“Be open enough to see new opportunities. Be wise enough to be grateful. Be courageous enough to be happy.”- Steve Maraboli

The Dreadful Noise

Unless you’re an early morning person, no one loves hearing the alarm go off in the morning. Especially when all you want to do is sleep for another few hours.

Extra Motivation to Wake Up

We all know there are many benefits to being an early riser, and many opportunities we can take advantage of. The one I’m talking about in particular is watching sunrise.

As a filmmaker, you come to appreciate golden hour. It’s the absolute best time to shoot because of the magical light the sun creates around sunrise and sunset.

Small Effort, Big Reward

When we parked at our destination, it was time to make the trek. The great thing about this location is, there isn’t a big hike associated with it.

I pretend to love hiking, but I actually only do it because I know the destination will be stunning, and I have a new opportunity to get a new shot or perspective. The phrase “It’s about the journey, not the destination,” usually doesn’t apply to me in this situation.

We made it up to the top just before the sun started to peak through the clouds. We found the perfect location along the edge of the ridge where the beach was directly below us and Rabbit Island off in the distance.

Golden Hour at Its Finest

As the sun started to come up, it created the most gorgeous hue. Purple and orange were the colors of the sky, and they light shimmered off the ocean.

One reason why this is one of my favorite places is the color of the water. It’s incredibly clear and has a beautiful turquoise tone. And the palm trees along the shore are an added touch.

Later on, we ventured higher along the road, climbed through a few bushes, and found a new location along the ridge which gave us a view of the Windward side of the island.

Two is Better Than One

Within a couple days, we were back for round two. Only this time we planned on climbing the radio tower.

Getting up the tower was a little sketchy, but no risk no reward, right? We had to climb along the outside for the first half. We weren’t climbing an actual ladder though, so there was a solid three feet between platforms. Needless to say, we made it fine.

One you arrive at the top, there is an unobstructed 360-degree view of the island. It was unreal to say the least. From the platform, you can see both the Windward side, South Shore, Diamond Head, Koko Head, and the Ko’olau Range.

When we climbed down we decided to venture along the backside of the mountain. We ended up finding a staircase which suddenly drops off.

I have no idea why they were built, but it sure looks like an unfinished project. The scenic backdrop of the staircase sure makes for some great photos though.

Next Steps

If you live in Hawaii or are visiting, let’s collaborate! Be sure to subscribe, comment, or share if you enjoyed this post! See you next time. Mahalo!