Hawaii is a great place to visit.

If you haven’t noticed, I have a slight love affair with Hawaii. I have been there three times and visited the four main islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. If there is one state you must visit it is Hawaii. There is something there for everyone. Hawaii is full of vastly different eco-systems. You can see the ocean, rainforests, volcanoes, mountains and lava fields all in the same trip.

Every time I travel to Hawaii I find new inspiration. Each island is unique and gives me something new to be inspired by. I look forward to the trip and have yet to be disappointed.

Oahu is probably my least favorite island but there is a lot to love here. I am not a fan of the Waikiki area. There are far too many people and it is very commercialized. It is similar to a lot of other cities. The key is to travel out of Waikiki you can see a lot of inspirational things. If you are a fan of the show Lost you can see the beach where the plane crashed and other areas where the show was shot. Diamondhead is a great place to hike. There are tons of beaches and bays to travel to and find your favorite spot.

Lastly, there is Pearl Harbor. I was incredibly moved by the USS Arizona Memorial. You can practically feel the souls that still lie beneath. It is quiet, still and the perfect place for reflection. We arrived at dawn and watching the sun come up over Pearl Harbor was an experience you shouldn’t miss out on. It is difficult to find the words to describe the experience. If you only have time for one thing on Oahu, make it Pearl Harbor.

The Big Island still has an active volcano. I had hoped to see lava but they had it closed off on the day we went. We did take in Volcano National Park which includes the crater, which is smoking and sulphur banks. I was really inspired by the sulphur banks. You walk along a wooden sidewalk and just watch the sulphur be expelled from the Earth. It is truly amazing how our world works. The lava fields all over the Big Island reminded me of the moon. There were some spots that were just lava rocks as far as you could see. Also, Kona coffee region. You cannot beat Kona coffee. Be sure to take a tour of a coffee farm. I would recommend Greenwell Farms.

Maui and Kauai are my favorite islands. I cannot pick between them. Both offered amazing ocean views where sunrise and sunset paint the sky. Both have the luscious green landscapes you see in TV and movies. On Maui be sure to take a day to do the road to Hana. You will feel like you are in Jurassic Park in some parts. There are waterfalls and beautiful beaches the entire road. And the bridges. I love the bridges. I am inspired by unique architecture and these bridges offer just that.

While in Kauai be sure to take a boat tour to see the Na Pali coast. There are several waterfalls that are much easier to get to then the ones on Maui’s road to Hana. Hopefully, you will go to Waimea Canyon on a clear day. Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of the pacific but when we went to see it was filled with fog. I could only imagine what it looked like based on photos. I definitely need to go back to Kauai to see the canyon.

There is so much more to see on the four islands. I could go on and on but I think you have a few excellent starting points.

Every time I go to Hawaii I feel I get even better photographs. I have grown so much since my first trip. I am much more comfortable with my camera and can really see a difference between my first and last trip. Hawaii makes me a better photographer and fuels my creativity. I cannot wait to share the most recent photos of Maui with you but not just yet!

I come back from Hawaii refreshed, ready to buckle down and work on my photography. There is something about the fresh ocean air, the landscape and food on the islands that just puts me in a photography mood. Eventually I will need to move there and open a gallery. You will then have another must stop place on your list!

Where is your favorite place to visit and why?