any suggestion where to go for photos in hawaii?

[m_.]

never been there before and will be there around may/june. will have

a lonely planet guide book with me. but just thought some of you

might have good suggestions on where to go and what to see and

photograph.

 

my main interest is the urbanscape stuff: people, culture, etc.

grew up on the other side of pacific but am not a diver or anything

like that. not a surfer for sure but would love to get in water.

not a huge fan of the nature photography in a typical way.

 

oh yeah, just how expensive is it in hawaii (compared to the rest of

the USA)?

 

thanks.

[RobertChura]

What part of Hawaii?

[beepy]

Yeah, what part of Hawaii?

<p>

Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Hawaii (the big island) are all pretty different?

<p>

If on Oahu - Honolulu Chinatown is cool. There's walking tour maps to get. (Honolulu

may

be the only classically urban area on the islands). Drive to the

rainforest interior? Up the coast to Waimanalao (?) or something - lots of dramatic coast.

North Shore take you telephoto and shoot surfers?

<p>

Kauai is known for it's dramatic cliffs and landscapes. Take a boat around to shoot

(camera may get wet). Helicopter tour? (But you don't like nature?)

<p>

Is lava still flowing on the Big Island? I was hanging out of a helicopter photographing a

segment of the Mother's Day flow about three years ago. That was, in retrospect, insane...

<p>

I remember pleasant hiking times on Molokai and a large penis shaped rock on an

overlook that looked down on the former (but still active?) leper colony?

<p>

Underwater camera or housing? Go snorkeling or diving and take pics...

<p>

It's probably more expensive than the mainland? But not dramatically? (I never paid much

attention?)

[niels olson]

I'd say Oahu is more expensive than the rest of America by 15-20%. That, of course, ranges from cheap at the military bases to insane around the tourist attractions.

 

If you applied a French Quarter shooting style to downtown Honolulu you could come away with some interesting pictures. Looking back, some of my best memories are the stores that cater to the locals. Involve the local fruit, the quilts, the people. There are waterfall parks all over the place, but ask before you go because they may be dry, depending on time of year. The north shore also has some good opportunities. There are small villages and groups of houses on the main road of the north shore that present some interesting studies. If you get to Maui, that's the real North Shore.

 

There's a crazy bazaar at the football stadium every Sunday. Ford Island has a couple of spectacular houses maintained for the senior officers, and the old control tower from the Pearl Harbor bombing still stands on Ford Island. The Missouri is also a touristy sort of show.

 

There warehouse district is hard to, but there are some intensely interesting craftsmen working in there. JJ Koa is one. Koa is a local wood. Check out the container store. They import furniture from Polynesia, literally in containers. Lots of hotels outfit their lobbies out of this hole-in-the-wall. Orchids cling to the concrete columns of the H1 highway between the warehouse district and Pearl Harbor like weeds, which could make an interesting contrast.

[stemked]

I've mostly spent time on Maui and Kauai. Your disinterest in nature removes most of the places that I loved so much and would most recommend. At least you won't have to getup at 4:00am in the morning and hurry up the Volcano for the morning sunrise like most everyone else does once on Maui.

 

Maui is probably the best island for snorkeling in that it has, I believe, the most places to swim/snorkel. Just about everyone and their dog heads out on a Molokini trip-lovely but very crowded.

 

How expensive? VERY (typically). Even 'on the cheap' my experences were about 1.5-2 times as expensive as a comperable place in the states, not to say that there really IS anything comperable on the mainland. It is Hawaii after all. Forget Motel 6 anyway.

 

If what you think of 'Hawaiian Culture' is people in grass skirts swinging their hips and doing the hula or spinning fire sticks you likely should sign up for a luau. Be forwarded they are expensive and you may have to book (for some) weeks, if not a few months, in advance, for some of them.

[m_.]

>>What part of Hawaii?

 

I thought you are going to tell me.

 

I am open to go any island at the moment.

[m_.]

and thanks for the hints so far. I am getting the flavor...

[m_.]

and a clarification: I love nature but am not a typical nature PHOTOGRAPHER.

[larrybc]

I've been to Maui and the Big Island. I also enjoy street photography. IMO, Hawaii isn't a mecca for street photographers. Culture-wise, the majority of distinctive indicators will be at the various tourist areas. Other than that, it like very much like the rest of the USA (for obvious reasons).

 

I read a lot of books on nature photography prior to my last trip to Hawaii and really enjoyed putting what I read into practice, even though people photos are my preferred subject.

 

BTW, I strongly encourage you to rent snorkel gear. I'm not big on watersports but I love snorkelling over there.

 

Food can be a bit pricey. The best deals, imo, are in the small local restaurants that serve "mix plates." Generous portions and very filling. I also bought lots of hot food plates at supermarkets and gas stations (I got sick pleasure from eating Spam sushi).

 

Enjoy your trip.

 

 

Larry

[kin_lau]

I was just in Oahu in Jan. It's very beautiful in everyway, and expensive... probably about 25-50% more expensive than most large city in the USA.

 

The Urbanscape is quite different. Waikiki is like shopping in Japan :). The people and streetlife, can be right on the beach, so if you can adjust your style, shooting on beach can be fun. The major hotels off Waikiki can also be very interesting, especially the "Royal Hawaiian". For "culture", try the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's expensive, but many have raved about it.

[Jeffrey L.T. von Glück]

I've been to Hawaii many times and photographed extensively. Try these two links where the topic has been discussed at length:<p>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0083Tg">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0083Tg </a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007hhM">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007hhM</a><p>

 

Everyone enjoys Hawaii; I've never heard of anyone who doesn't. Good luck!

[Jeffrey L.T. von Glück]

I forgot to add a link to another interesting thread:<p>

 

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007QKh">http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007QKh</a><p>

 

There are a couple of great photographer-oriented books on each of the islands. I can dig out the titles for you. E-mail me offlist or post a response and I'll look them up for you.

[m_.]

thank you again for the advises. these are some great tips and i will keep them in mind when i land.

[niels olson]

Don't be offering the choice booklist only by e-mail! Type it up once, put it on here and we'll all be indebted to you forever!

[Jeffrey L.T. von Glück]

The best photo-related books are a series written by Richard Sullivan. The two I have are <i>Driving & Discovering Oahu</i> and <i>Driving & Discovering Maui and Molokai</i>. I believe he covers other islands in additional books in the series. These books are excellent driving guides with good maps plus precise instructions on the best vantage points for photography; photos from the locations are included. Check out the author's Web site: <a href="http://www.discoveringhawaii.com">http://www.discoveringhawaii.com</a>.<p>

 

The Photo Traveler people have issues related to Hawaii plus a spiral-bound compilation; check them out at: <a href="http://www.phototraveler.com">http://www.phototraveler.com</a>.<p>

 

For general guides to the islands which are, IMHO, by far and away the best series, get ahold of Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman's series, <i>Maui Revealed</i>, <i>The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook</i>, <i>Hawaii The Big Island Revealed</i>, and the newest book on Oahu, the title of which resembles the others. Their Web site is: <a href="http://www.wizardpub.com">http://www.wizardpub.com</a>.<p>

[delwyn_ching]

All islands have a unique flavor and starting from left to right, clockwise from Kauai:

 

Kauai: Waimea Canyon, Na Pali Coast from Kalalau Lookout, Hanalei, Waimea Falls and River, Sleeping Giant, Kilauea Lighthouse, Haena Beach (where the movie South Pacific was filmed), Kapaa and Lihue.

 

Oahu: Waikiki Beach, hike to the top of Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Chinatown, from the lookout at Tantalus (Round Top Drive), Punchbowl Crater (National Cemetary of the Pacific), Pearl Harbor-Arizona Memorial-USS Missouri, North Shore of Oahu-Haleiwa, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay though waves will be small to non-existent and is usually 25-30 feet during the winter (like now) but the south shore-waikiki, etc., should be up so take surfing lessions, Drive the windward side all the way from the north shore to kailua and around makapuu point to hanauma bay back to town.

 

Maui: Lahaina/Kapalua, Kihei-Makena, Mt. Haleakala, Hana, Seven Sacred Pools, Iao Valley.

 

Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park and active lava flow at the ocean's edge, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Kamuela, Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, Hamakua Coast, Kealakekua Bay (Kona Coffee country), South Point.

 

Good luck and have a good trip

[carlo_cayetano1]

I used to live on Maui. Hana (on the eastern end of the island) has some neat natural landscape to photograph. One of the local convenience stores serves up a mean chili dog. Oheo is famous for its "Seven Sacred Pools." However, the pools aren't sacred nor are there seven pools. Some enterprising map maker labeled the spot on the map to get the tourists to come out. Depending on the flow of water, there may be more than seven - say eleven, or only two. Just be careful - many a stupid tourist have ignored warnings of flash floods and have been swept out to sea. The drop off to the lava rocks below is not nice. Ho'okipa just east of the town of Pa'ia is a great surfing spot where you can watch some of the islands best surfers and windsurfers catch some waves. The town of Pa'ia is interesting, an old sugar mill town that is a haven for hippies, local and international surfers, and tourists. Mama's Fish House serves up the best (and pricey) fish on island. However, you can have some great fried chicken at the Minit Stop gas station in Pa'ia. If you are interested, you may be able to find a local surfboard shaper who'll let you photograph them at work. Be nice, and dake sure you tell them it's for personal use only and perhaps they'll let you observe. It's an artform. Since you'll be there in the late may / early june time frame, a neat thing to see is a high school graduation. The ceremony is fairly standard, but what you'll want to experience is all the graduates getting piles of leis (flower necklaces) placed on their shoulders at the end of the ceremony. You'll see some students with leis that completely cover their shoulders and all you see are a pair of eyes peering out. Hawaii is home of the paradise tax: add 25% to anything you find here and there's your prices. You thought gas was expensive at $2.20 (I live in L.A. now), Maui's gas prices are closer to $3.00 for regular unleaded. When I was last there, red bell peppers were $7.99/lb!

[jack_fisher1]

If you get to Waikiki Beach, don't miss the aquarium for some neat shots.

 

J<div></div>

[jack_fisher1]

Sorry for the large pic on the previous post. Here is a smaller one.

J

[geoff_silver]

My wife and I just got back for the second time. Which island you stay on really depends on what you want to get out of it. Maui and Kauai are incredibly beautiful, Oahu is a bustling city, and the Big Island has an incredibly diverse ecosystem (and the best snorkeling in all the islands, IMO). I personally like the Big Island best - where else can you visit a snow-capped mountain for sunrise and then snorkel, surf, or swim the same afternoon?

 

As far as cost goes, figure everything from groceries to gas is about 30-35% more expensive than the mainland. The real expense is the touristy stuff - helicoptor rides, whale watching, etc... and of course the flight out there. If you avoid the touristy trips, a couple can get by for a week for about $2500 (from the west coast).

 

I have some pics up at http://photos.bullrunmountain.org. Feel free to peruse - they're straight off the camera, so I haven't gone through them yet to delete the dupes or clean them up, tho.

 

BTW, go pick up the http://www.wizardpub.com Hawaii books - they are 1000 times better than anything put out by Frommers, Fodors, Lonely Planet, etc.