Discover Oahu's Top 10 Spots for Your Instagram Feed
Where to Take Stunning Photos of Oahu to Impress Your Friends?
Oahu is a Hawaiian island that offers incredibly beautiful scenes for capturing Instagram moments. You can lounge on the beach with the waves gently rolling in from the turquoise surf, or you may want to snap a panoramic view of jungle foliage that blankets as far as the eye can see.
Every aspect of tropical beauty can be in frame in Oahu. From unusual viewpoints of the volcanic surroundings to serene vistas as you hike up a mountain, your Instagram followers will be astounded by your experiences. Here’s where to shoot for photos of Oahu you can brag to your friends about.
1. Lanikai Beach
A hidden gem with lovely seascapes
Good for: Budget, Photo
Lanikai Beach is both a hidden gem and one of the best Instagram places in Oahu. It is secluded, which means you can get the right backdrop most of the time without people walking by, and the Mokulua Islands are what really set it apart.
The Mokulua Islands are mountains that jut up from the ocean floor about a mile out, each with distinct enough features to add to the charm of the picture. Wade into the shallow water on Lanikai Beach and get the perfect shade of light turquoise, which provides an even more lovely contrast with an occasional green palm that lingers above the soft white sand. Read more
Location: Kailua, HI 96734, USA
Lanikai Beach
2. Hanauma Bay
Great photos above and below the waves
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Hanauma Bay is part of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and is one of Oahu’s secluded beaches that offers great snorkeling with an emphasis on wildlife preservation. Hanauma Bay is on the innermost edge of a cove that is the remnants of a volcano, which presents an exotic landscape of jungle greens and rugged cliffs to photograph.
This is the reason you want to come to grab the perfect Instagram moment. The cove allows the clear waters to gently roll onto the shore, and this also means Hanauma Bay is teeming with marine life. Try grabbing some snorkeling pics while here.
Location: Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
Hanauma Bay
3. Historical Haleiwa Town
A historic town on Oahu’s northern shore
Good for: Shoppers, Photo
The historic town of Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu is the perfect stop for experiencing historic Hawaii architecture and taking a glimpse into the former sugar plantation industry. While beaches and natural beauty dominate the Hawaiian landscape, towns like Haleiwa are a great place to enjoy all aspects of Oahu.
You may want to pose in front of one of the famous surf shops or meander to one of the brightly colored downtown stores. Photograph the down-to-earth ambiance around Haleiwa Town and show your Instagram followers the unique boutiques and uncrowded parks where to enjoy a leisurely pace of life.
Historical Haleiwa Town
4. Pink Pillbox
Hiking to a brilliantly colored hilltop bunker
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Pink Pillbox on the west side of Oahu is a hilltop bunker and scenic spot. You don’t want to miss the chance to grab the perfect selfie at this one-of-a-kind destination with an ocean background stretching to the edge of the horizon. This unusual hot-pink bunker is a popular hiking destination with the most scenic overlook of the surrounding ocean and countryside.
The hike up to the Pink Pillbox starts on Kaukama Road near Pu’u’ohulu Kai, where you can head up the trail overlooking Maili. The hike is challenging, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views and that special shot. So, be ready to reach out for your camera as you reach the top.
Location: Waianae, HI 96792, USA
Pink Pillbox
5. Kuliouou Ridge
A rewarding hike along a ridge trail
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Kuliouou Ridge is a popular hiking trail in Oahu that rewards you with lush mountain scenery. You’ll be immersed in nature while hiking across a mountainous 4-mile trail overlooking East Oahu. The lush volcanic vegetation is begging for you to share the adventures with your followers.
You can snap pictures of Honolulu from atop the ridge, and the view is made even better by the green mountains that rise up from either side of the city. Almost every spot on the ridge trail is perfect for an Instagram moment, as the light-brown path naturally contrasts with every shade of green in the surrounding countryside. Try some macro photography and grab a picture of the flowers and leaves along the trail.
Location: Kuli’ou’ou Valley Trail, Honolulu, HI 96821, USA
Kuliouou Ridge
6. Koko Head Summit
Hiking around a volcanic crater
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Unusual
Take on the Koko Head Summit and hike around a massive volcanic crater on a mountain jutting up from Oahu’s lush countryside. You’ll be able to reward your Instagram followers with the view from the top of the entire southeast end of Oahu after you’ve climbed thousands of stairs to show off what you’ve accomplished.
The view is breathtaking because you can see for miles around. Every degree of green vegetation blankets the island below. Point your camera towards the ocean and the horizon where the puffy clouds meet the blue waters.
Location: 7430 Kalaniana’ole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
Koko Head Summit
7. Kakaako Murals
Hawaiian-inspired street art
Good for: Budget, Photo
See Oahu’s Kakaako Murals for yourself to truly understand how the vibrant Hawaiian-inspired street art comes to life in the Pacific sun. The immense size is one remarkable aspect, and you can put it in the right perspective when grabbing a picture standing right in front of a larger-than-life mermaid or psychedelic seascape.
The murals have become a community project, which shows a camaraderie for culture and love that you can capture and share with your followers. Try wide-angle photographing the murals, or pick some of the most stunning details, and snap intriguing images of them.
Location: 800 Pohukaina St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Kakaako Murals
8. Crouching Lion
A challenging yet rewarding hike
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The Crouching Lion hike is one of the most challenging but also most rewarding hikes in Oahu, where the view makes it all worth it. The Crouching Lion is located right next to the edge of the island, and it’s also on the edge of a cove, which means you are surrounded on 3 sides by every shade of clear turquoise water imaginable.
The thick vegetation that runs up the sides of the mountain gives you that ideal tropical feel, and the pictures you snap take your Instagram followers to the tropical wonderland. Time your visit at sunset and capture the breathtaking hues of pink and orange to wow everyone at home.
Location: Koolauloa, HI 96744, USA
Crouching Lion
9. China Walls
Stunning ocean views and adventurous cliff-jumpers
Good for: Photo, Unusual
China Walls (aka Koko Kai Mini Beach Park) is a massive series of lava rock ledges and platforms to hang out on the turquoise waters below. It’s a great spot to try unique angles while photographing Oahu. You’ll find beautiful views of the Pacific, with lots of cliffs, crannies, and nooks making for interesting photography.
At China Walls, you need to work for your photos. There are no ladders or stairs to get to the ledges, and you need to be careful during high tide. This won’t stop the cliff-jumping daredevils who fling themselves into turquoise waters below. For some action-packed shots, try to catch some of the cliff-jumpers in your photos.
Location: Hanapepe Pl, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
China Walls
10. Three Peaks Hike
Where to capture distant mountain ranges
Good for: Photo, Adventure
The Three Peaks Hike in Olomana isn’t a walk in the park, but that means you have the opportunity to capture views that very few are ever able to. The hike is aptly named for the 3 peaks that jut up like sharks’ dorsal fins.
The hike is also more inland than some others, which gives you the chance to capture for your Instagram followers distant mountain ranges that fade off into varying greens and browns as the sun casts its light across the island. You have the chance to show off the rarest sights of mountains covered in jungle flora, and you won’t be disappointed. Arrive early and point your camera at the spectacular sunrise for guaranteed likes.
Location: Loop Rd, Kailua, HI 96734, USA
Three Peaks Hike
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