A few of my fav Oahu, Hawaii couple sessions and tips for your next trip!

This beautiful island is one of my favorite places to travel for many reasons. Obviously, its beaches are gorgeous and it’s a tropical paradise, but that’s only a tiny piece of why Oahu is so special to me. Hawaii, and the island of Oahu in particular, is a part of who I am. It’s part of my family history. 

I am part Japanese through my grandma, who is third-generation Hawaiian born and raised. While the family lived on the big island for most of my grandma’s childhood, they later moved to Oahu. She then lived on the mainland for a time, met and married my grandpa, and raised their family, including my father. Then, eventually, my grandma moved back to Oahu to be with her sisters. So, I don’t just travel to the island to shoot Oahu, Hawaii couple sessions; I go to be with family!

Even though most of our family has moved away from the island, my grandma and her sister still live there today. Whenever I visit, I love learning more about my Japanese family and our history in Hawaii. My name, “Nalani,” actually comes from this heritage. It’s part of my Hawaiian middle name, passed down in my family, meaning “the heavens.” 

Now that my grandma is getting older, she doesn’t love coming to Washington with the cold and rainy weather. So, I try to get to Oahu as often as possible to see her. Of course, if I have the chance to do some Oahu, Hawaii couple sessions while I’m there, I love that too!

I’ve traveled to Oahu a lot, so I want to share some tips to help you get the most out of your next visit. Without further ado, here are my top 3 recommendations for traveling Oahu!

Top 3 Tips for Traveling Oahu

1. Respect the land.

The Hawaiian people view the land and nature as sacred, so be a respectful visitor. Don’t take anything from the land or leave anything behind. Also, if you see a sign with the word “Kapu,” do not enter; these spaces are off-limits to tourists. 

2. Find the best spots to eat.

Some of my favorite places to eat on Oahu are:

• Haleiwa Bowls
• Leonard’s Bakery
• Giovanni’s Shrimp
• Sunrise Shack
• Kai Coffee
• ARVO
• Off the Hook Poke Market
• Sadie’s BBQ Inn – you have to get the spicy pork
• Yummy Huli Huli Chicken
• Marugame Udon
• And I’m also a huge fan of 7-11 Musubi!

3. Book an Oahu, Hawaii couple session!

I may be biased, but I don’t think there’s any better way to remember a trip than with photos. If you want to be able to look back on your Hawaiian vacation with nostalgia, contact me about booking a photoshoot! Or, if you’re traveling to Kauai, you can book me with my bucket list discount!