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After many trips to Hawaii, I reflected on all the places we saw our favorite views. I love visiting because it’s one of the most beautiful places in the US!
It’s surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, making it a stunning place to relax. We found many picture-perfect backdrops to celebrate birthdays, honeymoons, or to go on scenic adventures.
I’ll share some of the best views from the prettiest places I’ve seen from Oahu to Maui. You’ll want to check out these places for yourself!
A Little Background on Hawaii
Okay, Hawaii has six islands you can visit: Kaua’i, Oahu, Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i, and the island of Hawaii (or Big Island). I’ve visited four of these islands and found great views on each one.
You need special permission to visit Kaho’olawe, and Ni’ihau is privately owned. So, if you’ve been lucky enough to visit those islands, I’d love to know what you saw!
Each island has a different beauty of its own, but I’ve mostly traveled to Oahu and Maui. Let’s just say, they’re tourist-heavy, with Oahu having the most visitors.
At both, you can swim in clear blue waters, see waterfalls, and find marine life. The hiking trails and tropical plants are unreal.
Mountains and volcanoes stand tall from a distance, and I found palm trees dancing in the wind. It all adds to the paradise feel, making it a great place to take pictures!
Beautiful Views in Oahu
Oahu may bloom with visitors from all over the world. It’s rather busy, but you can still find secluded areas with amazing backdrops.
We discovered a lot by just driving around. But you can find pretty places to snap photos just about anywhere.
Waikiki Beach
If you stay on Waikiki Beach, you’ll see beautiful sunsets here. In fact, I always see many people getting married and celebrating right on the beach.
On one trip, we stayed in the Pink Palace and saw lovely views from our balcony. If you stay on the beachfront, you can see the sun dip below the ocean every day.
Despite the crowds, you can still get some great photos. And if you walk around the area, you’ll catch the sunlight glimmering off the waters.
You can check out my blog post where I share our favorite things to do and see around Waikiki.
Diamond Head Crater
If you hike to the top of Diamond Head Crater, you’ll see beautiful coastal views of Oahu. It’s a popular place to take pictures.
But even on the trail, I took many pictures between catching my breath and holding onto my hat!
I wrote about our experience and what we saw. You can read all about it and see more pictures.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
We spent a day swimming and relaxing at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. The crystal-clear waters and the sandy beach were stunning.
If you can get reservations, you’re in for a treat for the eyes. You might even see pretty fish.
I wrote a blog post about our visit that you can check out.
Ka’ena Point State Park
Ah, I loved the secluded and beautiful Ka’ena Point State Park. The Pacific breezes graced us as the waves crashed against the rocks on the shore.
Here, we basked in a picture-perfect natural backdrop. The sunny day made me grateful to be away from the overcast skies back home.
You can check out my blog post about finding the cave. I took pictures inside and you might too!
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout
You’ll find sweeping coastline views at Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. The wind gusts almost sweep me away!
I can’t tell you how many times I have been here. Every time I come to Oahu, I need to stop and look over the cliffs.
And the experience of driving through the tunnels are amazing too. I talk about the lookout more in my blog post, which you can check out.
Makapu’u Lighthouse
To reach the Makapu’u Lighthouse, you’ll have to hike on a trail. But the hike itself is paved and very scenic.
We saw views of Koko Crater along the way. When we reached the top, we saw the stunning Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline.
You’ll want to see such beauty for yourself. I wrote a blog post about our hike that you can check out.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
The drive through Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden was very pretty. Now, you are not allowed to stop on the road and take pictures.
However, they have many parking areas where you can walk around. I liked walking through the garden and learning about the tropical plants.
You can read more about our visit in my blog post. We had a quiet walk through a gorgeous paradise.
Byodo-In Temple
When we went to Byodo-In Temple, I felt at peace. The Valley of Temples is a place of history and respect.
Not only did we find towering mountains but also scenic views. The colorful koi fish swam around as we walked along the pond.
You can check out my blog post, where I give you more details and pictures.
Views in Maui: Road to Hana and Haleakala
Chances are, you’ll fly to Hawaii and see it from up above. When I flew from Oahu to Maui in a small jet, I saw the pretty ocean.
The ride from Honolulu to Maui was a shaky, quick ride. But I saw everything from a different perspective.
When driving around the island, we found beaches with black rocks and sand. The water is cold, so I didn’t go swimming!
But there are two drives in which you can stop and take great pictures. The Road to Hana and the drive to Haleakala National Park are amazing.
I didn’t do the full Road to Hana as it’s a long trip, like 12 hours long. However, I took a shorter trip, where I stopped at many food stands, family-owned shops, art galleries, and waterfalls.
On this trip, I wished I had taken more pictures. I stopped along the water and found people getting aerial videos from their drones.
But you can pretty much drive the Road to Hana and find many Vista points. I actually took more pictures when I went on a road trip to Haleakala.
Haleakala National Park
When I visited Haleakala National Park in Maui, I drove above the clouds. I can tell you the drive to the volcano is a long, beautiful one.
You can stop many times and find picture-perfect opportunities. When I finally reached the national park, I stood above the clouds at 10,023 feet. Wow!
If you only have time to do one road trip in Maui, going to Haleakala won’t disappoint.
Some of the most stunning volcanic rocks and clouds were up there. I wrote a blog post you can check out for more details.
Final Thoughts
Hawaii has captured my heart in many ways. One of which is the scenic views in Oahu and Maui.
I’ve been to so many places on the islands, and am more conscious of taking pictures for my blog. That way I can share my adventures with you!
More Travel Adventures
I have many more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- Are you looking for things to do in Honolulu and want to explore?
- And what about some things we like to do when staying around Waikiki?
- And for things to do in Oahu, outside of the Honolulu area, I have you covered.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: July 19, 2024
