BEACHSCAPES AND COASTLINES OF O‘AHU, HAWAI’I: FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS IN DIGITAL, FILM, AND DRONE
A collection of moments along Oʻahu’s (Oahu) breathtaking North Shore. From the lush backdrops of Kualoa Park to the quiet corners of a hidden beach in Haleiwa; the dramatic cliffs of Lāʻie (Laie) Point to the soft sands of Bikini Beach. We followed the coastline through iconic surf breaks at Banzai Pipeline and golden hour at Sunset Beach—each location telling its own story, all woven together through digital, drone and film photography.
KUOLOA PARK
1/38
A scenic view of the Kamehameha Highway, running along the Kaneohe Bay of Oahu’s coastline. 35 mm film.
2/38
On the northern part of Kaneohe Bay, a home built on the sand of Kualoa Park. 35 mm film.
3/38
Nature’s palette: white sand, clear ocean, and stone shaped by time at a beach off Kualoa Park. Digital.
4/38
Chinaman’s Hat, officially known as Mokoli’i, a small cone-shaped islet off the coast of Oahu in Kaneohe Bay.
“Chinaman's Hat was nicknamed for its resemblance to the straw hats worn by early Chinese immigrants. Its name in Hawaiian is Mokoli’i, or “little lizard”.
In ancient times, Mokoli’i, along with the nearby Kualoa area, was considered one of the most sacred places and a dwelling place of kings and queens. Ancient canoes that passed the island had to lower their sails to show respect, or the punishment was death. In Hawaiian legend, it's believed that the island was formed when a huge lizard attacked the goddess Hi’iaka. The goddess ferociously killed the creature and threw its tail into the ocean. The tail became Mokoli’i island and the rest of the lizard is the nearby mountain range.” Shaka Guide.
35 mm film.
HIDDEN BEACH, HALEIWA
5/38
Seen off the beaten path: foggy volcanic Ko’olau mountain range on Oahu. 35 mm film.
6/38
Perfect shades of aqua, teal, and blue. 35 mm film.
7/38
Clear blue ocean water of a hidden beach in Haleiwa seen through the trees. 35 mm film.
8/38
Crashing waves. 35 mm film.
9/38
Smiles from a local surfer. 35 mm film.
10/38
Paddling out. 35 mm film.
11/38
A calm picturesque day. 35 mm film.
12/38
A view from the shallows. 35 mm film.
13/38
Waimea Bay is famous for its incredible surfing, especially in winter. During these months, big storms in the North Pacific create huge waves. These waves travel to O'ahu's North Shore, making places like Waimea, Pipeline, and Sunset Beach perfect for surfing. 35 mm film.
14/38
A surfers’ mecca par none.
“The Banzai Pipeline beckons hordes of professional surfers, each vying for top honors in world class tournaments like the Billabong Pipe Masters and Volcom Pipe Pro.” Travel Hawaii With Us. 35 mm film.
LA’IE POINT AND BIKINI BEACH
15/38
Streets of a beachside community in Lāʻie (Laie). 35 mm film.
16/38
Drone shot of Lāʻie (Laie) Point on the North Shore on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i (Hawaii). Drone.
17/38
The view from Lāʻie Point: The ocean's color shifts by the hour: What begins as pale blue in the morning deepens to sapphire by afternoon — the result of changing tides and light filtering through deeper water. 35 mm film.
18/38
A moody Hawaiian sky. Digital.
19/38
Shells and rocks in the fine grain sand. 35 mm film.
20/38
Crystal clear water from volcanic rock. Hawai’i’s (Hawaii) volcanic rock is porous and absorbs impurities, helping keep the surrounding ocean water crystal clear and vibrant. 35 mm film.
21/38
Palm trees blowing in the ocean breeze on the coastline of North Shore. A view of Bikini Beach, stretching down to Laniloa Beach. Drone.
22/38
Lonely swimmer. 35 mm film.
23/38
Seafoam on the sand.
24/38
Quiet scene on the North Shore. 35 mm film.
25/38
Colorful, tropical colors from a Plumeria tree and a Bougainvillea plant. Plumeria flowers are often used in making leis, has a strong tropical fragrance, and is widely grown across the Hawaiian Islands. 35 mm film.
BONZAI PIPELINE
26/38
Banzai Pipeline at Ehukai Beach Park, Pupukea. “Ehukai” in Hawaiian means “Seaspray.” It is also associated with health, strength, and rapid growth, while “Pupukea” in Hawaiian means “White Shell.” Drone.
27/38
A surfers’ mecca par none.
“The Banzai Pipeline beckons hordes of professional surfers, each vying for top honors in world class tournaments like the Billabong Pipe Masters and Volcom Pipe Pro.” Travel Hawaii With Us. Drone.
28/38
The Pipeline has been featured in numerous films.
“The most famous wave in the world has been featured in hundreds of movies, documentaries, and videos, including "Ride the Wild Surf" (1964) "The Endless Summer" (1966), "Blue Crush" (2002), "Step Into Liquid" (2003), and "Riding Giants (2004).” Surfer Today.
Drone.
29/38
Surfboard shaper, Mike Diffenderfer suggested to name the spot “Pipeline” because the waves looked like the massive concrete pipes stored in a nearby construction project. Drone.
SUNSET BEACH
30/38
Just inland from this coastline is Pūpūkea, a quiet neighborhood surrounded by tropical forest and hiking trails. Drone.
31/38
A little day off. Drone.
32/38
Beach goers laying out to watch the surfers. Drone.
33/38
Coral reefs peaking through the ocean waves. Sunset Beach is part of a marine ecosystem — coral reefs and tide pools are just offshore. Drone.
34/38
Sunset Beach was initially known as “Paumalu” or “taken in surprise” in Hawaiian. Drone.
35/38
Glass-like water reveals the textures beneath. Drone.
36/38
Early risers stroll on the golden sands of Hawaii’s coastline. Drone.
37/38
Sunset Beach in Pupukea is the most famous part of the seven-mile miracle, a long stretch of Oahu’s North Shore beaches. Drone.
38/38
Leaving footprints in the sand. Drone.
