Ko Olina family photographer: sunrise at Paradise Cove near Aulani
If you’re staying at Aulani or one of the other Ko Olina resorts, our favorite spot for family photos is Paradise Cove, a small, quiet beach about a 10-minute walk from Aulani. As your Ko Olina family photographer, we’ll nearly always point you toward a sunrise session there. The water is calm, and the morning light comes in soft through the palms.
Why we don’t shoot on the Ko Olina lagoons
The four lagoons in front of the Ko Olina resorts are lovely, and families ask about them all the time. Since COVID, outside photographers haven’t been able to get commercial permits for them. The lagoons are man-made, so they fall outside the state and county permits we use everywhere else. We only shoot where we’re permitted (here’s how Hawaii photography permits work), so we meet families just past the resort area instead.
Paradise Cove at sunrise
Paradise Cove is a little sandy pocket of coastline with lava rock points, tall coconut palms, and water that’s usually glassy first thing in the morning. It’s close enough to Aulani that nobody has to buckle car seats in the dark.
In the evening the area fills up for a luau, so we keep sessions here to sunrise. That’s no hardship. Mornings at the cove are quiet in a way Oahu rarely is, and little ones who wake up early anyway are usually at their happiest.
A calm sunrise, worth the wait
This family of five had to shift their session date around some wild weather. It happens in Hawaii. When we finally got their morning, it was everything we’d hoped for, with a quiet beach and plenty of room for their littlest one to run.
Toddlers set the pace at sunrise, and we’re happy to let them. We get a few photos of everyone together early on, then follow the kids. Piggyback rides, a toss into the air, a big group hug with mom. Those in-between moments are the ones parents end up framing.
When the weather shifts
Oahu’s west side is one of the driest parts of the island, but storms do roll through now and then. If a forecast looks rough, we’ll reach out and look at another morning during your stay, just like we did for this family. Most of the time the session goes ahead as planned, with clear skies and an empty beach.
Staying somewhere else in Ko Olina?
Paradise Cove works for more than Aulani guests. The Four Seasons Oahu, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, and the vacation rentals around the resort area are all close by. For larger groups, we sometimes suggest a different west side beach with more room, and we’ll recommend one once we know who’s coming. If you’d like somewhere a few minutes away, take a look at our Kapolei family photos, or see our full list of permitted Oahu photo locations.
Planning your Ko Olina session
Book as soon as you have dates. Sunrise mornings in Ko Olina fill first over the holidays and summer break. Soft blues, creams, and light neutrals, like this family wore, glow in morning light, and our what to wear guide walks you through the rest. Little ones do best fed and in comfy clothes, so pack a snack for the walk back.
Torn between morning and evening? Here’s our take on sunrise vs. sunset photos in Hawaii. You can also see more of our island work on our Oahu family photographers page.
Staying at Aulani or in Ko Olina? Send us your travel dates and group size and we’ll check our sunrise availability. Reach out here.
Ko Olina family photos: quick questions
Can we do our family photos at the Aulani lagoon?
Not with us. The Ko Olina lagoons can’t be permitted for commercial photography, so we meet families at Paradise Cove, about a 10-minute walk from Aulani.
Why sunrise and not sunset?
Paradise Cove hosts a luau in the evening, so sunset there gets busy. Sunrise is calm and quiet, and it’s easier on little ones who are up early anyway.
Is Paradise Cove good for toddlers?
Yes. It’s sandy, the water is usually calm in the morning, and it’s an easy walk from Aulani.
Do we need a rental car?
Not if you’re staying at Aulani. For other west side beaches, a car or a pre-scheduled rideshare makes the morning easier.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you know your dates. Sunrise mornings in Ko Olina fill early around the holidays and summer break.
Written by Aislinn Chalker, founder of Wilde Sparrow Photography. I have photographed families on Hawaii’s beaches since 2012, our team holds more than 200 five-star reviews, and our work has been published in Click Magazine. Learn more about us.
