A First Birthday on a Quiet Kona Beach

A few days before the first birthday, the plan was a private spot at the resort: a small celebration with just the three of them, and about an hour of photos around sunset.

The day before, they went to look at the spot and it wasn’t quite right. They asked if I knew somewhere else in Kona, and I suggested the Four Seasons public beach in Ka’ūpūlehu. It’s a soft-sand beach on the Kona side of the Big Island. It’s quiet, there’s room to spread out a blanket, and the sunset faces open water. There’s no reservation, and the drive from the resort is about twenty-five minutes. We kept the same time.

We met at 5:30. Sunset that evening was around 6:10, so we started with family photos while the light was still golden. Mom and dad held their daughter close, she looked at the camera with her serious one-year-old face, and then she got a ride up in the air with the sky going pink behind her.

The cake came out afterward, a little blue-and-green adventure cake, and she met it the way a one-year-old does.

Birthday photos can feel like they need a perfect setup. This one didn’t. A blanket, a cake, some sand, and the last light was enough, and moving to the beach made it better.

If you’re planning a first birthday in Kona

• Start about 45 minutes before sunset, so the family photos happen in golden light and the cake comes second.
• Bring a blanket and whatever you want in the photos. Simple props keep things easy.
• Keep a backup location in mind. Wind, crowds and shade change from day to day, and a quiet beach is a good fallback.

If you’re planning a first birthday or family session in Kona or Hilo, you can see more of my work on the family photographer page or get in touch.