The trip to my first wedding in Hawai’i is one I’ll never forget.
In August of 2025, I got a comment on TikTok from someone asking if I’d be interested in photographing her wedding in Hawai’i. I thought it was a joke. She submitted a form online, and our consultation call ran for hours. I’d never connected with someone over the phone like that before.
I was blessed with an opportunity of a lifetime. Before this, I had little interest in ever visiting Hawai’i. I thought it was cliché, but perhaps it would be fun to say I’ve been to all 50. And it was notorious for its beauty, plus now I’m basically in love with the bride.
I had the longest trip of my life. I flew from Orlando, FL to Seattle, WA. My layover was a few hours. Then to Honolulu, HI. 17 hours round trip. Seventeen.
I remember getting a white Kia Soul at 10:00 P.M. as my rental car and hopping on the expressway to find the nearest 7-11 and my lodging.
During my stay, I was caught up in a Kona storm. I stayed out of the mountains, so my experience was safe. I was able to drive around the island, rather than through (where the mountains are). I travelled the entire circumference of O’ahu, and I learned so much of its beauty and history. During my travels, I made an effort to support local businesses there. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to do the same. It’s devastating what happened to the locals during colonization.
I don’t think I could ever write anything about Hawai’i without encouraging others to spend their money locally and avoid corporate tourist traps that starve the locals.
Moving back to the plot of why I was there, I met Brett and Kaitlyn after a few days of visiting. I arrived at Hale Koa Hotel, where we had a mini engagement photoshoot on Fort DeRussy Beach in blue hour.
The following day or so, I headed back to Hale Koa to meet up with them and ride in their limo to head to Kaneohe, HI.
I don’t know what I was expecting. They had shown me photos at Fort DeRussy, but there was no iPhone that could capture the beauty of this venue.
I was in awe of Hawai’i’s greenery. I knew the islands were rainforests, but these were the most remarkable landscapes I’d ever seen. It smelled heavenly and had mouth-watering views. If you’re looking ot have a small wedding on Oahu, and you want the Hawai’i that Lilo and Stitch promised–Haleiwa Joe's Haiku Gardens is the place to do it.
The Haiku Gardens venue is a centered pond surrounded by mountains and flora. When you arrive, you walk into their dining room or turn right and head down a dirt (or, in my case, muddy- remember the Kona storm?) path to the ceremony spot. There are two choices: under a pavilion, or right in line with the view from the dining room.
They asked my opinion of where it should be, to which I answered, “It’s a no-brainer.”
During the ceremony, a chicken popped in! It genuinely couldn’t have been more romantic. It’s every couple's dream and every photographer's blessing.
Brett and Kaitlyn wanted candid, authentic photos to capture their day. We did a few posed shots, and the minute I walked into this venue, I knew I had to get one specific shot.
This wedding is one I’ll remember for a lifetime. I have such a dear love for Kaitlyn. Hawai’i is an honor to visit and, honest to God, has been the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, and I hardly scratched the surface.
