Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

Kauai’i and O’ahu

Any suggestions for lenses? I have both Oly and Fuji cameras and lenses.

Thank you.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

The Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore. It’s a most of the day affair, not cheap, & includes dinner. Excellent presentation of the south pacific culture. Lenses-short to medium zoom; not longer than 200mm. You’ll need something fairly fast for the evening performance. My wife & I were there in the early 80’s and thoroughly enjoyed it. Google Polynesian Cultural Center for more info. Be aware that it is run by the Mormons so, there are no beverages with caffeine such as coffee or Coke. Also on Oahu used to be the Kodak Hula Show. It’s free but, I’m not sure it’s still operating. Enjoy your trip.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Make sure you stop at Matsumoto Shave Ice on the North Shore of Ohau. They have the best Shave Ice I've ever tasted. The address is 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy #605, Haleiwa, HI 96712. They open at 10:00. I won't bore you with things to do there, you can google that but I will tell you that when you are in Hawaii, Chill Out, things can move slow there. If you like to snorkle, go early in the morning before all the water is mucked up from people's suntan lotion.

billt1970 Loc: Gambrills, Maryland

Good Morning, Ksocha. Bill Taylor here, living in Gambrills, MD near Annapolis. I'm about to embark October 8th on my 6th trip to Oahu and 15th trip to Kaua`i. Both islands are photographers dream locations. I'd be happy to share lessons learned over the years.

Please email me bill at billtaylor dot com or call 301-346-7202.

I look forward to hearing from you.

BT

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

Just got back from a month long trip, went to both islands and spent most of the time on Kauai and the Big island. I took 4 lenses and 2 camera bodies. Found that I could have just taken my 24-70, f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 the other 2 lenses, a 16-34 and 100-400 were hardly used. I did use the 100-400 on Kauai at the light house on the north shore, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, for the birds there. But that was about the only time I really used it. The rest of the time I used mainly the 24-70.

One word of warning, things have changed in Hawaii, no longer can you just when you get there decide oh let’s go to Pearl Harbor today, or when we get through there let’s hike up Diamond Head. I will say pretty much everywhere you want to go you will need reservations made months in advance. To see the Arizona Memorial actually take the boat over to the Arizona the national parks has a reservation system that times and days for visiting is like open 30 days out from when you want to go, and being on the east coast that means at 1 min past midnight 30 days out from when you want to go start logging in. The soonest I was able to get was 10:45am. This also applies to Diamond Head, Kilauea Point, Ke’e beach on Kauai’s north shore( I could never get the parking at the beach had to settle for the shuttle) and in Oahu and Kauai petty much any restaurant you want to go to you will need to make reservations months out from when you go unless you like dinning at 8:30 or later at night. All the restaurants use the Open table app. On the Big Island it was easier to make last minute ie while we were there decisions were possible, seemed to be less people and that was the week before the big iron man competition. The needing reservations thing and planning everything we did each day from what we were doing to were we ate that night months out really was a pain, I have been going to the islands since 1994 pretty much every other year and really hated it we were so used to oh let’s hike Diamond Head this morning, or let’s go eat at Duke’s tonight. This year we took my nephew and his wife and 19 month old son. One day the little one was very tired , teething and just not in the mood to do anything with riding in a car, killed the whole days plans, we had ‘free’ days in the schedule and could not move what we had planned to any of those days. There was one night we were late getting back due to traffic and missed our dinner reservations and had to get food from the ABC store, we also on another melt down night did take out and ate on the beach which turned out to be one of the best nights and meals we had.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

On Oahu don't forget Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, Ford Island, USS Bowfin.
Helicopter tour of the islands. Preferably a doors-off flight.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a day-long visit and well worth it. Don't forget the North Shore surfing.
There are no private beaches on Hawaii. All are open to the public and even among private houses there will be public access paths.
Assuming you will have a car, just drive around.
I had a full frame Canon when I last visited and I found that my most used lens was my 24-105. Even on the helicopter tours I took it was fine, although, for a couple of shots a bit more reach would have been nice. That and a fast 35mm prime for interiors, such as ships, buildings, etc, were just fine about 98% of the time. About the only time I used my 70-300 was for a few shots of surfers on the North Shore.
Enjoy the islands for what they are. Take the least amount of gear you can. There are so many beautiful and interesting things to photograph that not having the perfect lens for everything isn't going to matter all that much.
This might help (all shot with a 24-105):
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-253470-1.html

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

While on Waikiki Beach, O'ahu there are usually 2 large catamarans that give about 1-hour rides which are reasonably priced.
I haven't been there in a while, but they used to go out, have a short "swim call" and then return.
While going out you can get some really nice shots of Waikiki, Diamond Head, etc.
Enjoy your trip and share some pics.
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

A mid zoom and fast prime for evenings would do it.
If you’re a golfer give yourself a real treat and play the Prince course in Princeville on Kauai. I’ve golfed at quite a few courses around the world and the Prince course was one of my favorites!

Susan yamakawa

Thank you for sharing about Polynesian Cultural Center it is well worth the visit

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It all depends on how much you want to carry and what kind of shooting you plan to do. Every time I went, I brought a compact camera - great results, and it didn't interfere with the trip. The Big Island is my favorite.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

For Olympus, the 12-100 covers probably 95% or more of everything. Telephoto may be used for photos of distant surfers and small birds, but it will not be used that often. Likewise with a 7-14 wide zoom, but actually may be more likely to be used than the telephoto.

Maz

Take pictures early morning before 10 or 11, otherwise you will be dealing with high contrast, or later afternoon. Your photos will turn out much better.

Prbrandon

I might suggest that you take a look at oahupictures.org, the website showing drone photos that I put together during the last few of my 43 years living on the island (until 2019). The site can give you suggestions where to photograph.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Why are you going? To experience the land/seascapes, or to be a tourist? If 1, 20-200 if you are only carrying one lens; if more, and a 100-400. Visit Waimea Canyon for a day or 3. Good snorkelling on both sides of Kauai'i. Take an underwater camera. If 2, be sure that you fly X thousand miles to buy a snowcone. And find all the tourist traps you can. To not do so would be treason.

Ksocha Loc: Bethesda, MD

Thank you. We will give it a try.