30 Amazing Pictures of Hawaii to Inspire You to Visit the Islands

It’s no secret that Hawaii is inherently photogenic. The great diversity of beaches, the tall mountain peaks covered in lush vegetation, the magnificent sunsets,  they all make great subjects for landscape photography. I think it’s pretty hard to take a bad pictures in Hawaii.

Over the years I visited the islands many times and managed to accumulate a great deal of pictures. I have assembled here 20 amazing pictures of Hawaii, representing a cross selection of the beautiful places on these islands. I hope you will enjoy them and if you never visited Hawaii, they will inspire you to travel there.

30 Amazing Pictures of Hawaii

Hawaiian islands are incredibly beautiful, yet very different from each other. People’s idea of a tropical paradise may vary a lot, depending on their lifestyle. Some people consider Kauai is everything a tropical island should be. Others swear by Maui and wouldn’t go anywhere else. And some only like the Big Island of Hawaii.

Not sure what Hawaiian Island to visit? Read next: Kauai vs. Maui: Which Island is Better?

Kauai Photos

From all the islands of Hawaii, Kauai is the one the I consider perfect for picture taking. The reef at Ke’e Beach, on the North Shore of Kauai. I took this picture when the tide was very low which is why the coral reef appears at the surface of the water

Kalalau Valley seen from Koke’e State Park. This is one of the most spectacular views on the island of Kauai and my favorite of all the pictures of Hawaii.

Kauai is the most Waimea Canyon, also on the island of Kauai, is called by many “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

Hanalei River Estuary and Bay, one of Kauai’s most popular rivers for kayaking and paddle boarding.

The Secret Falls, a very popular spot in Kauai. To get to the trailhead you have to kayak up the Wailua River.

Allerton Botanical Garden in Kauai, a romantic and tranquil place, a real walk through paradise

Hanalei Valley Overlook where the mountains form a superb backdrop for the green watery Taro fields. One of Kauai’s most scenic views

The Big Island of Hawaii Photos

One of my favorite places to hike and photograph is the Kilauea Iki trail in the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Tide Hawaii is famous for its unique black sand beaches. The lava flows generated the Big Island’s volcanos have met the blue Pacific, creating luxurious black sand beaches.

Puna District is one of the areas where you can view the lava flow and its destruction on the Big Island. 

Some of the most beautiful waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii are in the northern part of the island, next to Hilo. An example is the gorgeous Rainbow Falls below.

Formed by the Wailuku River, the fall is 80 ft tall and almost 100 ft in diameter, forming a large pool below. 

This next picture was taken at Makalawena Beach, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Makalawena in my favorite beach in Hawaii. It’s the only white sand beach on the island. Unfortunately, the beach is extremely remote and the only way to reach it is through a long lava road.

Maui Photos

Maui is my second favorite island in Hawaii for picture taking. This picture was taken on one of the beaches next to Lahaina, in the afternoon.

Farm on the road to Hana, one of the most heart-clutching and beautiful drives in Maui.

Maui’s land is abundant in life-giving foods, so you’ll see numerous farms spread across the four corners of the island.

View of the Molokai island from our hotel room in Maui.

Lahaina Harbor, one of the best places to watch the sunset on Maui island.

The small beach in front of the Four Seasons Resort at Wailea, on Maui island. 

Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui is a great spot to come looking for shells and starfish. There are plenty of tide pools in this area.

Iao Valley State Park in Maui is one of the most scenic hikes on the island. There are many Hawaiian legends connected to this place.

Watching the sun rising from the Haleakala Crater is one of the most sought after activities on Maui. This picture of the crater was taken right after the sunrise.

Taking pictures of the sunset is one of my favorite things to do in Hawaii. This one was taken at Kaanapali Beach, on Maui.

One of my favorite parts of Maui is Kihei, in the western part of the Island.

Kihei is famous for its friendly beaches, with relatively calm waters and shaded shores.

Oahu Photos

Of all the Hawaiian Islands,, Oahu is the one I personally like the least. That’s not because I don’t consider the island beautiful enough. No, not even far! Oahu is as blessed with beautiful scenery as the other islands.

However, unlike Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island witch have many pristine spots and wild nature, Oahu is heavily populated and way more developed. That being said, if you have never visited the island you should definitely go at least once.

Located on the south shore of Honolulu, the world-famous neighborhood of Waikiki was once a playground for Hawaiian royalty. Today, Waikiki is Oahu’s main hotel and resort area and a vibrant gathering place for visitors from around the world.

Hanauma Bay is Oahu’s most popular snorkeling spot. The Bay is a former volcanic crater that became a protected marine life conservation area in 1967. 

The North Shore of Oahu is sublime. With a stunning mixture of beauty, and tranquility, it’s the place to be if you like a more remote beach.

One of the biggest attractions on Oahu is the Polynesian Cultural Center. Located in Laie, on the northeast shore of Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center demonstrates the traditions of six native Pacific islands: Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Maori. 

Planning a trip to Hawaii? Read next:
Best Kauai Activities to Keep Your Family Entertained

I hope you enjoyed this visual tour of the best photos of Hawaii. If you liked this post, please pin it for later.