Kauai is a slice of America nestled away in the subtropics, an island paradise, the oldest in the Hawaiian chain, just 25 miles long and 33 wide. It’s far less crowded than the other main Hawaiian islands. It’s also arguably more stunning. I’ve lived here fifteen years and I love it—temperate weather, warm water, incredible hiking, waterfalls, jungles and rivers, just perfect—except when I need to drive somewhere. There’s just one thoroughfare, and someone is always doing 37mph when 50 is posted. Only one lane. No way to overtake. Then the never-ending roadworks where workers without traffic education throw in your face a stop sign and keep it there for fifteen minutes. And god forbid there’s an accident; you might as well pack a sleeping bag.
I live in Princeville on the north shore. It’s the second favorite part of the island for tourists, which means all the shops and stores have tourist on their mind not local. So if I want to buy groceries at normal prices I have to drive 33 miles to Costco. I might also do Target and Home Depot, etc, so by the time I’m back home, I’ve just eaten 5 hours out of my day and I’m exhausted. Try that one 2 or 3 times a week!
Now to the point of this post. I’m a fairly active Kauai photographer, so I need to manage my time effectively. Because a slow road eats time, when I do a photo session in Poipu, the fee I charge is slightly higher than the fee for my Hanalei Bay photo shoots. Many of my clients who are staying in Poipu and Lihue make the drive up to Hanalei for a family photography session not because they save $200 (my travel/time expense fee) but because spending an afternoon or an entire day on the north shore is an endeavor well worth their time.
My online portfolio is https://sunsetsatthebeach.com/photography
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