Claire + Jordan | Mokoli'i Adventure Session | Hawaii Wedding Photographer

One of the very first couples I shot out here in Hawaii was Claire and Jordan. It was several years back - they were still going to school. So much has happened since then. They’ve gotten married, moved to Utah during COVID, then they came back to Hawaii for a bit, and now they’re heading back to Utah again. We did this shoot a few days before they left.

I’m always looking for any way to do an adventure session with couples. There’s something so fun and meaningful about creating an experience out of your shoot. This one was a MAJOR adventure. First, you have to kayak out from Kualoa Regional Park. Then, after about 15 minutes of hard core paddling, you get to Mokoli’i Island (aka Chinaman’s Hat). This island is a beautiful little oasis on the east side. There’s a short but very steep hike to the top. There’s also a beautiful little beach with some rock formations that’ll blow your mind.

This felt like the perfect session to really utilize film. The bright light and constantly changing weather conditions (as you’ll see in the gallery) is something that the latitude of film can handle wonderfully. We even experimented with some underwater film at the end. It was a BLAST.

This whole session was just a blast. Of course, I love to get out and move around outdoors, but hiking and kayaking isn’t nearly as fun by yourself. Claire and Jordan were willing to do anything and everything. They are kind, gracious, humble, and always so positive. I only wish they weren’t leaving so we could hang out more! But I’m genuinely happy for them and this next season in their lives. We’ll just have to visit them in Utah!

This one was unforgettable! Hope you enjoy!

Shot on digital, film, and Polaroid