kerfree Loc: Sebago and Sanibel

I would love any suggestions you Hawaii residents or travelers have for photography on the Island of Hawaii. And please feel free to post a few of your images here for a little inspiration!

Wisdom you can offer on photographing in Volcanoes National Park and any other favorite spots around the island would be much appreciated! We are flying directly into Kona and will be meandering only the Big Island for two weeks, with just photography and chillin' on the agenda.

GSQRD1 Loc: SAN ANTONIO, TX

A really nice place to watch for the "green flash" is on Waikiki beach at the Hilton hotel next to Ft. Derussy, which is a public park and beach on the island of Oahu When the skies are clear of clouds out over the sea at sunset you can witness and photograph with a long lens the "Green Flash" phenomenon which occurs just as the last bit of sun slips below the horizon. You can learn about the "Green Flash" by doing a Google search or going straight for Wikipedia. :mrgreen:

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I found Fadors or Fromers paperback very helpful on the islands.
In Kona is one of the Queens Palaces.
Helicopter flight over the active volcano. This is pretty cool to do! Get to see red hot lava!!!!
At the Volcano Nat. Park, you can walk across the steamy caldera (spelling?). Lava tube you can walk thru.
There are some small painted churches you can visit and take pictures.
Somewhere south of Kona is a black sand beach.
Somewhere is the same area is the place where prisoners stayed. Rebuilt.....
That's all I got for the moment.
Pat

Take me with you!!!!

kerfree Loc: Sebago and Sanibel

Thank you GSQRD1, we lived in near Waikiki many years ago, and I never got to see the green flash. Can't believe I missed it! We won't get to Oahu this time, but it will be top priority next time!

kerfree Loc: Sebago and Sanibel

Pat, I'm taking notes, but sorry I can't take you ;) Sounds like you know Hawaii Island very well - do you have any pics to post for inspiration??

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

My wife probably wouldn't let me go.....
My images are from film. Haven't scanned.
Search UHH and Google images.

The travel guide is what we used and was able to get a rental car and "hit the road running and with a plan". It worked very well for us.
Sounds like you will have a rental car. Back then the rental companies had a thin magazine that included maps of the island and plenty of ads for activities. Don't know if they still have that or not.

I would try to go to a big luau. Big luau will be a bigger production. Do your very best to sit up close!!!!!!!
Maybe, a big hotel. The King Khomeimei (spelling?) Hotel in Kona had one when we were there.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

When are you going?
If going in the next 60 days, take your snow ski's as there should be snow on the mountain!!!
Pat

kerfree Loc: Sebago and Sanibel

I will NOT take my snow skiis, remember I'm coming from Maine. I've had it with winter, plus all I have room for is photography gear :)

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

Peter Kun Frary's galleries may give you some ideas.

http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/photo_index.htm

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Don't forget to take your rain gear. Kona is the dry side of the Island but Hilo get a lot of rain!

jimbo70 Loc: Orange Park, FL.

Try these web sites. We had a lot of fun at the Farmers Market in Hilo. There was a great bakery somewhere around Black Sand Beach in one of the small towns, but I can't remember where. Also visit South Point and Waipio Valley outlook. The island is about the size of Connecticut so driving distances are longer than the other Islands. Traffic around Kona can be bad at certain times of the day.

http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/kau/punaluu-black-sand-beach

http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island

http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/hamakua-coast/waipio-valley-lookout

Millismote Loc: Massachusetts

The black sand beach on Kona

jimbo70 Loc: Orange Park, FL.

Go to the Black Sand Beach at sunrise. No people and it is gorgeous.

dlwhawaii Loc: Sunny Wailuku, Hawaii

The King Kamehameha Hotel is located right on the Bay in Kona. Convenient and used to have reasonable prices. I believe the Luau was outside of the Hotel by the Bay. Downtown Kona has many interesting shops, not necessarily filled with touristy stuff. Downtown is only about 4 or 5 blocks long. Volcanoes Natl Park is worth the trip. You will be able to walk on the lava flow to about a 1/4 mile of the current flow. The Kilauea Caldera has an observation center from which you can view the Caldera. Walking around the rim of the Caldera you can come across some fumaroles, where the volcanic gases exit the ground and leave a sulfur deposit. Towards the North end of the Island (Kona side) by some of the major hotels you will find King's Trail or Mamalahoa Trail, which contains hundreds of Petroglyphs. Further north is King Kamehameha's birthplace as well as some major Heiau's. Just south of Kona is a small recreational area (Kahaluu Beach Park), pretty much known to locals only, where in the early morning you can swim with turtles, parrot fish (Humuhumunukunukuapuaa), and occasionally dolphins. Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (Place of Refuge) is a park site well south of Kona and in olden Hawaiian times was a place to go, if you could make it without being killed first, to be forgiven for breaking sacred Kapus. On the way there on the right hand side of the road past Kealakekua is a coffee shop (good food) where you can grab a light breakfast or sandwich and some Kona coffee with an excellent view of the ocean. Have a safe trip and enjoy. :) :thumbup:

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

There are about 10 microclimates on the island and some are cool to cold and dry to very wet depending on elevation and wether you're on the windward or lee side of the island so bring a windbreaker or rain jacket and fleece or similar (you're from southern Maine so you know what I mean). There are many things to see but you can drive the circumference of the island in two days if you push it but you have the luxury of time with two weeks. Some things to see are the Parker Ranch, Puako Petroglyph Park, Hulihee Palace, Captain Cook Monument and the City of Refuge, Kona Coffee Farms, St Benedict's Painted Church, Boiling Pots/Rainbow Falls, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm, Thurston Lava Tube, The must-see Hawaii Volcanos National Park and many others. One word of caution-do NOT leave any valuables in sight in your car at any time. Car break-ins are very common. Beware of suspicious looking kids near parking lots, especially those in rural areas.
This is a most fascinating island and one of the least populated by density. All the other islands would fit on top of Hawaii (Big Island) with some room to spare.
The attached photos were taken in 2005 with an old Canon G5 and are not the best. Would love to return now with better gear. Make sure you drive every road on the circumference!