Waimanalo Bay

Ellery ‘Olympia’ Crepe Skirt / Tibi Silk Singlet (on SALE) / Eugenia Kim Hat / Ancient Greek Sandals (more styles here)

For years Luke has been trying to convince me to pack my suitcase and come to Oahu with him. This was his tenth time over the past thirteen years he’s visited the island for his work as a surf photographer, seeking the crisp waves along the North Shore that the winter swell brings and the crystal clears waters and bright blue skies that accompany it. I don’t know if you’d believe me if I told you he’s been trying to get me to visit for the past 6 years. I feel crazy typing that number, especially as it makes me realise just how long it’s taken me to visit the place Luke calls his second home, so much so that he wants to have his next tattoo symbolising his love for Hawaii. So I guess you can imagine how wonderful he’d be as a tour guide and also how excited he was that I (which means all of YOU) were there for the first time as well.

Unfortunately we landed in Oahu just as the weather turned for the worse. One night we even lost power as an evening thunderstorm rolled in from the ocean and shook the trees around us, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the island or Luke being ambitious and swimming in the treacherous waters to shoot some photos.

Luckily when we were doing a road trip for the day from the North Shore to the East Side the sun decided to peek out from behind the clouds for the morning. We started at Sandy Beach for sunrise and made our way up the coastline, stopping at Waimanalo Bay and Lanikai Beach. Personally, I preferred Waimanalo Bay as there wasn’t a soul in sight along the beach compared to the crowded shoreline that welcomed us at Lanikai Beach (it was a weekend). If you’re like me and don’t like sitting too closely to the group of people beside you on the beach during such a hot and humid day, then I would suggest driving the extra 15-20 minutes and visiting Waimanalo Bay where you can hear yourself think and you have the waters all to yourself. If you have time, try to do both! The glowing turquoise waters and velvet white sands there were the best I saw anywhere on the island.

Now I get why he’d been trying for so long to get me to go…

Photography: Luke Shadbolt
Location: Waimanalo Bay, Oahu