The Olowalu Plantation House is one of, if not the best wedding venue in Maui, but it comes at a cost of up to $10,000 a day to rent. 

But it’s for good reason, directly behind it is home to one of the Most Instagrammable Photo Spots you can get in Maui, along the shoreline with a view of the West Maui mountains in the background. Because of copyright, I can’t share any directly on this blog, but here’s a Google Images search for “Olowalu Plantation House Photography” and you can see some of the examples there.

As photographer who works with a lot of families and couples, I would love to build a portfolio of shots out there; but is it allowed?

So after talking with a bunch of people, photographers included, there’s still no clear cut answer to this. 

First, let’s look at the laws. This is directly from Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources via Hawaii.gov:

Shoreline public access is an important common law right that is shared by local residents and visitors alike. The right of access to Hawaii’s shorelines includes the right of transit along the shoreline and within beach transit corridors.

Here’s another source, the University of Hawaii:

Q: What are the rights of the public to access Hawaiʻi’s beaches?

A: The public has a right of access along the beaches and shorelines in the State situated below the “upper reaches of the wash of the waves.” (HRS §§ 115-4, 115-5, Revised 2010).

It does also note a $2000 fine if private homeowners (though it doesn’t mention businesses) are obstruction public right-of-way to the shoreline.

In 2017, an “Ask the Mayor” question was submitted to MauiNow.com, “What Happened to the Shoreline Access Signs at Olowalu?“:

The post notes that there were shoreline access signs at the former Camp Pecusa (now Camp Olowalu) and the Olowalu Plantation House and questions if removal of these signs are a violation to the public right of access, or if there’s just no requirement of beach access in this stretch?

The mayor answers:

A: You are correct that shoreline access must be provided in this area. In 2000, the Maui Planning Commission approved a Special Management Area major permit for the proposed Olowalu Subdivision that involved several parcels. One of the many conditions on the SMA approval is that lateral pedestrian access along the shoreline shall be provided, and that mauka/makai public shoreline access from Honoapiʻilani Highway and public beach parking shall be provided near the Olowalu Mill site to Olowalu Landing, as well as access points to the shoreline from both ends of the makai Olowalu lands.

There does not appear to be a requirement that shoreline access signs be provided, although this parcel is listed as a beach access site in the Shoreline Access Management Plan. The Planning Department will follow up to make sure that the SMA permit conditions are being fulfilled. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Interestingly, when you check with Hawaii’s Wiki Permits, whom you would go through to get a permit for an elopement or wedding on the beach, they mention you can take photos on the shoreline at the Olowalu Plantation House, but you cannot use the pier, it’s apparently private property. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Many other photographers I’ve asked have said the same thing (though have been there unaware of any such rules), you basically have to be shooting with the Olowalu Plantation House to get shots there.

I asked on Facebook and here were some of the responses:

• “I was told no one can 😢… I posted photos I took there on the other group and a well known photog said someone called the cops on her while she was taking photos there and she said no one can.”
• “Apparently the landing and wall boat ramp spot is private property. You have to be shooting with the plantation house or their permission or you’ll get kicked out. I’ve asked a few other photographers myself.”
• “On the east side roadside and walk the beach only.”

So if you’re visiting and want photos there, you might want to strike this location off your list. It doesn’t like it’s worth the hassle and there’s still a lot of other great places in Maui to get great pictures.

If anyone has any updates on this, or would like to report their experience – feel free to comment below!

Olowalu History

I’m always interested in the history of Hawaii, and in research for this post I happened to come across a little bit of Olowalu’s history and the story of the Olowalu Massacre, which to quote the article is “largely unknown – even in Hawaii…. [and] was, for lack of a better term, a trigger event that set in motion very rapid changes for Maui and Hawaii.” Give the article a read, very interesting.

For the hikers, there’s also a hike in the area where you can see some of Olowalu Petroglyphs chiseled by ancient Hawaiians.