Whether you’re chilling at the island’s many beaches, cruisin’ through the Road to Hana, or up at the peak of Maui’s Haleakalā Volcano; Maui is home to a myriad of Instagrammable photo opportunities.
As a former Maui-based portrait photographer (now located on the 9th island of Las Vegas), I’ll not only help you find the best photo spots, but I’ll offer a few pro-tips to help you land that post-worthy photo for IG. Now of course I’ll always recommend that you a hire a pro photographer because your vacation will cost thousands of dollars; but your memories are priceless, yadda yadda yadda… but for some it isn’t always in the budget, or maybe you just value that helicopter ride or snorkel trip to Molikini Crater a little more – and I totally get it. We all value things differently.
Or perhaps you’ve already hired a photographer, but it’s an hour session, and it isn’t quite feasible to have a photographer follow you around for 10 days. With that being said, I recommend two simple tools that will help you snag a few couples/family photos:
- Tripod – Just keep in mind pro tripods can cost $500+, but a cheap one will suffice. Many of us have one already, if not you can find them for under $25.
- Smartphone Holder with Tripod Adapter – These work with any smartphone, and they have the screw-in for tripods.
I’d recommend you pack them before your vacation, or you’ll likely pay double here on Maui. If you don’t have either, I’d recommend this selfie stick/tripod/photo kit on Amazon for $22. It won’t be the best tripod, so you could consider a better one for windier days (of which there are many on Maui), but that’s up to you. While you’re at it and planning your vacay, I’d recommend buying a snorkel set… you can rent/buy them here – but there’s much better deals on Amazon.
If you want to take things to the next level, I’d recommend a GoPro – that way you can take advantage of your snorkeling trips and just have much better quality overall (yes, even compared to the latest iPhone Pro Max – it’s not even close). The GoPro HERO10 is the latest release, but I have the GoPro HERO8 and the specs are pretty close. I have a GoPRO HERO5 as well, stabilization quite as good as the HERO8, but still miles better than any smartphone out there.
With that out of the way, let’s start with one of the easiest photos you can get in Maui (even with a smartphone!)…
#1 – Iao Needle State Monument
Iao Needle is a family friendly area to visit in Central Maui. It’s hardly a “hike” as it’s just .6 miles on a paved trail to the viewing point, which makes it one of the easiest shots you can get. Now, most people get the generic photo of selfie at the viewing point but if you want a challenge, try this..
Pro-Tip: The above photo is of us, on a timer – if I can do it – so can you! Of course it would be a lot easier if you could just have someone take it, but if you have a smartphone your best bet is just to put in on video on the highest resolution (4k) and set it on a tripod.
Iao Needle State Monument @ the Iao Valley State Park in Maui
Sunset Silhouette – South/West Maui Beaches
#2 – Kahekili Beack Park
Kahekili Beach Park at Sunset – Engagement Photos
This shot is possible at any South or West Maui beach, with the exception of the beaches in Maalaea Bay, where the sun would set over the mountains (and it’s pretty windy in the bay anyway).
The above photo is at Kahekili Beach Park, on the west side of Maui, where you’ll find plenty of sunset sailing cruises which can add a nice touch to your photo.
Pro-Tip: Setup your tripod and expose for the background (manual/pro mode on smartphones), set a timer and get ready to jump into your favorite pose!
Fun Fact: This beach is also known as “Airport Beach”, but the airport closed in 1986 making room for the resorts.
Pro-Tip #2: Here’s another example below, this is best if you could have someone take the photo. Set a small aperture (f/8-f/16), the smaller you go, the more of a “starburst” you get, but sharpness tends to fall for most lenses. f/11 is a safe bet to start with. Angle the photo so that the sun peaks through your subject.
#3 – Kamaole Beach Parks (I, II and III)
Here’s one more example probably best done with a real camera because a smartphone probably won’t have the dynamic range you need. Shoot raw, and in-post recover highlights and add a little detail in the shadows enough that you can see some detail in your subjects.
#4 – The Reef between Kamaole Beack Park II and III is Great for Drone Shots
Also a great spot for snorkeling in the morning! Here’s a drone shot on mine of the reef between Kam II and III:
#5 – Sunset at Kaanapali Beach
#6 – Maui’s “Secret Cove” Beach (Pa’ako Beach) – #1 Must Visit Beach in Maui for Photos
With the internet, it’s not quite a secret anymore but it’s still one of my favorite beaches for photos. Not so much for swimming, though you will see the occasional “cliff” jumpers (~10ft).
I love Secret Cove Beach for couples; it’s small, intimate, and IMO probably the best beach to propose on in Maui…
Just note it can be very busy here, it’s not uncommon to see a wedding or two, along with a few shoots going on as well.
Here’s a few more from my surprise proposal and engagement shoot with Bill Lechtenberg and Alexis Taylor at Secret Beach in Maui.
#7 – La Perouse Bay
La Perouse Bay in of itself isn’t the most photogenic, but head to the south end of the parking low and follow the Hoapili Trail down to the Hanamanioa Point Lighthouse. The trail is mostly marked, but if you get lost, keeping right towards the water is a safe bet.
The lava fields in this La Perouse
#8 – Haleakalā Volcano @ Haleakalā National Park
A must see when visiting Maui, there are a couple signature shots you can get here, #1 being a shot of the Haleakala Volcano Summit:
#9 – Above the clouds at Haleakalā National Park
Pro-Tip: The shot above is in the lower parking lot about half a mile before the actual summit. There’s a short trail to this viewpoint. A good tripod weighed down with a backpack is recommended because it will be windy.
#10 Between Lipoa Street Beach (formerly St. Theresa Beach) and Waipuilani Beach Park
Plenty of great spots for a nice layering of water, sand and palm trees for a drone photo:
Maui Drone Photo Beach
North Shore – Paia
Hookipa Beach is the best place to see turtles without having to go in the water. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen turtles sunbathing here, though keep in mind they are in a restricted area of the beach and should be left alone.
East Maui – The Road to Hana
Without a doubt most of your Instagrammable shots are going to be on The Road to Hana.
Hana Highway stretches 64.4 miles, it’s a full day excursion with many options:
- Halfway to Hana – The full road is a 10-12 hour day, some opt for halfway which would be about the Ke’anae Peninsula. This is a good option if you don’t have all day, or just have impatient kids.
- Hana and Back – This is the option I would recommend, 8-12 hours depending on the stops you make.
- The Full Road to Hana (make the loop) – This route will take you past Hana. The back roads have many unpaved roads, which is why many opt for Hana and back. These roads will take you south and back up through Upcountry Maui.
Some must see spots on the Road to Hana:
- Paia Town
- Hookipa Beach
- Jaws
- Twin Falls
- Waikamoi Ridge Trail
- Garden of Eden Arboretum
- Kaumahina State Park
- Honomanu Bay View
- Nua’ailua View Point
- Ke’anae Arboretum
- Keanae Valley Overlook
- Wailua State Wayside Park
- Waikani Falls (Three Bears Falls)
- Secret Lava Tube Cave
- Nahiku Landing
- Kahanu Gardens
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park (The Black Sand Beach)
- Hana Town
- Koki Beach
- Hamoa Beach
- Venus Pools
- Pipiwai Trail (@ Haleakala National Park)
- Oheo Gulch (Pools of ‘Ohe’o aka Seven Sacred Pools)
- Charles Lindbergh’s Grave
- Alelele Falls
Want to see more? Follow on Instagram @jaysoriano and I’m headed to Oahu soon to Waikiki Beach and the Big Island later this year to find more photo spots!