I was fortunate enough to spend a week in early March in one of the most beautiful locations on earth - Kauai, Hawaii. I attended an incredible photography workshop in led by Mike Wardynski. It was a small group—just six of us—and we spent the week chasing sunrises, hiking to hidden beaches, and trying not to get completely soaked by rogue waves (we mostly failed at that part).
Our home base for the first three days of the trip was the beautiful Poipu beach area on the southernmost tip of the island. The final three days were spent on the north shore near Princeville/Hanalei.
Each morning started early—like, really early. We were out the door and on location before the first light hit the horizon. But there’s something magical about standing barefoot on a quiet beach, tripod planted in the sand, as the sky slowly starts to glow. In the early days of the trip, we shot sunrise at places like Gillens Beach, Tunnel's Beach, and Shipwreck Beach, where we also photographed the rare blood moon dipping into the ocean. I didn't have a particularly long lens on this trip so I didn't get many usable shots of that, but just seeing it was pure magic.
After sunrise, we’d take a break to rest, eat, flush the sand out of our tripod legs, and dry off. Then we’d meet back up in the afternoon to catch golden hour and sunset.
"Ocean Divide" Limited-Edition Fine Art Print, Tunnels Beach
One of the most unforgettable moments of the trip was our day-two doors-off helicopter flight around the Nā Pali Coast. This area is unreachable by car, and though there are lots of boat tours available, the best way to experience it is by helicopter. We did, and it was absolutely unreal. With nothing between us and the edge but open air, we flew past razor-sharp ridges, cascading waterfalls, and impossibly remote beaches. The wind was insane—we had to keep a white-knuckle grip on our cameras the entire time. The risk of losing gear was 100% real, but there’s simply no better way to see (and photograph) this coastline. It was wild, loud, chilly, and completely worth it.
"Cathedrals of the Coast" Limited-Edition Fine Art Print, Na Pali Coast
One of the most memorable mornings was at Waimea Canyon, often called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” We had beautiful conditions for sunrise—soft light spilling across the ridges—but the famous waterfall that usually cuts through the cliffs was barely trickling. Still, the colors and atmosphere were incredible. Later in the day, we returned to the overlook and were treated to a full rainbow arching across the canyon, a rare and stunning sight that had us all firing away like crazy.
A perfect rainbow spans Waimea Canyon later that afternoon.
That evening, we wrapped the day at Waimea Pier, where the sun dipped into the ocean behind us, painting the sky with gold and pink. This is also where I tried my hand at one of those iconic tunnel shots underneath the pier—like something out of a Peter Lik gallery. Let’s just say... it’s harder than it looks, but hey, I gave it my best shot.
Trying my hand at an under-pier tunnel shot at Waimea Pier during a glowing sunset.
Even some of the lesser-known spots blew us away—places like Kahalahal’a Beach, Secret Beach, and even an unnamed stretch of coastline we stumbled onto by accident. That’s the thing about Kauai: you can plan all you want, but the best shots often happen when you’re just exploring with your eyes open and your camera ready.
Towards the end of the trip, we visited more iconic northern locations like Hanalei Bay. Hanalei is one of my favorite locations on the island. It's one of those rare places where towering green mountains, golden beaches, and laid-back charm all meet in perfect harmony—it's pure Kauai magic. One our last morning at Hanalei Pier, we were lucky enough to catch a perfect rainbow arching behind the mountains as soft morning light hit the water. I don’t think any of us said a word for a full five minutes—just quietly fired our shutters, soaking it all in. A perfect ending to the workshop.
A rainbow forms over Hanalei Pier just after sunrise.
By the end of the week, we were salty, sandy, and exhausted—but in the best way. I came home with a memory card full of images and a head full of ideas. More than that, I felt completely reconnected to why I love photography in the first place: it slows you down, makes you notice, and lets you see the world just a little bit differently. Be sure to checkout my full gallery of photos taken during this workshop. Maybe something will strike your fancy!
If you ever get the chance to explore Kauai with your camera, take it. And if you get to do it with a small group of like-minded photographers and a great instructor like Mike, even better.
