Hanalei Bay Lookout
Perched along the Kuhio Highway in Princeville, this roadside overlook delivers one of the most layered and dramatic panoramas in Hawaii, sweeping from the patchwork of taro fields in the valley floor up to the jagged, cloud-draped peaks of the Na Pali interior, with Hanalei Bay glittering in the distance. A wide-angle lens works well to capture the full sweep from valley to ocean, but a telephoto lets you compress the layers of ridgelines and pull in the texture of the taro paddies. Morning light is ideal, when soft golden rays fill the valley from the east and mist clings to the peaks. The parking area is small and fills quickly, so arriving early benefits you in both light and space. Shoot from the railing along the left side of the platform for the clearest foreground-to-background compositions. (Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii, United States)
