Thomas Upton

Hiking the Iconic Huluhulu Pu'u - Easy and quick

Anyone who traverses the Big Island’s Saddle Road towards Hilo will notice the many massive pu’us (cinder domes) that dot the landscape...

Thomas Upton

Mana Road - Winds Forever Around Mauna Kea

Mana Road, to the uninitiated, is a nice side road in Waimea that is lined near town with small farms, ranches, and homes. Some great...

Thomas Upton

Kalopa State Park - The Big Island's Muir Woods?

If you’ve seen all the amazing waterfalls, beaches, and volcanoes on the Big Island and crave a walk in the forest, then Kalopa State...

Thomas Upton

Guide to Fine Art Media for Big Island Images

Identifying a favorite image is only the first step creating an art piece for your home. You must decide how to display it, which...

Thomas Upton

My Top 15 Big Island Must See Places for Great Photos

Big Island locations from the northern tip to south point with terrific photo opportunities. FInd iconic scenes or tiny vignettes to enjoy.

Thomas Upton

Koai’a Tree Sanctuary - Precious trees and fabulous views

On an island with large amounts of privately held land, it is a pleasure to find places like the Koai’a Tree Sanctuary, a tree-filled...

Thomas Upton

Onomea Bay Trail – Short and fabulous

If you travel north of Hilo (on the Big Island) for about 5 miles on the belt road (Route 19) you will see a sign directing you to a...

Thomas Upton

Mud Lane - Not so muddy

Waimea is a busy town sitting south of the Kohala Volcano and midway between the Kona and Hamakua coasts. It resides essentially on a...

Thomas Upton

Holy Cow! Stranded at Keokea Bay

If you’ve looked at many of the galleries on this site, you’ll have probably noticed that Keokea Beach Park is prominently featured. We...

Thomas Upton

Hiking to Green Sand Beach

A few miles east of the Island's southern-most point (South Point) is a dramatic, partially submerged Pu'u, or cinder cone, whose center...

Read about Big Island hikes, beautiful spots, and great Hawaii photo locations