. The beach is long, wide, has nice sand, and is always empty. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the parking area to the sand and the water is typically calm. The beach is lined with some lava rocks, sand dunes, and beautiful green trees. This beach is very versatile and offers all different types of scenery. There are no bathrooms at this location.
Polo Norte
Sunset – (Weekdays Only) – Located on the far North West Side of Oahu. This location is about 70 minutes from Waikiki Beach. It is a nice beach with pine trees lining the sand and a mountain backdrop way in the distance. There is plenty of parking, and it’s about a 5 minute walk to the sand.
Secret Island
Sunset- (Monday-Thursday only) – Located on the Northside of Oahu near Kualoa Ranch about 50 minutes from Waikiki Beach. This location is known for its small beach, with white sand, palm trees and turquoise waters. It is a great beach for swimming, there is ample parking and this location is about a 15 minute walk through the woods to get to it. There are bathrooms near the parking lot with fresh water and showers.
