Year after year we’re amazed and inspired by the hundreds of images submitted to the annual HAWAI‘I Magazine Photo Contest—and this year is no different. From the Islands’ endemic species to its legendary surf breaks, these captivating images offer a glimpse into Hawai‘i’s dynamic landscapes. We recently launched a category dedicated to the island of Maui. More than two years have passed since the devastating and deadly Lahaina wildfires. As the West Side rebuilds, we’re in awe of the resilience and strength of the community, both of which are well-captured in this year’s contest. Featured in the next few pages are the winners in the categories of land, Maui, ocean, people, wildlife and sunsets, as well as the overall grand-prize winner.
A huge mahalo to Alaska Airlines and Waimea Plantation Cottages, which sponsored the prizes for this contest. Congratulations to the winners and the runners-up, and thank you to everyone who shared their images of our incredible Islands.
Grand Prize: Jason Hetzel
“This photo was taken on the Kaulana Manu Nature Trail on the Big Island. My wife and I were out photographing birds on the trail. On this particular morning, there were so many ‘i‘iwi (Hawaiian honeycreepers) flying around us, we were literally running back and forth past each other trying to get as many shots as we could.”
About the photographer: Hetzel is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a retired U.S. Army special operations officer. He resides on Hawai‘i Island with his wife.
Land
First Place: Grigory Heaton
“I took this photo on the Big Island, inside Kazumura Cave, the longest lava tube in the world, looking back toward one of the entrances. This particular visit was to photograph rare cave insects that live inside the lava tube, but I was happy to get this photo of the cave itself with the lush greenery surrounding the skylight.”
Runner-Up: Leighton Lum
“This was taken at sunrise after a morning rain shower. I was lucky enough to get the drone up in time to capture this circular rainbow.”
Maui
First Place: Daniel Sullivan
“On Sept. 8, 2023, exactly one month after the Lahaina fire, thousands gathered on Maui’s West Side for a paddle-out. A paddle-out is a traditional Hawaiian tribute to the life and legacy of people who have passed away. In most cases, the paddle-out is a floating memorial held in the ocean, where surfers honor someone they cherished. Carrying flowers and lei on top of their boards, thousands gathered to remember Lahaina and the lives of so many we lost. For the many of us there it felt like the first day we had begun to heal. For me this was the reason I love Maui so much—because of our community and because of our aloha.”
Runner-Up: Jarin Kobishagawa
“This photo is from the Baldwin vs. Lahainaluna high school football game on Sept. 30, 2023, at Wailuku’s War Memorial Stadium. In many ways, sports have served as a beacon of light in times of darkness, providing hope and comfort when needed—such as the Yankees’ first game after 9/11 or the Houston Astros’ return to play after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. This game seemed to bring Maui closer together after the wildfires and strengthened the community. After the game concluded, young fans dressed in Lahaina Strong attire eagerly awaited the chance to greet the players and cheer them on for persevering through their first game since the wildfires.”
Ocean
First Place: Eri Ragan
“This photo was taken during a mesmerizing moment when I encountered a large school of fish while free diving off the coast of O‘ahu. The sunlight streaming through the water highlighted the fish in motion, showcasing the serene beauty of the underwater world.”
Runner-Up: Jess Loiterton
“I’ll never forget this day: The bay was the biggest I’ve seen it—to this day. I decided to send my drone out into complete salt mist. I could barely see anything, and I had a second to snap the shot. I got beautifully lucky to capture a rare party wave!”
Sunrise & Sunset
First Place: Christian Crook
“My friend and I love exploring the 4WD trails above Lahaina. This was taken in July 2023, and it was our last sunset from this location before the fire destroyed our town just a few weeks later.”
Runner-Up: Brad Styron
“This shot was taken on May 15, 2023, just before sunset near the Kona Airport. I used a slower shutter speed to smooth out the water to show motion. I really love this location because you can explore tons of rock and reef formations to create stunning compositions.”
Wildlife
First Place: Leighton Lum
“This was taken at Electric Beach. We were lucky enough to stumble upon two monk seals playing in the water. This eventually turned into five monk seals over the course of an hour as they weaved between the divers.”
Runner-Up: Daniel Sullivan
“In the native ʻōhiʻa forests of Haleakalā, two ʻiʻiwi (scarlet Hawaiian honeycreepers) compete over ʻōhiʻa flowers rich in nectar. The curved beak of the ʻiʻiwi is the result of centuries of coevolution with Hawaiʻi’s native flowers. The ʻiʻiwi is an important pollinator of Hawaiʻi’s native forests and found nowhere else in the world.”
People
First Place: Michael Shakely
“I captured this shot at Pipeline just before sunset, when the golden light and sea spray came together to create this moment. I used a zoom lens to compress the scene and really bring out the layers.”
Runner-Up: Natalie Cunningham
“This image was taken at Pōkaʻi Beach [on Oʻahu] where my family from Australia spent a memorable day with this wonderful ʻohana. It was awe-inspiring to witness the spirit of aloha within their unit as they connected through play on a Sunday afternoon, and the cultural teachings from this were beyond valuable and eye-opening.”
This contest was originally published in our SPRING/SUMMER 2025 issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.
