GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

DW and I are heading to the islands in about a month. We are still planning the trip so I'm totally open to suggestions on great places to photograph or even just places to stay at or visit.

Tentatively, we think we will be there about 2 weeks. Plan to start out in Honolulu for a few days (or that area). For sure want to visit Kauai. Third island is optional.

Please help me out. Wife is worried cause I'm a procrastinator.

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

When in Honolulu, visit Iolani Palace, Nuuanu Pali, Upsidedown falls(on the way to the Pali), Diamond Head, Koko Head, Haunama Bay, the Blow Hole, Pearl Harbor and Punchbowl National Cemetery. Just some suggestions.

Ace and Deuce Loc: Right behind you!!

I think your best bet would be to take me with you and let me take pics of you & your wife sightseeing, lol!!!!!

Enjoy your trip, have a great time!!! :D

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

If you are planning on visiting Hawaii in "about a month" and don't have an itinerary already (and don't have reservations) you ARE a procrastinator. Good luck.

Ol' Don Loc: Hohenwald,Tennessee

On our South Sea cruise a couple years ago we took several excursions which provided many photo opportunities. I would suggest you do the same rather than try to find places on your own. Have a great trip and take lots of photo memories (between my wife and I, we took well over 1,000 pictures during the 31 day cruise)

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Kauai is a must go island, my favorite. Why? It's the most tropical (and oldest) of the major islands. It looks like folks imagine a nice tropical island should look like. First of all, it does not exude over development. There are plenty of hotels, but they are not stuck up in the air. The Island has (or had) a building height limited to the height of a palm tree - I presume the height would be a mature tree.

Must see, IMHO: Waimea Canyon, described by Mark Twain as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Simply awesome. If you are into hiking, some great trails leading to unbelievable photo ops.

Second, take a sunset catamaran cruise to the Ne Pali coast. This is where the introductory scene in Jurassic Park was taken. Cruise includes all you can eat and drink (yea, alcohol as well). Scenery of volcanic formations here are just unreal. The only other way to see this coast as a tourist is by helo, which is much more expensive.

With more time, you should venture up to the north part of the Island (Princeville area) and view Honalei Bay and environs. This area supposedly provided inspiration for Peter, Paul, and Mary to compose "Puff the Magic Dragon".

I could go on about Kauai, but the above should provide a good start. Kauai has been the site for scenes of many movies. There is a reason for that - see above. By the way, the island's correct pronunciation is "cow' a ee" not "Ka wa i" as so many do.

Have a great trip and post those super shots when you return.

Bill

sbesaw Loc: Boston

If you visit Kauai there is a photo tour company. max 8 people in a van. only 4 the day I went. Several different excursions with varying degrees of hiking. you will get to see a lot of place in one day that would be otherwise hard to find. One stop was Nurses Beach (South Pacific) and an easy hike into a small waterfall plus more. also more strenuous photo hikes available. At far end of island, away from all large tourist resorts is Hanalei Colony Resort, literally on the beach. four units to a building and ours was 1st floor step out onto beach. could throe stones into water from deck. just north of that is trail head for Napali Trail.

If you have time and are feeling adventurous try to get to Molokai, which is actually the most Hawaiian and least toured island. You can take a mule trip down to Father Damien's leper colony. That wasn't running when we were there so we hiked in and out, over 30 switchbacks. I wouldn't want to hike it now, that was 10 years ago. At the time there wasn't even a stop light on the island. Now there is one. One side arid with deer other side has rain forest and tallest sea cliffs. But if your time is short it is probably out of the way but great experience. We went to local hula school for a kids recital, only non Hawaiians there. There is also great hiking. On all are hikes into rain forest we never saw another human being, all day. We were, on that trip, there for 7 weeks with 1st week on big Island, then 5 on Molokai and last week was re-entry in Maui.. Haven't been that relaxed before or since.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

"Photograph America Newsletter" is a good and inexpensive source of photo ideas for various regions of the country including Hawaii:
http://www.photographamerica.com/newsletters-byregion.htm

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

My wife and I just returned from 10 days on Kauai, a month ago. Gorgeous. We explored the island with a tour one day then went back to all locations on our own. Also did a 'doors off helicopter charter'. No loose items, i.e. can not change lenses. Most shots under 50 mm, your 16-35 on a FF would work most of the time, your 70-200 would be to long.
I only took a D7000 with a new 18-200 VR ll with zoom lock. Got some fabulous images. Stayed at the Poipu Beach Sheraton in a ocean front room. Many canyons, a thousand waterfalls, Spouting Horn, and beautiful sunsets. Will be 75 there today, we just got 16" of snow.
Have fun.
Duane

Slick50il Loc: North central Ill L-P area!

Valcanos national park is awesome as well as the road to Hana and the Arizona memorial is a must see!

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

So many good suggestions from you all. Thanks.

Stuck in the house between yesterday's blizzard and today's wind chill so we have made good progress planning --now starting to book things.

Mostly we plan to rent cars on each island--Oahu, Hawaii and Kauai. But as one person suggested I think we might take a photo tour when we get to an island, just to get the lay of the land.

We are prebooking some of the touristy things, but trying to leave our schedule open as much as possible.

Some highlights we plan to do: Pearl Harbor (of course), Diamond Head, snorkeling (borrowing son's Waterproof Canon), just exploring and visiting north shore beaches on Oahu.

Hawaii - Mauna Kea Observatory (one of the darkest places on the planet so plan to try some star trail photos.), Volcanoes National Park, whale watching, more beaches and snorkeling.

Kauai - Canyons, waterfalls, birds and beaches. Yes, we plan on either the sunset cruise or helicopter tour.

Appreciate all your suggestions and am open to any more.

Thanks,
Greg

Robeng Loc: California

Looks like you pretty much have the same equipment as me. Check out my Kauai gallery in my website for ideas and locations. Have a great trip.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Well, we are back. Missed some miserable cold weather here at home, but came back to one more snow storm. I couldn't get anyone to send me money to stay longer, lol.

We used many of your suggestions. I will post more photos on the gallery page, but thought I'd put a couple here. Thank you all again for the great suggestions.

BTW, the sunset photo at the end was the best chance I had. Lots of rain while we were there, but we didn't let it slow us down.

Remember where they found the dinasaur eggs in Jurassic Park?

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Southeast coast of Kauai

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Salt Pond sunset

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