Mauna Kea Resort Photographer - Kohala Coast

Come Home From the Mauna Kea Resort With Portraits Your Family Will Cherish for Decades

Golden hour portraits on the beaches of the Mauna Kea Resort. A local team who handles the location, the timing, and the permissions, so you can just be together.

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★★★★★ 5.0 · 120+ five-star reviews
Portrait partner of the Mauna Kea Resort

5.0 ⭐

Average Rating

120+

Five-Star Reviews

48 hrs

Proofs Delivered

Not Ready to Book Yet?

Tell Us About Your Trip

Share your travel dates and where you are staying on the resort. We will come back with the beach, the golden hour window, and what to wear.

Prefer to talk? Call or text: 808-215-9042

Three generations of one family together on the beach at sunset A family sitting together on the lawn with the ocean behind them A couple at the water's edge as the sun sets behind them

Why Families Choose Us

Connection Over Perfection

As the portrait partner of the Mauna Kea Resort, you are backed by a collective of Kohala Coast locals who know every beach on this resort, every light condition, and every trick to keep your toddler laughing instead of melting down.

We handle the location, the timing, the permits, and the logistics. You just show up and be together. The best portraits happen when families stop performing and start connecting.

📸 Digital proofs within 48 hours, often before you fly home

Our Work

Real Families. Real Moments.

A father and his daughter laughing together on the sand
A couple together on the resort lawn in the late afternoon
A child on the rope swing on the resort lawn
A couple under the palms at the edge of the sand
Three brothers and their baby sister sitting together on the lawn
A family sitting together on the sand in the evening light
A mother and her children running together along the beach
A family photographed under the trees on the resort grounds
A young boy running across the grass at the resort
A child in the last of the golden light on the sand

Stress-Free Family Heirlooms

How Your Experience Works

1

The Consultation

Tell us about your family, your trip dates, and where you are staying on the resort. We will recommend the beach, the timing, and the experience that fits, and handle every detail from there.

2

The Session

Our photographer guides you through natural poses and captures the candid moments in between. Kids run, couples laugh, and everyone relaxes. That's where the real portraits come from.

3

Your Viewing Appointment

Within 48 hours your proofs are ready, and we set a viewing appointment to go through every image with you. You choose your favorites while you are still on island.

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What Our Families Say

5.0 Stars · 120+ Reviews

★★★★★ Verified reviews from real families

★★★★★
"We are so thankful we booked with them! They were super flexible when we changed our appointment time because the volcano was erupting and we had to reschedule. The photos came out absolutely beautiful!"
- Laura W.
★★★★★
"Our photographer was so sweet and patient with our kids. I recommend Hawaii Family Portraits to anyone that wants professional photos done. She did an amazing job."
- Mary Peer
★★★★★
"A first class studio! The photos for our daughter's destination wedding are fabulous! They were early for our 0800 beach session and delivered stunning images. Highly recommend!"
- DeAnn Barr

Simple, Transparent Pricing

Know Exactly What You're Getting

No hidden fees, no surprise add-ons. Every session includes professional editing, high-resolution downloads, and proofs delivered within 48 hours.

Best for Families Visiting Hawaii

Beach Portrait Session

The full golden-hour beach experience

$749 starting
45-60 min · Any family size · 20 digital images
$250 deposit reserves your date and applies to your final investment
  • Golden hour on the Kona Coast
  • 100+ digital proofs to choose from
  • 20 professionally edited portraits included
  • High-resolution digital downloads
  • Proofs ready within 48 hours
  • Private gallery with 1-year access
  • We handle location, timing, and permits
  • Weather guarantee: we reschedule free or refund your deposit
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Resort Mini Session

One stunning portrait of your family in Hawaii

$395 starting
25 min · Up to 6 people · 10 digital images
  • 10 professionally edited portraits
  • Professional editing and retouching
  • Online proof gallery with downloads
  • Quick, stress-free: 25 minutes and done
  • Resort grounds only (not beach or sunset)
  • Max 6 people
Book a Free Consultation

Not sure which session is right for your family?
Schedule a complimentary consultation and we'll help you find the perfect fit.

Zero Risk, All Reward

Our Promise to Your Family

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Weather & Travel Safe

Rain on your session day? We find a clear location nearby or reschedule to your backup date at no cost. If we can't make it work during your stay, your deposit is refunded in full.

❤️

Love Your Portraits Promise

If you're not thrilled with your images, we'll come back and do it again at no charge. We've delivered over 1,400 five-star experiences, and we plan to keep that streak going with yours.

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Local Expertise

We Help You Choose the Right Spot on the Resort

The Mauna Kea Resort has more range than most families realize. Hapuna Beach and Kauna’oa Bay sit minutes apart and photograph completely differently, and the resort grounds work beautifully when nobody feels like walking. When you share your dates and where you are staying, we recommend the best one or two spots for your family.

Family walking hand in hand on white sand beach at golden hour

Hapuna Beach

Half a mile of soft white sand and wide open water. The light comes in low and warm across the whole beach in the last hour of the day.

Two young kids sitting on beach with tidepools behind them

Kauna’oa Bay

The crescent fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Gentle slope and calm morning water, our first pick for toddlers and big multi-generational groups.

A family of four sitting together on the grass at sunset

Private Residence

If you have rented a villa or a home, we come to you. The lanai, the pool deck, the yard in the last of the light, or the private beach access below the house. The easiest option with a newborn, a nap schedule worth protecting, or a group big enough that going anywhere becomes a project.

Tell us your travel dates and where you are staying and we will recommend the best spot for your family.

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Everything You'd Want to Know First

Common Questions

How much does a beach portrait session in Hawaii cost?
Our beach portrait sessions start at $749 for 20 digital images, chosen from 100+ proofs, with high-resolution downloads and a private gallery with 1-year access. Resort mini sessions start at $395 for 10 digital images. No hidden fees. A $250 deposit reserves your date and applies to your final investment.
How far in advance should I reserve my session?
We recommend reserving at least 2 to 4 weeks before your trip, and as early as possible if you're traveling during peak seasons like summer (June through August) and the holidays (Thanksgiving through New Year's). Sunrise and sunset time slots fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Last-minute reservations can sometimes be accommodated.
Are your beach sessions suitable for babies and newborns?
Absolutely! We photograph families with babies and newborns regularly and know how to pace a session around little ones. For very young infants, we typically recommend a private residence on the resort or Kauna'oa Bay, whose calm morning water and short walk keep things comfortable.
Where should we do the session?
It's a balance of several things like where your accommodations are, ease of access, parking, how busy the beach is, and more. On this resort that means Hapuna Beach, Kauna'oa Bay, or your own private residence, and we will recommend the right one for your family.
Do I need to be staying at a specific resort to book at a Kohala Coast beach?
For Hapuna Beach and Kauna'oa Bay, yes. Those come with staying at the Mauna Kea Resort, which is why we are the resort's portrait partner. If you have rented a private residence here, we come to you. Most other Kohala Coast beaches are public and open to everyone.
Do you offer maternity portrait sessions on the beach?
Yes, the beaches on the Big Island are stunning for maternity photography. We recommend reserving your maternity session between 28 to 34 weeks.
What should we wear for our Big Island beach family session?
We have a blog post about just this topic. Click here to read that article!
Do you photograph couples, engagements, or just families?
We photograph families of all shapes and sizes, including couples, engagements, and weddings.
What time of day can we choose for our beach portrait session?
Our beach portrait sessions are offered in the early morning at 7 AM and 8 AM or at sunset.
What happens if it rains? Can we reschedule?
In the rare case that the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll do our best to reschedule your session during your stay. We hold a backup date for every reservation, and overcast skies are actually beautiful, soft light for portraits. No need to reschedule at all for clouds.
Will our portraits be retouched?
The images you purchase will be professionally retouched, with colors enhanced and distractions removed.
When will we get our portraits?
We deliver proof images within 48 hours of your session and final images typically take another 48 to 72 hours.
Can we choose the images from our session?
Yes! We'll invite you back to select the images to include in your package.
What happens if my kids do not cooperate?
Our photographers are skilled at handling any situation that comes up during your session. We keep things fun and low-pressure, and the candid moments between the posed ones are usually the best images.
Will we get to see all of the images from our session?
You'll be able to view all of your digital proofs, but this doesn't include every single image taken. We curate the best moments for you to choose from.
Can we do an outfit change?
Yes, you can change outfits, but it may slow down the session. Neither Hapuna Beach nor Kauna'oa Bay has changing facilities near where we photograph, so we typically recommend choosing one great look. A private residence is the exception, since you can change as often as you like.
How are our images delivered?
We deliver your final digital images via a password-protected online gallery with 1-year access and watermark-free downloads.
What is a print credit?
The print credit included in some of our packages is a coupon to be used in our print store. It includes free shipping and is not redeemable at third-party labs.
Do we have to buy prints from you or can we print through a third party?
Your downloaded images will print great up to about 8x12. For larger prints (11x14 and above), we recommend using our print store to ensure the best quality.
Do you offer albums?
Yes, we have a self-design album tool in your gallery and also offer custom-designed handmade artisan albums.
Do you travel to different parts of the Big Island, or just Kona?
We are the portrait partner of the Mauna Kea Resort, so Hapuna Beach, Kauna'oa Bay, and private residences here are where we work most. We also serve the entire west side of the Big Island, including Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, and Kona.
What makes Hawaii Family Portraits different from other Big Island photographers?
We're a team of seven local photographers, not a one-person show. We focus on capturing genuine connection over posed perfection, deliver proofs within 48 hours so you can see your portraits before you fly home, and we're trusted by top resorts like Marriott, Hilton Grand Vacations, and Outrigger.
What should we expect on the day of our portrait session?
You'll meet your photographer at Hapuna Beach or Kauna'oa Bay, or at your door if you have rented a private residence, and sessions typically run 45 minutes to an hour. We handle all the logistics, location scouting, and timing so you can relax and enjoy being together. Just show up and let us take care of the rest.

Your Family. This Trip. This Age.

They're Only This Young Once

Every session is tailored to your family, no matter the size, the ages, or the energy level. We handle everything so you can be present for the moments that matter.

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Let's Make It Happen

Get In Touch

Ready to capture your family's time in Hawaii? Fill out the form and we'll get back to you quickly, usually within a few hours. We'd love to learn about your trip and help find the perfect session.

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Call or text: 808-215-9042
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Waikoloa Beach Marriott
69-275 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Beach, HI 96738

Serving the Kona Coast, Kohala Coast, Waikoloa, and all Big Island west side beaches.