$
45
12
/ Adult
Overall:
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Response rate:
100%
Response time:
2 hours 47 minutes

Sunrise Photo Tour

Click Book it button to:
view live availability calendar
Island:
OAHU
Discounts Available:
Kamaaina Discount
Military Discount
Type:
Operating During Covid-19
Kamaaina Discount
Military Discount
Photography
Sightseeing
Discounts Available
Includes:
Access to private land
Air Conditioned Transport
No-host breakfast
Professional Tour Guide
Rain gear
Tripods
Description:
Are you an early bird who loves photographing epic, natural beauty? Or perhaps you are wondering what to do at 5 a.m. as you will be jet-lagged and waking up on mainland time. Are you looking to experience the richness of Hawaii’s Oahu Island? We invite you to our Golden Sunrise Photo Tour!

Be guided to some of the most prominent hot spots of Oahu Island to capture stunning photographs and be home in time for lunch. This 5.5-hour tour kicks off under the brilliance of the rising sun and takes you on a journey to witness oceanic views and the stellar topography of the two National Natural Landmarks located in Oahu.

Experience Sandy Beach, Makapu’u Lookout, Waimanalo Bay, and viewing the Ko’olau Mountains from two locations, we highlight how every angle, frame, and perspective of a subject is unique and tells a different story. We give you plenty of time to explore the landscape and capture photographs that you will love.

Our Golden Sunrise Tour on Oahu is the perfect way to start your vacation. Since you’re waking up early due to jet-lag, why don’t you come out with us and exercise the sunrise and we can tell you all about Hawaii and how to take advantage of your vacation. Don’t sleep your holiday away.

 Sites Visited:
  • Kaiwi coastline for sunrise
  • Sandy Beach
  • Makapu’u Lookout & Lighthouse
  • Waimanalo Bay
  • Ko’olau Mountains
  • Kalapawai Market (not catered)
  • Pali Lookout (admission included)
  • Tantalus Lookout out
What to bring:
  • Do not bring more than you can carry. Nothing is left in the van when we are out shooting to prevent theft.
  • We provide everyone with a tripod but you may bring your own.
  • Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes.
  • Bring something to drink for yourself.
  • Grab a coffee before we head out and bring it along.
  • You may want to bring a light jacket if you get cold easily/it will get very warm during the day.
  • We recommend you bring additional batteries and memory cards for your camera. We would hate to see you miss out.

 
Rates
Per
Price
Comment
Adult
$
45
12
Click the "book it" button to see other rates, live availability schedule, pickup times and/or check in locations (when applicable).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes we do, please message us with what you need so we can quote you a price.
Click on the red "Book It" button and you will see live availability. Keep in mind availability changes constantly, so make sure to book in advance!
H Tours Hawaii is a "one stop shop" for all the best activities in the Hawaiian Islands. Since we work with many providers, reservations are necessary. WE HIGHLY recommend making reservations, as many activities are at a discount when you reserve in advance. Some providers even charge higher for those "walking in" because they know chances are you're not going to walk away. Finally, a reservation ensures you have a space on the tour. Trust us you don't want to spend so much time and money to come to Hawaii and then miss out on an activity because they were booked out!
Choose the tour you are interested in, click the red “Book It” button adjacent to the tour information, and complete the booking form.
Most companies, if not all, require you to call them if you're trying to book something 2-3 days in advance. Do you really want to be spending your valuable time in Hawaii calling around to desperately find something that is available to do? While we can usually accommodate most last-minute bookings, we highly encourage those that are checking out our website far in advance to book 2-3 weeks prior to desired date. You never know if there's a convention, special event, or an increase in overall visitors in town, and it would be a shame if the activities that you want to do are sold out because you waited until the last minute. Basically, if you know you want to do it, just book it!
Most companies have a set of centrally located hotels that they do pick ups from. When you select your hotel in the booking page, you will see the pickup location and directions. This makes the pickup process short so you can start the tour as soon as possible!
Gratuity is never required but if you enjoyed your experience, a tip is always greatly appreciated!
NO! You do not need to have any experience in photography to join any of our tours. We know that sometimes people feel that they cannot take photos, but let us show you that you can.
Yes! Bring your camera. Bring whatever it is that you take pictures with. These tours are not just for those who have decided to invest hundreds of dollars into their camera equipment. We don’t care if you take pictures with an ipad or a polaroid as long as you bring something to capture the beauty with you, you will be fine.
We pick you up at your hotel in Waikiki. If your hotel is outside of Waikiki, which is from the Ala Moana Hotel to the end of Kalakaua, we ask you to make your way to the paid parking area of the Honolulu Zoo.
If your hotel's zip code is not 96815 then you will need to go to the Honolulu zoo parking area for pick up. We do not pick up anywhere outside the Waikiki area. This includes the Kahala Hotel, Moana Valley Inn, the Ymca, Kailua, Pearl City, North Shore, Ko’Olina, the west side, east side, leeward side, Hawaii Kai, all military bases. The Waikiki area holds most of the hotels on the island. Please check with your hotel as to where it is located. We ask that you make your way to the Honolulu zoo for pick up.
With each tour you are provided a tripod to help you capture clear and crisp photos of everything and anything. We have rain gear for everyone on board. If we happen to be out when it starts to rain, we got you covered, literally. Also with every tour we will bring along information books about the island.
We use a 12 passenger van for our tours. Our van has space for your and our camera gear and small personal items. We will keep each tour (other than the private tour) to a 7 person limit.
Our tours, adventurous in nature, still put your safety first. We carry a first aid kit on board at all times. The tour guide is there to let you know what is safe and what is not.
No! Bring something to carry everything you bring with you. There are spots where theft is known to happen and we will not leave anything in the van.
Although there is no age limit to participate in a tour, you must keep in mind that our tour is adventurous in nature and anyone under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
We do not have access for physically disabled people. Again, call us and let us know you concerns and we will be happy to help.
It is recommended that you wear closed toe shoes. Bring a hat and some glasses to block away the sometimes intense sun. You may want to put on some sunblock as well.
Yes, we will stop to grab something small to eat during the tour (not included). You are recommended to bring cash for some places that do not accept C/C.
The weather in Hawaii is for the most part beautiful but sometimes we can get a little rain. The tours will always go out when the forecast is calling for scattered showers. This great chance to capture unique photographs, possibly rainbows and waterfalls off the Ko’olau cliffs. On the rare occasion we will have flash flood warnings and lightning. If this occurs we will still go head with the tour, after all this is a photography tour and bad weather presents great possibilities for amazing photographs. However, if the weather continues with unsafe conditions, then the tour will be canceled and you will have the option of rescheduling or receiving a 75% refund. The call to cancel will be one hour after pick up.
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/ Adult
Overall:
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85
/ Person
Overall:
Payment & Cancellation
Cancellation Policy: Standard Policy
  • Cancellations made 2 days before Date & Time will be fully refunded.
  • Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
Terms & Conditions
  • See booking page for exact terms, conditions, & cancellation policy details
Reviews
9 reviews, 0 comments
Overall:
Was the tour accurately described on the webiste? In other words did it meet your expectations?
(5.0 of 5)
Extremely worthwhile!
Overall:
I was hesitant to book this tour, after a not-so-favourable Photographic Tour in Vietnam. However, after reading all the positive reviews, I decided to give it a go, and booked the Sunrise Tour. A great decision! We were on our way back from Alaska, where I had taken MANY photos, and ... more
after 10 minutes in the van with Chris on this tour, all I could think
of was that I should have done this before Alaska! So many great tips
shared throughout the entire morning. By the time we got to our sunrise
spot, I had all the camera settings ready to go! Apart from the
knowledge gained in photography, it is a great way to see the island at
its best. Oahu Photography Tours are extremely professional and
inspiring. I would book their full day trip, without hesitation, if I
ever get back that way.
Reply
0
2
Amazing morning
Overall:
We did the Sunrise Tour with Alex on Sept 30 and it was definitely a highlight of our time in Oahu. He picked us up promptly (5:30am) at the pier, gathered a few more from some Waikiki hotels & off we went to photograph spectacular sunrise at the first of several beaches we would ... more
see that day. Van was clean & comfy, payment was reasonable &
easy(done when scheduling online). Alex is a wealth of information 're;
history, locales and of course photography. His direction for any type
of camera including just an iPhone amazing. I think everyone even the
most experienced photographers came away with some new ideas &
knowledge. I'm not really into photography but accompanied husband to
enjoy the scenic island. I'm so glad I did! Alex even went out of his
way to drive us by some local street art we had read about on our way
back to the ship. Great day, great tour.
Reply
0
2
Great sunrise photos
Overall:
This was a fantastic tour. Our guide was extremely helpful. No matter which camera we used, point and shoot type, iPhone, or digital camera, he was able to help us get great shots. He was able to teach us how to make the most of our cameras. No photo experience is necessary to take ... more
this tour. We went to great locations and at each place, we didn't feel
rushed to move on. At each place he would share information and tips on
what to look for. We went to a fun place for breakfast. We are looking
forward to coming back and taking the sunset tour.
Reply
0
2
Do it!!! (Sunrise Tour)
Overall:
If you are still unsure whether to do the tour or not - I say: don't hesitate, book your spot! Yes, it is totally worth it to get up at 4.30 am. I was on a cruiseship and wondering if I wouldn't miss out on other good island excursions if I spent a half day taking pictures (which I'm pretty passionate about). ... more
But NO, I did not only get great pictures, I also got to see many of the
things I saw again during an Island tour a week later.

Alex was
such a great guide, you had the feeling you're on a tour with a friend.
As per all the other outstanding reviews you can read here, you really
don't need to have a fancy camera or be a photography pro. Actually, I
took some awesome shots with my cell phone as well. Alex helps you out
with settings when needed and provides guidance on how to get the best
shots for those who like to play around with their cameras.

I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat.
Reply
0
2
Fantastic tour
Overall:
I recently did the Sunrise Tour and we had Alex as our guide. I was picked up from my hotel around 5:30am; there were only about 6 of us on the tour and the van was spacious. Our first stop was Sandy Beach for sunrise. You are provided with a tripod so that makes things very convenient. Alex told us where he thought the best location to set up ... more
was but we were also encouraged to walk around the area and find our own
angles and ideas as well. Alex was great about helping you with camera
settings--making suggestions on what the ideal settings would be in the
different areas we stopped at and helping you achieve the best photos.
You don't need a fancy camera to do this tour, as one of the principles
Alex spoke of was concentrating on composition, so one can do that just
as well with a simple camera as an expensive one; people had all ranges
of camera on our tour.

After the sunrise we stopped at several
more locations to get some varied shots of Makapu'u lighthouse, the
general sea coast, Ko'olau mountains and another beach before heading to
Kailua for breakfast at a casual general store type market.
After
breakfast was the stop at a waterfall which is on private property, so
it was fantastic as we were the only people there, so we could focus on
getting photos of the beauty of the falls without tons of people getting
in your shot. There were also some beautiful flowers there to
photograph as well.

We were never rushed at any of the locations,
in fact we lingered at some until the light was right to take the best
shots. For this reason, Alex mentions he is rarely back "on time" so I
would not schedule another activity too close to your photo tour. I got
back to my hotel about 11:45am. It's definitely not a tour where you are
just driving around taking snaps of different sights; the focus is on
getting the best photo that your ability (or desire) allows.

I
enjoyed this tour so much that I'd love to do one of their other tours
upon my return to Oahu. even though I had been to many of the locations
on my own on previous trips, taking the tour I saw things through a new
perspective so that was great. I suppose one could even repeat the same
tour again, as the sunrise or lighting is never 100% the same each day
so your photos would be different at each stop. Another tour with Oahu
Photography Tours will definitely be on my list of activities for my
next trip as well!
Reply
0
2
Great tour, great guide, amazing photos!
Overall:
Alex, our tour guide, picked us up at our hotel at 5:30am. We started our day taking photos of the sunrise at Sandy Beach. They provided tripods and polarizing filters to anyone who needed them. Alex had good advice for all of the photographic opportunities he brought us too. After ... more
the sunrise we went to several other very scenic sights. This was a
great way to quickly see many beautiful sights on Oahu.
We were only
on Oahu for one day and we are very glad we took this tour. I would
recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in photography or just
looking for a great trip to some of this islands most scenic sunrises,
beaches, valleys, and waterfalls.
Reply
0
2
Definitely recommended
Overall:
The sunrise tour was one of the best things I did in Hawaii. Alex was a great guide, very friendly, and super helpful with camera settings on everybody's different cameras, as well as tips on composing spectacular pictures. The tour covered beautiful scenic spots, including a spectacular private waterfall. Alex was really patient in waiting for ... more
good lighting and making sure everyone had a great photo at each spot.
The breakfast stop was awesome, and Alex had great ideas about other
things to do/places to eat while in Hawaii, as well as having a lot of
knowledge about the history of the islands. I would definitely recommend
this tour, with any sort of camera, as a great introduction to the
island and a guaranteed way to get some awesome photos.
Reply
0
2
A MUST do!
Overall:
I took the sunrise tour with Alex as our guide. There were 6 of us on this tour. We stopped at many different places that highlighted the beauty of the island. Alex was a fantastic tour guide, knowledgeable and passionate about both the island of O’ahu and photography. There were ... more
all different levels of photographers on the tour and Alex was helpful
and patient with everyone. He would help set up different shots, and
give you tips and pointers on the different parts of a photo and the
settings necessary to make the picture stand out. We stopped at a little
store and got breakfast and continued on our way to spots that you
wouldn’t find on your own. I took this tour early in my vacation and was
able to apply some of the knowledge that I got for the rest of my trip.
I also took my family back to some of the locations that we visited.
This is definitely a MUST do in Oahu when you visit, regardless of if
you have a DSLR or an iphone camera.
Reply
0
2
Hawaii in a Hurricane
Overall:
When I first booked my photography tour I was expecting an amazing sunrise experience and the typical Hawaii tour with lots of palm trees and beaches but unfortunately the forecast didn't want to give us that experience and we were faced with the first Hurricane the state had experienced in quite a few years. Alex was still keen to go out so we ... more
braved the weather and ended up having a great time, chasing the big
waves and experiencing crazy windy, rainy weather which certainly was a
lot different to what I expected. We were thoroughly entertained by
Alex's history lesson of Hawaii and we managed to get some great shots
of the island and the surfers braving the waves. I was so happy I
decided to still go as I enjoyed myself immensely and got some great
photography tips along the way.
Reply
0
2