ronf78155 Loc: Seguin Texas

Don't wast a lot of time in Honolulu ...a day there is enough!
Reminded me of Houston with a beach!
Kauai is great and renting a car and driving the highway to Hana is worthwhile too.
I'd take a 18-135 and a 1.5 converter...that's it !

Ghery Loc: Olympia, WA

He's going to the big island. I agree about Honolulu. Waikiki beach is great, because it is a great beach. Unfortunately, way too crowded.

We usually go to Kauai. Very laid back and relaxing.

The road to Hana is on Maui, yet a different island. BTW, that 15 mph speed limit is there for a reason.

I'll have to look into a converter, but for my purposes 1.5x wouldn't be enough to bother with.

ronf78155 Loc: Seguin Texas

Ive been to all the islands and loved Kauai........so laid back and beautiful !
I just sent my son and his new wife for a week on Maui ....they drove the Hana Highway (Day long trip) and all I got was a Hana t-shirt ! jk

the f/stops here Loc: New Mexico

Just looked at my images from my last trip to the big island. I used my 16-300 Tamron and my 100-400 Canon exclusively. I suggest the beautiful Botanic Garden near Hilo if you're interested in plants. I photographed terrific sunsets from my suite every evening. Some landscapes and some people. The additional lenses I had taken were never used. Have fun.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

We've been to Hawaii many times (Oahu, Maui and Kauai), but I've only had a DSLR for the last two trips. I had Canon bridge/superzooms on the previous trips. I have a Canon 80D that I took to Kauai in August 2017 and Oahu in March of this year; it will be going with me in July 2019. Unless you have a real need for a long zoom, such as whale watching or shooting a close up of Waikiki from Diamond Head, I'd leave it at home. I use my 18-135 for most of my photos and the 10-18 for some others. I don't think I used my long lens (a 70-300, 112-480 equivalent on my crop sensor 80D) on either trip. You really want to cover the wide to medium range, so I'd look into something that will cover the area between your 10-20 and 70-300.

We enjoyed our trip to Oahu last March because it wasn't too crowded (even Waikiki). We did get rain and overcast the first few days, but it was still nice. Regarding where to go, I can only speak of the three we've been to; the big island is on our to-do list. Our favorite is Kauai, as it's the least developed and the most tropical. As someone else mentioned, Waikiki is a must see if you go to Oahu, but it's a "zoo" in the summer and one day is enough- as previously noted, you're going at a good time to avoid the crowds. Pearl Harbor is a must-do; be advised that you will need reservations for the Arizona Memorial at least a couple of months in advance (it is currently closed until March 2019, so you may just make it), or you take your chances waiting in line and not being able to go. We also enjoyed touring the USS Missouri. We have stayed in Ko Olina the last two times in Oahu and really like it there (we're going there for a week in July and then 10 days in Kauai). If you go to Oahu, take the drive to the North Shore around the island (up to Turtle Bay); a beautiful drive with many photo-ops. If you go to Maui, the road to Hana is a must-do, though it's crowded and slow. Also, take the drive up to the top of Haleakala; sunrise is supposed to be spectacular from the top, but I have a hard time getting up that early when I'm on vacation. An interesting place on Maui is south of Wailea- not what you'll expect. For Kauai, there is so much to see and so much relaxing to do. Though Kauai has the most rain of anywhere on the planet, that is in the northern part of the island. The Poipu Beach area has much less rainfall and is where we stay. Waimea Canyon is not to be missed, as is the North Shore. There is a beautiful lighthouse at Kilauea on the North Shore. Depending on the Island you go to, I highly recommend one of the "__(name of the island)___ Revealed" books by Wizard Publications. The key is to get on "island time" and relax; enjoy your trip!

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Take your fav lenses that you use at "home." Hawaii is no different. A bonus would be to pack light.

See you there!!!

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Some of us don't take photos to "do better than the pros"--we take photos to document where we went and what we did; they are used to share with family and friends and to reminisce about the trip later ourselves. But that doesn't mean we don't want a camera/lens combination that is more versatile than a PaS. I personally travel with a Nikon D7100 and the 18-200VR2 and am well served.

rangel28

Recently went to Hawaii (Big Island) and took a 16mm-80mm and 70mm-300mm. I have been to the islands many times so I wasn't too adventurous, with capturing some good sunsets being my main objective. Would like to try whale watching but this was not the right time of year and my stomach tends to like it when I avoid boats.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Travel lite, travel right. On trips I only take my trusty Sony HX90V, has a pop up viewfinder and a ZEISS 24-750 mm lens. I need nothing else. Good luck taking all that stuff with you. I guarantee that you will not enjoy yourself as much as I do. I also take a belt pouch so that I am hands free to enjoy the trip.

bigguytf

Since apparently you have Nikon Equipment you have the long stuff covered with the 70-300. I was raised in Hawaii, an have visited back there at least 20 trips.

See the set by one of the members who goes by vicksart. She did a great amount of shots using a Tamron 18-300. Very impressed with the quality.

If you end up on Kauai, Kona, Maui, Oahu, I can help with suggestions.

Other then that I take with me a small rain cover for the camera. Also depending if you go underwater having a low cost underwater camera is cool. I always take one.

Doors off Helicopter rides are very good, just have one lens, that is why I am beginning to think about the Tamron of something like a 50-250

Have fun, I love the islands.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Should robably explain a bit, re doors off helicopter ride, there can not be anything loose in the cabin.
No changing lenses, loose bottles of water.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Another option is a fixed wing airplane ride like we did in Kauai in an 8 seat airplane. You'll be shooting through a window, but it will cost a lot less.

rjandreoff Loc: Hawaii

Depending on what you intend to shoot.....

I have lived on the Big Island for 4 years and shoot Nikon. It is probably the most diverse ecosystems found in one place on the planet. For everyday outings...

BEST
- 16-35 F4 for seascapes, volcanoes, panoramas, waterfalls, street scenes in the small towns
- 300 F4 for birds, both stationary and in fight. OR---
- a 70-200 2.8 VR ends up being a reasonable alternative for wildlife AND will give you better options if looking for turtles either right off shore OR beached, goats by the sides of the roads, burros in the mountains, surfers, paddlers, sports, action etc.

WORKABLE
- my nikon 24-120 F4 plus sigma 120-400 f 4.5 are a solid solution which will do most things well.

OPTIONAL
- Heading up to Mauna Kea (13,200 Ft) for astrophotography? Milky way? Great times BUT the faster the lens, the better. AND don't forget the tripod. A remote trigger and a head lamp that has RED output are helpful. We get a lot of star movement here in the tropics so even when using my Nikon 24mm F1.4, a shutter open for any longer than 10-15 seconds can contribute to slight blurs. Add in the winds up there and things can get chancy. Count on a 6-10 second shutter for best results.
- Flash. While out hiking in the rainforests there are a LOT of great floral/wildlife/vista shots that can be greatly helped with some fill in flash. The camera pop ups tend to come up short on power and spread. I carry an sb400, plus an extender to get it off the camera. It does a great job on adding just enough fill at the right angle for eliminating shadows, leveling contrast, without washing out color.

Aloha.

jeffhacker Loc: Dallas, Texas

I've been many times (actually, I grew up there). Just got back Saturday from my latest trip. Took my Nikon D500 and 18-300 lens; that covered everything. I had a 50 mm f/4 prime with me but never took it out.

As somebody else here said, where are you going in Hawaii? Each island is quite different from the others.

Jeff

Ghery Loc: Olympia, WA

Another option on Kauai is in an open cockpit Waco biplane. Look at the option on this web page - https://kauaiairtour.com/. I've ridden with them twice, once with my wife and once with my brother. As the pilot told us the first time, "I fly slower than the helicopters do." Tremendous views and the plane is a unique way to see the island. Riding with my brother was great, I got much more information on the geology of the island from him that I had received on a number of previous visits. Of course, the fact that he's a geologist didn't hurt. :-)