Lanikai Beach Family Photo Session | From Makai to Mauka

A change of plans

One of the great perks of being a professor is the option to take a sabbatical. You can take a year off to work at a different university or on a special project or just travel. Why don’t they allow that for more professions because it sounds amazing? This family hit a snag in their plans – COVID. Their trip coincided with the start of hte pandemic and ultimately rerouted them from Italy to Hawaii – Lanikai Beach specifically. Less romantic, but not a bad place to spend a year.

Sunrise to Sunset, makai to mauka

They asked me to document their days in photos and video to remember their time in Hawaii. We simply strolled down the street from their house and met at the beach for sunrise. After much running, hugging and general silliness on the beach, it was time to jump in.

We launched a paddleboard and the kids took turns steering and jumping off, but the clouds were stubborn that day and the water was a bit chilly. We didn’t last long under the winter clouds. No worries, we would meet again that afternoon for part II of our adventure – a hike above their Lanikai home.

< click play to watch their family below >

< and see a sample of their images here >

Oahu Memories, Part II: Lanikai Pillbox Hike

We met again that evening at the Lanikai pillbox trail. It was a hike they make regularly and they sped up the mountainside, skipping and hopping happily along. The howling winds encouraged us to keep moving. We got a little carried away by the pretty pastel sky and muted landscape and walked too far. Soon night was setting and we had to rush back. It was a long day and a great memory from the place they once called home.

Do you have plans to visit Oahu?

Let’s plan a fun morning do something you will actually enjoy so you can make family memories and take home beautiful images. Find out more about my family photo + video sessions here.