Ep 130: Sunrise to Sunset: Explore Oahu’s Windward Coast in Just One Day with Professional Photographer Heather Eijenga

Today, we’re setting off on an unforgettable journey along Oahu’s Windward Coast. With the expert guidance of renowned professional photographer Heather Eijenga, we’re going to experience this stunning region from sunrise to sunset.
Get ready to discover hidden gems, soak in awe-inspiring views, and, yes, snap those perfect shots that capture the essence of Hawaii.
This post gives general info and isn’t legal or authoritative advice. It helps travelers with tips but can’t replace personal abilities, fitness, experience, or local knowledge. Marine activities have risks; assess conditions and follow local laws.

Credit: Little Bird Photography on Instagram
Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen?
Ever wonder how to plan a full day on Oahu’s Windward Coast to the fullest? Well, this episode is for you. Heather will not only reveal the most photogenic spots but also share pro tips to enhance your photography, ensuring you capture the majestic beauty of Oahu like never before.
Whether you’re wielding the latest DSLR or just your trusty smartphone, these insights will elevate your photo game tremendously.
By the end of our tour, you’ll be equipped to:
•Experience a magical sunrise at Makapu’u Point, learning the best spots for that awe-inspiring first light.
•Enjoy local flavors at must-visit eateries that enhance any visit to the Windward Side.
•Navigate and photograph top sights like Lanikai Beach and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, with expert tips on avoiding crowds and capturing stunning images.
•Discover serene spots for reflection and photography at places like the Byodo-In Temple.
•Wrap up your day with a breathtaking sunset at Turtle Bay, complete with dining recommendations for capping off your adventure.
Ready to explore? Let’s dive into your ultimate day trip itinerary!
1. Sunrise at Makapu’u Point
Kickstart your adventure at Makapu’u Point, where the sea crashes against majestic cliffs below a historic lighthouse. Choose from a peaceful beachside start across from Sea Life Park or take on the lighthouse trail for panoramic ocean vistas.
Photography Tip: Heather suggests adjusting your camera to a lower exposure to enhance the sunrise colors. For portraits, aim for silhouette shots against the vibrant sky—this technique really makes your photos pop with color!
2. Kalapawai Café
After capturing the sunrise, head to Kalapawai Café. It’s the perfect spot for a delicious, energizing breakfast. Their coffee? Simply sublime!
3. Lanikai Beach
Post-breakfast, make your way to Lanikai Beach, known for its soft sands and the picturesque Mokulua Islands. The trick here is to visit right after sunrise when you can enjoy the tranquility without the crowds.
Parking Tip: Ensure you adhere to local parking regulations to keep this community beautiful and accessible.
4. Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
By late morning, it’s time to explore Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. Here, you can wander through lush greenery or just enjoy a scenic drive. Heather’s tip: visit early to photograph the iconic entrance without the traffic.
5. Waiahole Poi Factory (lunch)
Around noon, treat yourself to an authentic Hawaiian meal at Waiahole Poi Factory. Don’t miss out on their famous dessert—it’s a local treasure!
6. Byodo-In Temple
Post-lunch, relax and reflect at the serene Byodo-In Temple. Nestled at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains, it’s the perfect spot for peaceful contemplation and photography.
7. Kualoa Ranch
If you’re up for some afternoon adventure, Kualoa Ranch offers tours ranging from chill bus rides to exciting ATV escapades. It’s a fantastic way to experience the lush landscapes and rugged terrains of Hawaii.
8. Sunset at Laie Point Lookout
As the day winds down, head to Laie Point Lookout for one of Oahu’s most breathtaking coastal views. It’s an ideal spot for reflection and sunset watching.
Evening Relaxation: Turtle Bay
Conclude your day with a stunning sunset view at Turtle Bay. Opt for a simple picnic or a fancy dinner at the resort, enjoying the local entertainment and a picturesque end to a perfect day.
Wrap Up
Remember, it’s not just about seeing—it’s about experiencing and capturing memories. Heather’s advice throughout our journey ensures you not only see the beauty of O’ahu’s Windward Side but also capture it through your lens.
For those looking to enhance their photography skills with professional guidance, Heather is available for personal sessions. Visit her at hilittlebird.com to learn more or book a session.
Listen On:
Resources
Find out more about today’s guest…
- Heather’s website
- Kalapawai Cafe – A local cafe for coffee and breakfast on Oahu’s Windward Side
- Waiahole Poi Factory – Local Hawaiian food spot known for traditional dishes and the “Fat Lady of Waiahole” dessert
- Kualoa Ranch – Adventure destination offering tours like ATV rides, e-bike tours, and bus tours
- Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden – Scenic garden known for its iconic entrance road and lush trails
- Byodo-In Temple – Peaceful temple on the Windward Side of Oahu nestled against the Ko’olau Range
- Kahuku Superette – A local convenience store known for fresh poke bowls
- Turtle Bay Resort – Resort offering sunset views, dining, and evening fire dancing shows
- Sea Life Park – Mentioned as a landmark near Makapu’u Point for sunrise viewing spots
Self-Guided Hawaii Tours
Travel Pono (responsibly)
- Pono Pledge Website
- Episode 70 – How to Volunteer in Hawaii
- Episode 87 – How to Travel Responsibly to Hawaii
Connect With Us
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Send Us a Message with any questions about Hawaii
- Hawaii’s Best Instagram
- Join our Hawaii’s Best Travel Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!
Bumper music, Ukulele and Chill, provided by Coby G (used with permission)
Bumper music, Aloha Friday, provided by Clay D (used with permission)
Spread Aloha
- Leave an honest review and follow us on Apple Podcasts
Related Episodes
Ep 129: 40 Years of Kapena: A Legacy of Music with Kelly Boy De Lima
On this episode of the podcast, we’re celebrating an incredible milestone with a legend in the local music scene, Kelley Boy De Lima from Kapena. Known for their vibrant sounds and deep roots in Hawaiian culture, Kapena and Kelley Boy have shaped the musical landscape...
Ep 128: One Year After Lahaina Wildfire: Progress, Challenges, and Hope
Today marks a poignant chapter in Hawaii's history—one year after the devastating wildfires that reshaped Lahaina, the once vibrant capital of all of Hawaii. On August 8, 2023, a catastrophic fire claimed over 100 lives, destroyed more than 2,200 structures, and...
Ep 127: Celebrating Hawaiian Culture Through Design: Inside NOHO Home
Today, we explore an inspiring blend of traditional Hawaiian culture and contemporary design with Jalene Kanani Bell, the visionary behind NOHO Home. If you’re interested by the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, and art, this episode is crafted just for you....
Transcript
130_Oahu Itinerary_01
[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Coming up on Hawaii’s best.
[00:00:02] Heather Eijenga: We’re going to start our day over on the rocky coast by Makapuu Point. There is a lighthouse up there. There are basically two ways that you can enjoy sunrise over here. You can start with the beaches across From Sea Life Park area. There’s usually parking there. No one is there.
[00:00:22] Heather Eijenga: You’ll be by yourself if you go over there.
[00:00:25] Bryan Murphy: Today, Heather Iyengar, a professional photographer, joins the show and she’ll guide us through an incredible one day itinerary exploring O’ahu’s windward side, that’s the east side, from capturing the perfect sunrise at Makapu’u. To enjoying a peaceful sunset at Turtle Bay.
[00:00:44] Bryan Murphy: Heather shares her top tips for making the most of your day. So be sure to stay tuned because Heather’s going to give us her favorite local spots, as well as some photography tips to help you capture your memories of Oahu.
[00:00:57] Announcement: Let’s go. Aloha, welcome to Hawaii’s best here. You’ll learn what to know before traveling as we discover Hawaiian culture, local businesses, and the experiences that make Hawaii one of the most incredible places in the world.
[00:01:13] Announcement: And now your host, Brian Murphy.
[00:01:17] Bryan Murphy: Welcome back to another episode of Hawaii’s best. So glad that you’re here tuning in. If you’re joining us for the first time, just want to say welcome. So glad you’re here. And I can’t wait for you to hear some of these tips on this itinerary for the windward side of Oahu.
[00:01:33] Bryan Murphy: Heather’s going to give us some great advice and tips. It’s an ambitious itinerary, but I think it’s doable. If you’ve been listening for a while to Hawaii’s Best, just welcome back, and you may be wondering why we haven’t released an episode in a couple months, and simply because I’ve been working on my other business right now.
[00:01:55] Bryan Murphy: I run a podcast production business, Easy Podcast Solutions. Podcast. com shameless plug. So if you’re looking to start a podcast, you want a podcast edit. I can definitely help with that I’ve been doing this for well, I’ve been in audio for about 20 years, but doing podcasts primarily for seven years But i’ve been really working hard and building that business up.
[00:02:15] Bryan Murphy: I’ve been Present on our blog hawaiisbesttravel. com more so than the podcast. I want to get the podcast consistent again and Looking to do that this new year have some content that I want to be sharing with you Probably going to be doing some more solo episodes Definitely want to get some more guests on as well But this has been a resource at least that you’ve told me that if you listen to this a few times Has been helpful and really that’s why we do it.
[00:02:43] Bryan Murphy: We don’t have any ads on this I’m, not a travel agent like other podcasters and looking to get you to To book with us and call in and get you a package deal or anything like that It’s just simply to provide value and bring you voices from hawaii and tips on how to travel Responsibly, but also get some of the best of what the islands have to offer.
[00:03:07] Bryan Murphy: And we’re doing that today. We’re going to be talking about this epic Oahu windward itinerary. And today we are joined by Heather Iyengah. Heather is the owner and principal photographer at Little Bird Photography, where she combines her passion for family, nature, and the stunning landscapes of Hawaii to capture unforgettable moments.
[00:03:28] Bryan Murphy: With a background in conservation biology, In over two decades of exploring Hawaii’s diverse ecosystem, Heather brings a unique perspective to her photography. Her work not only showcases the beauty of the islands, but also tells the stories of the families she photographs. Heather’s notable contributions include her innovative approach to photography that blends environmental awareness and artistic expression.
[00:03:50] Bryan Murphy: Today, Heather will share her deep knowledge of the east side of Oahu and give us tips on capturing the perfect vacation photo and why embracing The nature of Hawaii can enhance our appreciation for these beautiful islands. So let’s go ahead and let’s talk story with Heather from Little Bird Photography.
[00:04:09] Bryan Murphy: What is it like living on the windward side of Oahu?
[00:04:20] Heather Eijenga: So I moved to Hawaii 24 years ago with my husband. We always wanted to get to the windward side. We started off in town and we would come over to the windward side because it always felt so magical. You come through. And you just see this beautiful landscape.
[00:04:41] Heather Eijenga: You’ve got the steep mountains stretching down to, you know, beautiful blue ocean. It just, there’s something about it that just feels really breathtaking and it doesn’t get old. I want to say like living here, like the views are just stunning all the time. I always appreciate them. So it’s a really wonderful place to, to call home.
[00:05:01] Heather Eijenga: But because we now live on the windward side, I thought I might as well share my favorite part of the island with you. And I also think it’s a unique spot to enjoy with families. The beaches here are more mellow than you get on the North Shore, less crowded than on the South Shore. West side is also has very steep beaches with big waves.
[00:05:24] Heather Eijenga: So it’s kind of the ideal stretch to explore with family. It’s really. easily accessible. And the other thing is that it starts with You have a lot of diversity along the coast. It starts with lava and it’s very dramatic and then you end with nice sandy calm beaches at the tip.
[00:05:42] Bryan Murphy: Yeah. And this list that we’re going to go over, I know for, as you’re listening to this, it might sound overwhelming, but it is doable in a day.
[00:05:51] Bryan Murphy: You can probably split it into two days, but we kind of want to give it to you in a day partly because There’s not a lot of places to stay on the East side of Oahu. So more than likely you’re probably staying in South shore Waikiki or maybe you’re staying at Turtle Bay North shore, but, or you’re, you know, on the West side in Koalina area.
[00:06:09] Bryan Murphy: So we wanted to kind of give you the best of at least Heather did. I think this is going to be, this is a great itinerary. I can’t wait to do this itinerary. I don’t know if I can do it all in one day, but I think it’s definitely ambitious and it is possible. Where are we going to start our. I mean, I would assume we probably want to get a great sunrise in.
[00:06:30] Bryan Murphy: So what, where are we going to do that?
[00:06:32] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. So we’re going to start our day over on the Rocky Coast by Makapu’u Point. There is a lighthouse up there. There are basically two ways that you can enjoy sunrise over here. You can start. With the beaches across from Sea Life Park area, there’s usually parking there.
[00:06:52] Heather Eijenga: No one is there. You’ll be by yourself if you go over there and you get a nice view of the point and the lighthouse from the distance and you’ll see the sun coming up over the water. But the more popular route is to actually hike up to the lighthouse itself. And so you can park right outside the gates and join the other morning people and make your way up that trail.
[00:07:16] Bryan Murphy: Right. Because the gates there, that little parking lot, they open around seven, right?
[00:07:21] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. They don’t open until seven, but there are a lot of people who are going to be lined up along the road over there.
[00:07:26] Bryan Murphy: Yeah. And that hike, that’s one we’ve done many times as a family. It’s paved, stroller friendly. You know, there’s a bit of an incline, but there’s places you can look, lookouts along the way that you can kind of stop and, you know, get the shot.
[00:07:41] Bryan Murphy: So maybe let’s talk about getting the shot, you know, doing this hike or maybe at a different spot along Makapuu. What are some tips? And how to capture the sunset maybe on your phone because most people are going to be having their phone on a DSLR or anything like that. But how do you capture you as a professional photographer?
[00:08:00] Bryan Murphy: How would you recommend someone getting the shot?
[00:08:03] Heather Eijenga: I think for sunrise and phones do a great job. I mean, they always say the best camera you have is the one on you. You can get great photos of sunrise just with a regular phone camera. One thing I would suggest is to go darker. So you could just kind of.
[00:08:17] Heather Eijenga: pull down the exposure just on the iPhone. I know you just touch the screen and you can drag it down. That’s going to allow you to see more of the colors of sunrise. So that that’ll look beautiful. The only trick is if you’re trying to get people plus the sunrise. I know when I’m photographing clients at sunrise, they always want to look at me when you have a really bright sunrise.
[00:08:36] Heather Eijenga: And the problem is you need to have some kind of an external light in order to get people plus sunrise. The camera sensor is not as good as our eyes. So we may see, you know, person clearly and see the beautiful colors behind them. But what the camera sees is either the person is very dark and the background is beautiful or the background is way too light and you lose all of that color.
[00:08:59] Heather Eijenga: So what I like to do for sunrise photos is just You know, forget about having somebody looking at you smiling, but just try to get a silhouette. And so then you can get a really nice dark photo at sunrise. You can kind of place your people right where that light is magical, kind of right where the sun is, and you’ll get a nice glow from behind them.
[00:09:20] Heather Eijenga: You might have to get low to do this, but it tends to be really beautiful.
[00:09:25] Bryan Murphy: And if I want to capture someone’s face, how would you do that?
[00:09:28] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. So for this one, because the light is still soft, right? And it goes so fast. Sunrise goes super fast. It’s probably, I don’t know, 15, 20 minutes. It’s not very long.
[00:09:39] Heather Eijenga: So don’t be late. If you want to get that nice golden glow on your face, you just turn around. So the light is now hitting their face. You’re not looking into the sunrise, but it is lighting them up beautifully. And so then you get that. that nice feeling of sunrise, that kind of golden sunrise kiss on you.
[00:09:56] Heather Eijenga: Some people are super sensitive and they can’t handle that at all. They just squinting even, even when the light is louder, they’re really struggling. Most people can’t do it. So you can kind of turn them at a 45 degree angle. Yeah. There’s always somebody who’s like, I just can’t handle any direct light.
[00:10:15] Heather Eijenga: So you can kind of put them at an angle and get like a little bit of a peak. So you’re kind of at like a. 30, 45 degree angle. The light coming up is just kind of at the corner of your frame, and then it’s kind of a mix between the balls. You’re kind of splitting the difference. So they’re not looking straight into it, but you’re not straight into the sun in it.
[00:10:36] Heather Eijenga: Anyway, it’ll work out.
[00:10:38] Bryan Murphy: Yeah. All right. So we just took in probably the most epic sunrise. We captured it. We documented it. We’re ready to go, but we’re also in the moment of it too. Not just all about getting the shot. Probably want some coffee, right? Is there any spots over there that you would recommend?
[00:10:54] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, if you’re anything like me, you’re definitely ready for coffee at this point. There is a great little cafe over there called Kalapawai Cafe, and so it makes a perfect pizza. It’s just right off of the road, so you can make your pizza up there, get coffee, they also have some food for breakfast, and then you can keep on going.
[00:11:14] Heather Eijenga: Ready for more.
[00:11:15] Bryan Murphy: Alright, let’s keep on going. What’s, what’s next on our list, our ultimate itinerary of the windward side of Oahu?
[00:11:21] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. So this is, this is tough. I’m going to tell you to drive right past Waimanalo Beach and you see it to your right. I know. I love it too. You’re going to see it. You’re going to want to pull over there.
[00:11:31] Heather Eijenga: But another time, because that one deserves its own. full day. Sure. We’re going to be going to Lanikai Beach.
[00:11:40] Bryan Murphy: All right.
[00:11:40] Heather Eijenga: And, and there’s a reason for this. Lanikai Beach is normally crowded. It’s a small beach. And so just having, you know, a couple dozen people out there feels pretty, I don’t know, intrusive, I guess.
[00:11:53] Heather Eijenga: But there’s this little window after sunrise. before everyone comes kind of to hang out and enjoy the beach for the day, where the beach tends to be empty. So because you had your sunrise down at Makapuu, you had your coffee, you’re getting there, it’s after everyone is left. So parking is no problem. You should be able to find parking, just walk out to the beach and You just may have it all to yourself.
[00:12:22] Heather Eijenga: So it’s kind of the perfect little window there to enjoy it and spend some time in a beautiful place without the crowds.
[00:12:30] Bryan Murphy: Well, I mean, that tip right there, that’s worth the price of admission for this podcast. Maybe I should have
[00:12:34] Heather Eijenga: shared it. That’s huge.
[00:12:36] Bryan Murphy: Well, Lonnie Kai, that, this beach is beautiful.
[00:12:39] Bryan Murphy: Probably one of the most photographed if you’re wondering and you’re listening like, okay, what’s this beach? It’s the one with the two islets the two mooks. They kind of look like twins out out in the distance It’s the beach with amazing sand. It’s one of the best beaches in the world. Honestly, typically it is So crowded trying to find a spot to park.
[00:12:58] Bryan Murphy: You mentioned parking a little bit, but finding that window after sunrise and getting to experience Lanikai almost to yourself. I mean, that sounds like too good to be true, but maybe just walk it through the parking because for people who don’t know, parking can be a big issue. So what are your, some tips on how to park legally in order to get to Lanikai?
[00:13:17] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. Make sure you are following all of the signs there because the people who live in that neighborhood are plagued by visitors regularly and it’s become kind of a sore spot. And so they will tell you if you do anything wrong. So what I recommend is it’s just off street parking. You need to park in the direction of traffic.
[00:13:40] Heather Eijenga: And you need to make sure your tires are fully off the road. If you’re hanging out onto the road, you’re at risk for getting a ticket. Definitely don’t block the bike path. That’s a surefire way to get towed. And if you follow those rules, you’ll be fine. Don’t block driveways. That’s it. The only other trick is it is trickier to find parking on weekend because now you have locals competing for parking with visitors.
[00:14:04] Heather Eijenga: And there is no parking at all on holiday weekends. So don’t even try to go over there on a holiday weekend.
[00:14:11] Bryan Murphy: Okay. So Lanikai, check, probably the best beach you’ll ever experience. And then we’re going to go to another spot that is also super Instagrammable, famous. Where is that?
[00:14:23] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. So the next stop is Ho’omalikia Botanical Garden.
[00:14:27] Heather Eijenga: And this spot I love because we used to live very close to the garden and it used to be kind of felt like our backyard. We were there so often. So Ho’omalia is a great spot. You can spend a whole day there easily. There are trails to walk around. There’s a lake. You can even go fishing or you could just drive through it.
[00:14:50] Heather Eijenga: It’s free. So It’s definitely worth a stop, and it’s open from nine to four, so by the time you get here it should be, oh my gosh, ten? Depends on how much time you’re spending at each place, but I think you can make it here by then, and get some beautiful shots, maybe stop, and wander around a little bit.
[00:15:11] Bryan Murphy: Yeah, this, this garden, it’s beautiful. It’s it’s that one is you drive in and the coal out ranges it’s framing and you got palm trees on the side and you know, this is like the beautiful, most beautiful road in the world. Really. It used to be plagued by tons of, of signs. I remember visiting pre signs on that drive and I probably one of the best pics I’ve ever captured was actually just.
[00:15:36] Bryan Murphy: driving along slowly and just, you know, framing it up and grabbing a shot of that, of that drive. But what’s the current situation and how to maybe get that, still get that shot of that drive into the gardens.
[00:15:48] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, that entrance to the garden is iconic and definitely worth capturing. I’m happy to say that they’ve toned down the signs a little bit.
[00:15:57] Heather Eijenga: They used to have bright orange cones, but now it’s not as bad, so. You could still get a beautiful photo. They do not want you to stop. So you could take a photo hanging your phone out of the window, maybe have a convertible that would make it easier. Or if you really want to get the shot, you could plan to arrive before the park opens at nine.
[00:16:20] Heather Eijenga: There are a couple spots right outside and then the gate has an access point for pedestrians. So you could just walk in. It’s, it’s a beautiful spot to go for a run or walk before you get any of that car traffic in there. So that’s what a lot of people in the neighborhood do. And so you could just pop in there and get some photos of the entrance before it opens.
[00:16:41] Bryan Murphy: Gotcha. All right. So what time do you think it is? You like probably late morning?
[00:16:46] Heather Eijenga: I guess late morning. Yeah, I know. This is, this is maybe an ambitious itinerary. Okay. But. Okay. All right. If you have time, I feel like the next stop is worth it. This one is just a beautiful, beautiful temple tucked very close to the Ko’olau range.
[00:17:02] Heather Eijenga: It tends to be very moody and dramatic and quiet. It’s called Beotowin Temple and there is a small fee to get in. I think it’s five dollars for adults, maybe two for kids right now, but it’s a, it’s a small fee to get in. It’s not a place you’re going to spend a long time, but it is. Just beautiful. The only trouble with this spot is if it gets too late in the day or if it’s really like an unusually hot day, you may want to skip it because the buses come here in the middle of the day.
[00:17:36] Heather Eijenga: The buses are dropping off, you know, dozens of people at a time and it gets really crowded and it takes away from the beauty and the feeling of the place.
[00:17:46] Bryan Murphy: Okay. So it’s probably it’s time for some lunch now. Yeah.
[00:17:48] Heather Eijenga: Yes. You
[00:17:50] Bryan Murphy: got any favorite spots?
[00:17:52] Heather Eijenga: Yes, I do. This is, I think my whole family would say this is their favorite spot to eat is the Waiahole Poi Factory.
[00:17:59] Heather Eijenga: Cool. It’s just a small, unassuming spot along the road on the Windward Coast and it has all local Hawaiian food. And it’s all good. And it’s all something different. So I mean, you could just get a sampler plate and try everything. I will say, don’t forget to get dessert there. They have the Fat Lady of Guayajole and it’s ice cream and cololo and it’s, it’s amazing.
[00:18:24] Bryan Murphy: Alright, so after lunch, we’re going to keep on going and where we’re going to head to.
[00:18:30] Heather Eijenga: The next stop I have is Cool Lower Branch. Now this one is a little bit tricky because the only way to really get in there is to schedule a tour. So I would say you could kind of base your whole morning around an afternoon tour here.
[00:18:46] Heather Eijenga: Oh, okay.
[00:18:47] Bryan Murphy: And then that makes sense.
[00:18:48] Heather Eijenga: Then you can try to schedule it or you can make it a little bit later in the day depending on how much time you want to spend at different parts. But this is, I say this has got to be my favorite place on the whole island. Any chance I get to kind of get into this valley.
[00:19:04] Heather Eijenga: I take it. They sometimes will have races in there and I’ve done a, I’ve done a half marathon in the valley just so I could enjoy it. It’s that good.
[00:19:13] Bryan Murphy: That’s cool.
[00:19:14] Heather Eijenga: They have a lot of different tours. If you have small kids, you could do something more mellow like a bus tour. And if you want to do something a little more adventurous, my personal favorite is the e bike tour, which is really fun.
[00:19:27] Heather Eijenga: And then the ATVs are also really fun, but definitely try to find a way to squeeze a visit to this valley into your itinerary. Even if it’s the only thing you do on the windward side, it’s my favorite. I love it so much.
[00:19:42] Bryan Murphy: Okay. Well, I mean, that’s, that’s a good, that’s important note to make because you know, someone’s getting this list and thinking, okay, maybe I could, I can skip that one or maybe not.
[00:19:51] Bryan Murphy: This is, this is probably one of the stops that you don’t want to miss. Right. Is that what I’m hearing?
[00:19:56] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. I mean, it’s pricey, but I think it’s absolutely worth it. I love this Valley.
[00:20:01] Bryan Murphy: Cool. Okay. All right. So we ATVs or the e bikes and we’re going to keep going up the coast. What’s our next stop? I
[00:20:12] Heather Eijenga: What you’re going to find is that you’re going more and more country.
[00:20:15] Heather Eijenga: So you’ve got little small beaches off to your side. I mean, feel free to stop at any of those, but the one that I’m recommending is not a beach so much as a lookout. This is a short stop up in Laie and it’s a It looks out onto a little island offshore, which is all limestone, and it has a hole in the middle.
[00:20:38] Heather Eijenga: So it’s called Hole in the Rock. It’s a spot with great views of the Windward Coast, so you can kind of look back and see where you’ve come from and get that whole mountain view, coastal view. And it’s also fun because usually there are kids jumping off the cliffs into the water down below. So that’s always fun to watch.
[00:20:57] Heather Eijenga: So yeah, this is a good spot.
[00:20:58] Bryan Murphy: Great. Sunset. We’re almost there. First of all, where are we going for sunset? But then second of all, how do we prepare for sunset? And where, where do we kind of just wait?
[00:21:09] Heather Eijenga: My, my favorite spot for sunset is up at Turtle Bay, which is a resort, but. There is, there’s, you know, the grounds have like a nice rocky outcrop that you can kind of follow out and so you can actually see sunset from that outcrop.
[00:21:26] Heather Eijenga: Sunsetting over the water and you’re still kind of right on the tip of the windward side. So it’s a really beautiful spot. And you can see the waves over there. If you want to keep it low key, I recommend stopping for poke at one of my favorite places on the island, which is a really tiny little convenience store in Kahuku.
[00:21:49] Heather Eijenga: It’s called Kahuku Superette. It’s just right off the main road. You can grab some poke bowls there. They also have all the food trucks right past that. And the food trucks are always changing, but you’ll see things like the famous Giovanni’s shrimp truck. It’s nice to go to the food trucks because there’s something for everyone.
[00:22:08] Heather Eijenga: So if you have picky eaters and you know, everybody can kind of get their own
[00:22:11] Bryan Murphy: thing.
[00:22:12] Heather Eijenga: So you could pick up food and then head out to Turtle Bay and kind of make it a sunset picnic.
[00:22:19] Bryan Murphy: Yeah.
[00:22:20] Heather Eijenga: Or you could be a little bit fancier and just go to the resort itself and have drinks or have, you know, dinner at the resort.
[00:22:30] Heather Eijenga: So you can park there. They do have public parking. Of course, if you’re going to be going. eating at the restaurant, then you’re, then parking isn’t an issue either. You could even valet park if you want it to be extra fancy. Over by their pool, they usually have, if there are just great views of sunset right from the pool area, and that’s where you can get your food and your drinks.
[00:22:52] Heather Eijenga: And they usually do an evening show. So they’ll have the ceremonial torch lighting, and then they’ll have someone come in and do a little bit of fire dancing as well. And so it’s kind of like a, a free show to end your day.
[00:23:06] Bryan Murphy: Cool. What tips would you have on capturing it? Like photography wise, sunset, is it similar to a sunrise or how, how would you do that?
[00:23:14] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, it’s exactly the same as sunrise. It’s same deal.
[00:23:18] Bryan Murphy: Well, what’s your favorite to shoot? Like sunrise, sunset.
[00:23:21] Heather Eijenga: Oh gosh. You know, the thing I like about sunrise is that you usually have empty beaches. So it’s kind of a special feeling where if you want to have a little bit of solitude, it’s nice. If you’re shooting sunset, I mean, sunset usually is a little bit warmer, it seems like.
[00:23:38] Heather Eijenga: So it does have a little more color, but you’re fighting with crowds,
[00:23:43] Bryan Murphy: people
[00:23:44] Heather Eijenga: kind of takes away. So yeah, yeah. Everybody’s got their phones out and they’re jockeying for a good space and yeah. So I, I think I like sunrise, even though I hate getting up early. I think I’m a sunrise person.
[00:23:56] Bryan Murphy: Yeah. Do you have any tips on how to get back to, like, resort areas?
[00:24:00] Bryan Murphy: I mean, you go back, Kamehameha Highway, or do you travel through the, you know, Center H2? How would you recommend?
[00:24:08] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, at this point, you’re at about the 50 50 mark. If you’re in Waikiki, so you could go either way at that point. If you want to go back, it’s a, you know, it’s a slow winding road. If you’re curious and you want to see a little more, you can drive along the North shore and then you’re taking highways back.
[00:24:28] Heather Eijenga: I don’t know, I kind of prefer the slow kind of meandering roads personally. And so I usually take that way.
[00:24:36] Bryan Murphy: All right. Is there anything else about this route? These, these spots that you feel people often overlook or should pay attention to maybe like general tips?
[00:24:45] Heather Eijenga: There are so many different areas, like smaller areas that you could stop and explore.
[00:24:50] Heather Eijenga: And I’ve tried really hard to cram in like the highlights just so not to overwhelm everyone. But you know, like this, this side is really pretty, I would say, but it is. called the windward side for a reason. So the weather comes in and we tend to get dumped on before it goes over the mountains and is nice and sunny in Waikiki.
[00:25:14] Heather Eijenga: So I would say if you’re going to plan this as your itinerary, check the forecast before heading over and make sure that you pick a good day. And then if you’re, if you’re not excited about getting up at sunrise, I would say it’s not as bad as you may be thinking just because most, most visitors are coming from the, from the mainland and so you’re going to be, you’re going to have jet lag as your friend for the first few days.
[00:25:40] Heather Eijenga: And that’s going to help those, you’re going to be waking up early anyway so might as well get out and enjoy it.
[00:25:46] Bryan Murphy: Heather, obviously, you know, a lot about the island, especially when we’re inside. And I know a lot of people traveling, a lot of families, they want to capture the moment they have the phone, but they want to like, maybe this is a once in a lifetime trip for someone or reunion or whatever.
[00:26:03] Bryan Murphy: And they want to get the shot and they want to be able to put it up on the wall and frame it and the whole thing. And I know you as a professional photographer have obviously a lot of expertise on it. Just not just in your craft, but where to go and, and just how to best capture the moment. Where can people find you?
[00:26:22] Bryan Murphy: Maybe they want to book a session or just learn more about you and what you offer.
[00:26:26] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, I love making everyone’s life easy and taking those photos off your hand, especially when I get big family groups and they try to do this themselves.
[00:26:35] Bryan Murphy: Just bring a tripod.
[00:26:37] Heather Eijenga: That’s, that’s too much. You don’t want to do that to yourself.
[00:26:40] Heather Eijenga: But my goal for families is to kind of show you a spot. That I think will fit your personality. So you’re not just, you know, I don’t want to take away from anyone’s time on vacation to do something that’s not fun. So I make it fun. So I find a place that fits your personalities and we go out and we play games and we explore and then you get to take home, you know, these great memories.
[00:27:05] Heather Eijenga: along with the beautiful photos. I love to do that for people. You can sign me. My website is hi, like Hawaii, like hello HI, hi, little bird. com and it’s little bird photography.
[00:27:18] Bryan Murphy: And if someone does this itinerary or a version of the itinerary, I’m sure like, Hey, meet us at Turtle Bay or something like that.
[00:27:26] Bryan Murphy: Yeah. Okay.
[00:27:27] Heather Eijenga: That’s cool.
[00:27:28] Bryan Murphy: That’s good to know.
[00:27:28] Heather Eijenga: Yeah, absolutely.
[00:27:30] Bryan Murphy: All right. Well, for those listening, we will link all that up. You don’t have to remember how to do that. You can just scroll down to the description of this podcast and then click on the link and learn more about Heather and maybe book a session for your next trip to Oahu.
[00:27:44] Bryan Murphy: Heather. Anything else that we missed that you. I think would be important for someone to know visiting Hawaii, visiting Oahu, any of the neighboring islands.
[00:27:52] Heather Eijenga: Most important is to just get out of Waikiki, get out of your resort for at least one day and go explore and, you know, see what the island has to offer.
[00:28:02] Bryan Murphy: Well said. Heather, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it.
[00:28:05] Heather Eijenga: Yeah. Thanks, Brian.
[00:28:06] Bryan Murphy: And that wraps up today’s episode of Huge Mahalo to our guest today, Heather. For sharing her expertise and stories about capturing Hawaii’s beauty through her lens, Heather’s insights on connecting with the environment and preserving memories with photography are invaluable.
[00:28:25] Bryan Murphy: I think for anyone visiting the islands, for those who wish to see more of Heather’s work or book a session, please visit her website at high little bird. com. You can also go to our show notes page found in the description of this podcast by going to hawaiisbesttravel. com slash 130 that’s one three zero and we’ll link out to heather’s website there and as well as all the resources that were mentioned during this episode thanks again for tuning in today and until next time my friend be well aloha
Bryan Murphy, owner of Hawaii’s Best Travel, is a certified Hawaii destination expert from the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. He actively participates in the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau as a member and has a strong educational background focused on local culture and sustainability. As the host of "Hawaii’s Best Travel," a top-30 US travel podcast, Bryan combines his years of experience with valuable insights. He connects with a broad online community, reaching nearly half a million people, and offers a richer, more responsible way to experience Hawaii.