Hawaii has plenty of picturesque places—but Maui and Oahu are the most popular spots. Our article on Maui shows that simple activities like watching the sunset can be quite fun to do on the beautiful island. You’ll feel even more amazed once you explore the Road to Hana, go to the Haleakala Volcano, and scuba dive in the Lanai.
Though Maui is beautiful, more tourists and locals love to visit the spots in Oahu. Many people flock to the restaurants and malls on the busy Kalākaua Avenue or head over to the Ko Olina Resort to swim. If you’re on the island to take pictures, though, it’s better to stay away from these destinations and go to more scenic spots in the area instead. To illustrate, here’s how you can get to places with picture-perfect views:
Sail along the scenic Waikiki coast
Waikiki has a long shoreline that’s surrounded by towering buildings. While you can capture shots of the scenery from the bay, the view will look more scenic if you join a catamaran cruise and take pictures as you sail across the coastline. You’ll be able to take pictures of the buildings and mountains once you’re aboard the catamaran. You can even join specific tours, like the Moana’s Sunset Cocktail Sail, to capture the changes in the colors of the Waikiki coast as the sun sets.
Hire a private boat to enjoy beautiful sandbars
If you want a different perspective of the sea for your photos, you can hire a boat that can take you from the shore towards the sandbars throughout Oahu. To illustrate, writer and filmmaker James Frederick used a keelboat to go to the Kaneohe Sandbar, which is a popular spot for both locals and tourists alike. The sandbar is a mile wide and three miles long, so you can take pictures of the crystal-clear waters along the
spot. It is also surrounded by stunning coral reefs, which is why you may even be able to see marine animals like turtles in the area.
Do a road trip on Oahu’s famous circle drive
Oahu isn’t only known for its beaches. You can explore the lush greeneries and visit stunning waterfalls by planning a road trip. You can take an Oahu road trip along the circle drive, which starts at the Diamond Head. From the starting point, drive towards the end of Highway 930 to reach Ka’ena Point, where you can take pictures of the remote volcanic coastline or the bird sanctuary. Afterward, you can head towards
Waimea to capture pictures of the waterfalls and the surrounding botanical garden forest.
Hike up the Diamond Head for a panoramic view
You can enjoy a different perspective of Oahu when you reach one of the peak spots on the island. Once you complete the Oahu Circle drive, you can park your car at the bottom of the Diamond Head and then take the short but steep climb towards the summit. From the top of the Diamond Head, you’ll be able to see the majestic blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the busy city of Honolulu nearby. Thus, this spot is
one of the places where you can take scenic pictures of the entire island or the big body of water surrounding it.
Oahu has so much to offer, and by exploring the island, you can get to these scenic spots and show the different sides of Oahu.
Post in collaboration with Jeremy Bates.
