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Big Island Landscape Photography
Fine Art Images of Hawaii by Thomas Upton
Hawaii Island Image Portfolio
Some Island photos are shown on virtually every page of this website, but here you can find all the photos I've chosen to share. You can see them all below, or select some by theme or by island area, or both. Click on a theme and/or area to focus on what's of interest to you. Click on any image to enlarge it.
Naturally Decorated
This tree at Kalopa State Park rises out of the ferns and is wrapped with moss making it appear almost deliberately decorated
Green Island in a Pink World
The sun has not quite set, but the sky is ablaze in pink and reflected in the historic Mauna Lani fishpond. The contrast with the with the green island in the pond is otherworldly.
Green Sand Beach
One of only four in the world. The greenish sand color comes from olivine
Kahuna Falls in Akaka Falls Park
This is a very tall cascade that tumbles down the hill across he valley from the park. It does not always have enough water flow to be this visible
Looking Down from Mauna Kea Summit
A spectacular view of the slopes of Mauna Kea awaits you if you make the trip to the summit. In this photo, the access road snakes by in the distance
Onomea Bay
As seen from the bottom of the Onomea Trail
Serene View of Kohala Pasture
An idyllic, grand view of pasture and Pu'u adorned by clouds with an ocean backdrop. Classic North Hawaii scene from the Kohala Mountain Road
Pink! Rose Grape Blossoms
I don't think I've ever seen flowers in this shade of pink. Known as Rose Grape, I found a bush covered with them on Old Mamalahoa Road near Hilo
Inside the Eucalyptus Forest
Many miles of Eucalyptus forest fill the old sugarcane fields in Hamakua
Ropy Lava Flows
Ropy flows of pahoehoe lava (the smoothly flowing kind, not chunky like a'a) make incredible patterns in stone that are unique and endlessly changing. Its hard to believe such delicate detail is actually solid rock.
Puako Sunset
Sunset on a fall day when the sun disappears well to the south, close to the shoreline
The Old Saddle Road in the Fog
The Old Saddle Road near the point where it branches off from the current Saddle Road, The road descends into the fog as it heads down towards Waimea
Kipuka Buds
These beautiful small buds were found on the Kaulana Manu nature trail at mile 21 on the Saddle Road
Pe'epe'e Waterfalls at Boiling Pots
These falls are usually calmer than on this day. A significant flooding rain had passed through Hilo a day or two prior to this. The boiling pots themselves are just downstream. It's a shame that the trail leading to these falls is permanently closed.
Hidden Banyan Foliage
A leafy banyan branch struggles for sunlight among numerous banyan aerial roots seeking ground at the Kaumana caves
Mauna Kea Telescopes
Four major telescopes atop Mauna Kea from left: Submillimeter Array, Subaru, Keck, and NASA Infrared. Haleakela volcano on Maui hides in the distant clouds
Kaumana Cave
The caves are actually very long lava tubes, formed by Mauna Loa in the 1800s. Its pitch black inside,so I brought a tripod and a flashlight to "paint" the walls with light during the exposure.
Red Koia'a Tree
An old Koai'a tree in the Sanctuary on Kohala Mountain Road. The Koai'a Santuary is one of the few remaining places where these trees can still be found
Orange Onomea Trail Blossoms
These gorgeous orange blossoms are almost hidden at the bottom of the Onomea trail, just a few feet from the ocean.
Fallen Tree in Kalopa State Park
A downed tree blocks the trail and creates its own garden in the forest at Kalopa State Park
Red Road Reconstruction
Slogan on construction barricades that sit in the SE corner of Puna awaiting work to reopen the lava-covered road. They are still waiting...
Rainbow Eucalyptus
The almost garish color of this tree's bark is a true attention grabber. They were first brought to Hawaii in 1929.
Pre-Dawn Glow Over Mauna Kea
Minutes before the sun crests over Mauna Kea in the early morning, the volcano takes on a subtle blue color contrasting with the brightening orange sky and palm trees below
Fiery Makaiwa Bay Sunset
Clouds and sun combine for a fearsome-looking red sunset on a winter evening
Kolekole Waterfall
A nice little waterfall that flows from a gap in the cliffs into the tidewaters at this beach
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