Most visitors to Oahu stay in Waikiki, and that turns out to be a gift for photos. You don’t need a rental car or a long drive to the other side of the island: a few minutes from the hotels there is a long beach with Diamond Head at the end of it, giant banyan trees, a calm lagoon and an open horizon for the sunset.
The trick is knowing where to stand and when to come. Below are the eight places we suggest most often, in order from the Diamond Head end of Waikiki to Ala Moana.
Sunrise or sunset in Waikiki?
Sunrise is the quiet option. The beach is almost empty, joggers and surfers are the only crowd, and the light is soft and pastel. The sun comes up on the Diamond Head side, so the crater stands out as a soft silhouette against a pastel sky. Mornings also tend to be calmer, which helps with hair and dresses.
Sunset is warmer and more golden, and Waikiki is livelier at that hour — music, people on the promenade, boats heading out. The sun goes down over the ocean to the west, and its last light turns the western slopes of Diamond Head golden. The spots at the Ala Moana end of Waikiki face the sunset directly.
Midday is the hardest time: the sun is high, shadows fall straight down on faces, and the central beach is packed. If midday is your only option, we work in the shade under the banyan trees.
8 photo spots in Waikiki
1. Kaimana Beach
Also called Sans Souci, this small beach sits at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, past the busiest part of the shore. The reef keeps the water calm, the sand is soft, and Diamond Head rises right behind you. It works at sunrise and in the late afternoon, and it is one of the easiest places for families with small kids.
2. The banyan trees of Kapiʻolani Park
Kapiʻolani Park spreads out at the foot of Diamond Head, and its old banyan trees are a backdrop of their own: wide canopies, hanging roots and patches of light coming through. The lawns give children room to run, and the deep shade makes this the one spot that still works when the sun is high.
3. Queen’s Beach and the Kapahulu Groin
The stone pier at the Diamond Head end of Kuhio Beach looks straight up the shoreline toward Diamond Head, with bodyboarders riding the waves next to it. It is a lively, very Waikiki scene. Waves sometimes wash over the pier, so we keep you on the dry part and shoot from the sand when the surf is up.
4. Kuhio Beach and the Duke statue
The bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku, usually draped in fresh leis, stands right on the central stretch of Waikiki. This is the classic postcard view, and also the busiest part of the beach. Come at sunrise and you get the same scenery with almost nobody in the background.
5. The Diamond Head lookouts
A few minutes’ drive past Kapiʻolani Park, Diamond Head Road climbs along the coast. The lookouts there sit high above the water, with the lighthouse nearby and surfers far below. This is where Waikiki looks wild instead of urban, and the sunrise light on the cliffs is beautiful. It is often windy, so plan your hair and skirt accordingly.
6. Fort DeRussy Beach
On the western side of Waikiki the beach gets wider and the crowd thins out. Lawns and rows of palm trees stand behind the sand, so you can move between beach portraits and greenery without walking far. In the evening the sun sets in front of you over the ocean.
7. The lagoon by the Hilton Hawaiian Village
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is a calm, palm-lined lagoon at the Ala Moana end of Waikiki. The water is flat, the beach next to it faces the sunset, and families like it because there are no waves. It is a good place for sunset photos within walking distance of the western hotels.
8. Magic Island
Just past Waikiki, Magic Island is the peninsula at the end of Ala Moana Beach Park. Locals come here for the sunset, and for good reason: a protected lagoon, palm trees along the paths and an open view west over the ocean. It feels calmer than Waikiki itself, and it is easy to reach from any hotel.
Practical tips for a Waikiki photoshoot
- Walk if you can. Parking in Waikiki is limited and mostly paid. If you are staying nearby, meeting at the spot on foot is the easiest plan. For Magic Island and the Diamond Head lookouts, we agree on where to park in advance.
- Come early for empty backgrounds. The central beach fills up by mid-morning. At sunrise the same places look completely different.
- Hotel grounds are private. Resort lawns, pools and terraces have their own rules for professional photography. We work on public beaches and in parks unless your hotel has said yes.
- Mind the sand and the sun. Bring sandals for the walk, water and a towel. For outfits, see our guide on what to wear for photos in Hawaii.
A mini session in Waikiki
Waikiki is made for short sessions. Our mini session lasts about 45 minutes at one spot near your hotel and starts at $399 — enough for a couple, a small family or a simple proposal without losing half a vacation day. You receive all the photos within 24 hours, and the edited favorites in 3–7 business days.
What that looks like as a booking — meeting point, timing, what to bring — is on our Waikiki photoshoot page. Want more than one location, or a spot outside the neighborhood? See our prices and the Oahu locations we photograph, or message us on Instagram with your dates.
