Hawaii is a bucket list destination for most travelers. Even those who do not take yearly vacations dream of visiting Hawaii at least once. Its stunning mountain views with white sand beaches and local charm are all you need to relax for a few days.
And while you’re at it, why not update your Instagram feed with some amazing Hawaii shots that your family, friends, and followers will love? Here are the best Instagrammable places in Hawaii that will make you feel like you are still on the island even after you’ve returned home! Once you see what these places are, you’ll want to exclaim “Mahalo!”
Most Instagrammable Places in Hawaii
Laniakea Beach
The beautiful word Laniakea means “immense heaven,” and the beach has more than enough photo-worthy locations to show its gorgeousness. The beach is famous among locals and tourists, so it often gets crowded. It’s one of the best places in Oahu, Hawaii, for Instagram photos, so make sure to stop by.
Laniakea Beach is also called Turtle Beach. You can find turtles here during fall, spring, and summer. The Hawaiian Sea turtles are endangered species, so make sure you are not disturbing them while on the beach. You can snap a photo of the turtles while munching on the green grass of the outcrops.
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Haleiwa Town
Haleiwa Town is located on Oahu Island and mostly attracts hippie surfers. The destination is perfect for a hipster photoshoot that will make your Instagram feed look versatile. The town has great places for street photography. The locals are friendly too, and you can meet them to learn more about the area.
Haleiwa Surfer Signs is a famous spot in Haleiwa for photography. It’s an Instagrammable spot that Carole Beller created. Another famous Instagrammable location is Angel Wings Mural. It’s a must-visit spot in town, painted by the renowned artist Colette Miller. The restaurants and food places in the town are also worth capturing!
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Ka’ena Point
Ka’ena Point is sacred to Hawaiian people. It is believed that souls leave the Earth plane from this point to meet their ancestors. Ka’ena Point is a lovely spot for hikers and adventure lovers. It’s a must-visit location if you want to have some photos from a secret photo spot in Hawaii.
The location has two hiking trails where you can encounter butterflies, lizards, and birds of various species. The north side trail is hard to hike because it remains hot, but the south side trail is better with views of white sand beaches and dolphins. The endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal is also indigenous to this area. If you’re lucky, you may encounter it on the beach.
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Sunset Beach
The beach attracts surfers from all over the world, but it’s also famous among Instagrammers. The sunset shots at this beach are worth taking a trip to, but make sure to avoid the beach during winter. Sunset beach is dangerous because of its powerful waves, and the winter season can be unsafe. If you are an experienced swimmer or surfer, you can enjoy the waves.
Another place to take photos on Sunset Beach is Sunrise Shack, a vibrant café on the island. It’s a much-loved spot in Hawaii and remains mostly busy, so be patient to get a crowd-free shot.
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Beach Swings in Hawaii
When in Hawaii, a picture on a beach swing is a must! You must have seen many such photos online, wondering when you’ll get the chance to have a photo of your own. It’s one of the best-kept places in Oahu for tourists.
Kamehameha Highway has a large number of scattered beach swings, and you can find several along the North Shore while on a road trip. Photography in this place requires some preparation, so make sure you have help, so you don’t waste your day and end up with no photos.
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Honolulu’s Chinatown
A significant number of Chinese Americans live in the Chinatown historic district. Located in Honolulu, it’s among the oldest Chinatowns in the United States. The place has beautiful locations with multiple photo spots. You’ll love Chinatown if you are into street photography!
Chinatown is separated into two parts. The first one is the Art District, which covers the area from Maunakea Street to Fort Street and Beretania Street to King Street. This part has the cafés and restaurants with photo spots. Hawaii Theater is also quite popular here. The other part of Chinatown is a traditional spot with fruit booths, Chinese herbalists, and lei shops.
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Foster Botanical Garden
Foster Botanical Garden is located in Honolulu and is easily considered a secret photo spot with gorgeous gardens. The garden is spread over 14 acres of the floral complex that was constructed in the 1850s. There are many places for Instagrammable photos, so make sure to wear a long skirt or a flowy dress to get the best pictures.
The Foster Botanical Garden charges a certain amount for entrance, but it’s not expensive. Make sure to visit the Outdoor Butterfly Garden, too, and capture the colorful butterflies in action.
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Nuuanu Pali Lookout
If you have to visit one place in Hawaii with a breathtaking photo spot and a panoramic view of Oahu, you need to be at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. The place is perfect for outdoor explorers with its rocky cliff faces and a distant view of Honolulu. You’ll need a light windproof jacket to stay upright in Nuuanu Pali Lookout—it gets super windy.
For history buffs, this location holds a different type of importance because it’s the site of one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaii—the battle of Nu’uanu. The lookout has no entrance fee, but you’ll have to pay for the parking.
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ARVO Cafè
Adding pictures of food spread is part of the Instagram experience. While in Hawaii, you can visit ARVO Café to check these shots from your list. ARVO is a locally famous place that serves creative breakfasts. You’ll love the unique toppings for toasts and lattes, such as Lavender Latte!
ARVO means “afternoon,” which is an Australian slang word. Ironically, the café is most crowded during the afternoon hours. If you want crowd-free shots of the café, make sure to visit early in the morning or right before they close.
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Manoa Falls
A hiking trail that ends at a waterfall is the perfect example of a Hawaiian tourist spot. Manoa Falls is a famous hiking trail that has many photoshoot locations. You can add them to your itinerary and make the most of the experience. You’ll need hiking boots for Manoa Falls because it’s a 1.7-mile trail.
Parking can cost a few bucks, but it’s worth it because it can take a couple of hours to reach the waterfall and return. You can capture the beauty of the waterfall, but swimming is not allowed. Check the trail conditions before you visit this location because there often are flash flood warnings.
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Summary
Hawaii has many photo opportunities for professional photographers, Instagrammers, and tourists. You can find many popular places to visit and capture with your camera, but don’t forget to check out these hidden gems in beautiful Hawaii.
These Instagrammable places in Hawaii have picturesque locations that will ensure your posts are hard to ignore!
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Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.