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Fine Art Images of Hawaii by Thomas Upton
Big Island Landscape Photography
Galleries on this page focus on specific topics or locations in greater depth than on the Hawaii Image Portfolio page. Subjects include places where I have spent a lot of time and photographed in detail, other Hawaii islands, or unique island subjects. I will change these galleries from time to time, so check back.
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Big Island Hawaii Special Subject Galleries
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Kauai Landscape Scenes
Manta Ray Night Dive
Laupahoehoe Beach Park Scenes
Oahu Scenery
Mauna Kea Summit
Although my part-time home and photography emphasis is the Big Island, the other Hawaiian islands are magnificent, diverse, and exciting to visit. It is a great luxury to be able to hop on a plane for the short trip to Kauai, at the other end of the Hawaiian island chain. Kauai is the oldest major island and could hardly look more different from the Big Island. It is very green (!), has jagged peaks, many beaches, many active small farms, and so on. Here are some of the things I have seen on my short trips there.
Ka'a'Alahina Ridge
A classic view of the Ka'a'Alahina Ridge in the Na Pali Coast Staet Wilderness. This view is your reward for following the Kokee Road all the way through the Waimea Canyon park to the Kalalau lookout.
Coastal Cliffs near Poipu
Coastal cliffs near Poipu, seen from the edge of the Maha'ulepu trail
Ha'Upu Peak
When you fly into Lihue from the south, you cannot miss Ha'upu, the 2300 foot peak that rises from the coast. Known as the Kauai guardian, it stands out among other heights along the ridge. Here is a view from the inland side. I'd like to find a close approach or trail to explore it.
Waimea Canyon
Looking like a somewhat greener version of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, this canyon is an amazing and unexpected sight on the lush island of Kauai
Menehune Overlook
The impressive view from the Menehune Fishpond overlook on Hulemalu Road south of Lihue. Much vegetation restoration is going on in that area.
Cliffs at Shipwreck Beach
An easy walk from the beach, this cliff area is very popular for tourists, weddings and cliff jumpers too.
Red Dirt Waterfall
The waterfall is easily accessible on Waimea Canyon Rd and sits adjacent to Waimea Canyon itself. The red dirt is actually an oxidized form of basaltic lava and is common on this part of Kauai as well as on the Big Island
Southeast Kauai Aerial View
An aerial view of the southeastern coast of Kauai. It's a standard approach for planes flying into Lihue airport so it is easy to see this view. The area is very remote however and not so easy to reach by land.
Wai'oli Valley
A view of the maze of small taro farms that dot the Wai'oli valley south of Hanalei Bay. These small farms have existed for generations and produce a sizable portion of the taro grown on the islands.
Wave Display on Kauai South Shore
An isolated beach on the Maha'ulepu trail at moderately low tide has waves breaking perfectly across the lava shelf that lines the beach.
Heritage Trail View
Looking from the Heritage trail towards Gillin's Beach, the Labyrinth, and Kawelikoa Point beyond in south Kauai
Wailua Falls
The most well-known falls on the island, since they are impressive and easily accessible. This view is from the parking area. More interesting views are from the bottom of the falls, which requires a steep hike down and will have to wait for another visit.
Kipu Road
A serene horse farm and pasture under a magnificent tree canopy on Kipu Road, east of Poipu.
Waiopili Heiau
A look towards the Waiopili Heiau (temple) from the Maha'ulepu Heritage trail. The heiau lies along the shore and visible are a massive stone wall in the background and a stone platform on the shore in the foreground. The huge stones in the wall seem impossible to move by primitive means, yet are stacked high against the cliff.
Several locations on the Big Island offer night snorkeling trips to observe Manta Rays. Snorkelers float on the surface face down, while the guide shines a bright light down into the water. The light attracts plankton and Manta Rays feed on plankton. The Mantas swim under the lights and perform continuous barrel rolls or loops in about 15-20 feet of water. The 6-8' wide rays approach the surface upside down and their massive white undersides pass within inches of the snorkelers, but rarely touch anyone. It's a challenge to photograph: the light is dim, the water filled with plankton and sand scattering the lamplight, and the Mantas are huge. When close, they were too big for my little underwater camera and when near the bottom, they were barely visible. It is daunting to aim the camera as these giants come straight at you on each loop!
Manta Spreading its Wings
Looking like a giant moth with a tail, the underside of the ray passes by near the surface as it starts to head down towards the bottom. It's harmless tail and short black dorsal fin are visible.
Manta Cruising on the Bottom
A Manta swims right-side up near the bottom of it's loop before starting back to the surface. Lots of other fish like to feed on the plankton that the Mantas have stirred up.
Manta Coming at Me
The Manta swims towards me upside down, shifting it's cephalic lobes around. It's large eye on the left was watching me as it approached
Manta Cephalic Lobes Folded In
Mantas use their giant "arms" called cephalic lobes to help direct plankton into their mouths as they swim. The "hole" at lower right is a nostril. The dark specs are plankton and other tiny creatures
Manta's Identifying Pattern
The pattern on the underside of every Manta is different and experts can identify them from this pattern. The Manta's gills are on either side of the pattern.
Manta Feeding
The huge wide-open mouth of the manta passes through the plankton cloud. The diagonal lines in the mouth are called gill arches and help direct the plankton away from the gills and into its stomach. One giant wing is barely visible on the lower right
Manta Rising
The ray rises from the bottom towards the light. It's black and white top side faces the camera here, and it will turn top side down at the surface. The large protrusions on each side of it's head are the eyes
Manta Down Below
The Manta swims near the bottom with its cephalic lobes fairly wide open
There is probably no place on the Island that I enjoy visiting more than Laupahoehoe Beach Park on the Hamakua Coast. I'm sure I have taken more photos there than any other place on the island, and perhaps the world. It is a mesmerizing place with the most continuously violent surf of any place I have been. Once you've seen one giant wave crash on the rocks there, you will be hooked. You will wait for the next, and then the next...and ultimately have to tear yourself away. We take all our guests there and go there on our own whenever a big swell is hitting the east side. Here, you can expect to see such scenes, but there is more to Laupahoehoe than surf as you will see. Its a popular place for picnics, fishing, and parties. It has a sad history, having been home to a community that was destroyed in the tsunami of 1946. Have a look here and then visit it yourself. You might see me there, camera in hand.
From Ground Zero
The tide was fairly low, allowing me to climb down into the infamous lava pool and get shots of the waves towering over me, and sometimes landing on me.
Wave Art
There is so much water movement here, that it is interesting to experiment with different exposure lengths to capture the power in different ways. This image looks a bit like a painting, showing the waves surging over the lava stacks.
Mystical Wave Action
A long exposure of the surf well offshore softens the wave action. The cloudy sky and muted colors give it a mystic feel
Apparent Calm
A long exposure averages over the continuing wave action and creates a misty and mystical scene that belies the surf violence that occurred during the exposure.
Giant Laupahoehoe Beach Park Banyan Tree
Easy to miss at Laupahoehoe Beach Park is this gigantic banyan near the entrance. It is one of the biggest in Hawaii and one of few big banyans with few "outboard" trunks to help support it.
North Swell Surf Explosion
A north swell, like this one in late 2022 led to huge waves hitting the north facing shore of this beach park. Very unusual, as big waves here normally come from the east or southeast and leave this beach area relatively calm.
Not Worried
Kids play in the shallows of Laupahoehoe Beach Park while massive waves crash beyond them against the lava towers. The kids know that the surf is unlikely to reach them, but it certainly gave me pause!
Laupahoehoe Stream
This stream flows down from high elevation, through the park, and out to see. If is ususally calm, often empty, in contrast to the shore areas
Big Waves Approaching
Huge waves build from the east and tower over the lava stacks as they approach. The frothy monsters are genuinely frightening.
Ultimate Wave Explosion
This photo captures a huge easterly wave as it hammers the offshore stacks. This photo is perhaps the most intense and violent of any of the hundreds I have taken here.
Looking Down on Laupahoehoe
The collection of lava stacks offshore is enough to cause any mariner to steer well clear of this extremely treacherous place.
Waterfalls in the Rainy Season
These small cascades and falls on a shore adjacent to the beach park only appear when near-flooding conditions exist on the east side of the island. They are quite beautiful, but short-lived.
Watch Your Step
The sign over the door at the community center on the park grounds makes us chuckle. Would love to know the story behind it
Epic Wave explosion
One of the larger explosions that I've encountered, it towered almost 50 feet in the air above the lava pool
Calm Amid the Violence
An inlet near where the Laupahoehoe stream exits to the sea. Usually a calm, tree-lined space, but it too can become violent when the stream is flowing and the weather is bad
Old Ironwood Sentinel at Laupahoehoe Beach Park
An ancient, sturdy ironwood tree at Laupahoehoe Park on the Hamakua Coast
Laupahoehoe North Shore Swell
Big surf hammering the north shore of Laupahoehoe Point. An unusual direction for waves rolling in, but the result is amazing as always
Relentless Laupahoehoe Surf
A panoramic scene showing stages of a single wave as it crashes across the lava pool. People standing in the tree grove at right usually feel safe, but invariably they are proven wrong when a wave this size drenches their safe space.
Consumption
A gnarly tree of some unidentified variety has consumed this old shack on the edge of the park. It is difficult to tell that there was once a shack in this plant's grasp. The pock marks on the limbs give the appearance of an octopus engulfing prey
We've only managed a couple of trips to Oahu since Covid and our exploring has emphasized trips via foot or car to some of the fabulous vistas on the island. Oahu is a fabulous photography destination, and we will continue to go there and dig deeper. Here is Oahu as we have seen it in just a few days, viewed from gorgeous beaches and scenic overlooks around the island.
Chinaman's Hat Island
The view to Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat) from the beach at Kualoa Point. Mokapu and Pukaulua Points are in the distance
Waikiki on a Rainy Day
A view of Waikiki from the top of Diamond Head early in the morning as a rain squall is about to hit
Lanai Lookout
This lookout is named for the island view in the distance, but it is appealing because of the amazing, sea-eroded lava formations that exist along this stretch of the road.
Hanauma Bay
A panorama of Hanauma Bay and Koko Head behind it, as seen from the ridge road above the bay
Oahu Northeast Coastal View
Looking north on the eastern shore of Oaha past Paradise Bay Resort, Kahalu'u Pond to Mokoli'i Island
Oahu Panorama
A view stretching west past Honolulu and east past Koko Head with the Diamond Head crater in the foreground
Waimanolo Beach
Beautiful tree grove sits right on the beach here, providing a view of tiny Moku Iki and Moku Nui islands in the distance.
Punalu'u Beach Park
A long exposure on Punalu'u Beach turning the surf into a fog-like mist along the shore
The Moku Islands
Moku Iki and Moku Nui in turquoise waters off of Lanakai Beach
Ironwood Roots
An ancient ironwood tree rootball at the Nu'uanu Pali lookout
Makapu'u Point View
The view from the lighthouse at Makapu'u Point, looking north at Kaohikaipu and Manana Islands with Mokapu Point in the distance
Diamond Head Light from Diamond Head
Looking down at the iconic lighthouse from the top of Diamond Head
Oahu Ridgeline
Beautiful serrated ridgeline on Oahu's east coast near Kualoa Ranch
Lanai Lookout Surf
Late morning crashing surf display on the cliffs below Koko Head
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout View
A wonderful view from the lookout above the Pali highway looking over the Pali golf course towards Kaneohe Bay and Mokapu
The Mauna Kea summit area is known for being both a major Hawaiian spiritual location and a premier scientific site for celestial observatories. The dual roles conflict at times, but both contribute to the otherworldly beauty that awaits those who make it to the top of the world's largest volcano. Here is a small gallery dedicated to the natural and man-made sights that exist there.
Radiotelescopes on Mauna Kea
Four of the eight radio telescopes that make up the Smithsonian Submillimeter Array
Telescope Neighbors
The Canada-France-Hawaii telescope on the left and one of the two Gemini telescopes (the other is in Chile)
Barren Giants on Mauna Kea
Pu'us on the barren flanks of the Mauna Kea summit
Heat Energy Telescope
The NASA Infrared Telescope, operated by the University of Hawaii, and originally built to support the Voyager mission
Twin Giants Overlook the Ocean Beyond
The two 10 meter telescopes of the W.M. Keck Observatory. These are two of the largest reflecting telescopes on earth
Tiny and Mysterious Summit Lake
Lake Waiau, one of only two lakes on the Big Island. Why this ancient lake exists is a mystery to scientists
Lonely at the Top
Red lava on the summit pu'u contrasts with the surrounding older orange lava field on Mauna Kea
View from the Top
A view from the summit towards the vistors' center on Mauna Kea
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