Why Elope in Volcanoes National Park?

If you’re dreaming of an adventurous elopement that feels like stepping into another world, then look no farther than Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. With lush tropical rainforests, sprawling lava fields, sweeping ocean views, and occasional active lava flows this national park is a true treasure and an ideal location to say, ‘I do’.

Whether you want to hike to remote areas of the park, drive to easily accessible yet beautiful landscapes, or a combination or the two, Volcanoes National Park has something for everyone. You can say ‘I Do’ overlooking a lush tropic rainforest, with lava erupting nearby, or even on the cliffs above the powerful Pacific ocean.

Best Locations for Eloping in Volcanoes National Park

Kilauea Iki Trail

This trail is a 3.2 mile loop with a nearly 800 foot elevation gain. When hiking this trail, you’ll descend through a lush tropical rainforest to cross the floor of the Kilauea Iki Crater and finally back up through lush tropical rainforest. The popular trail is well maintained with several scenic stops within .5 miles of the trailhead for those who don’t feel up to the entire 3.2 mile hike. To learn more about this hike, check out The Kilauea Iki Trail Guide courtesy of the National Park Service.

During a 5 week long eruption during 1959, a lava fountain surged 1,900 feet above the vent and created a lava lake, across which visitors to the park can hike. The eruption was quite destructive, but evidence of new life is visible throughout the trail. Want to see photos from the 1959 eruption? Check out these photos courtesy of the National Park Service.

Kilauea Overlook

Whether or not there is active lave flowing from Kilauea, the overlook is a stunning place to take in the power of Madam Pele. There is an easy 1 mile out-and-back trail along Old Crater Rim Drive that leads to an overlook of the Halema’uma’u Crater. If lava is flowing, this is one of several overlooks we can stop at to see the eruption.

Chain of Craters Road

The road that leads to the ocean is an 18-mile road called Chain of Craters Road. It leads from the main entrance of the park to the end of the road where the Holei Sea Arch can be viewed from. There are numerous stops along the road for hiking, picnicking, viewing archeological sites, and taking in breathtaking views.

You can learn more about the Chain of Craters Road here.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

While not technically within the limits of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is just a short drive from the park entrance and boasts not only a stunning black sand beach, but also a beautiful pond surrounded by lush forest with banyan trees and a picturesque field with a pu’u in the background.

How Do We Elope Respectfully in Volcanoes National Park?

When you arrive in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, it’s easy to get swept away by the beauty of the park. It is a national park for a reason, but it’s also a very significant place to the Hawaiian people. One of the best ways to honor that significance is to learn about what makes the land special to the Hawaiian people. I’ll share my own (limited) knowledge with you during our day and will gladly seek out more information from park rangers during our day. If you want to learn more now about the History & Culture inside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, check out this page.

All of Hawai’i is culturally sensitive, but there are quite a few locations within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park that are sacred to the Hawaiian people. With that in mind, those locations are off limits to visitors, even those who want to get married inside the park.

If you choose to elope inside the park, it’s important to abide by Leave No Trace principles. When you book your elopement with me, I’ll ensure we follow those principles regardless of which location you choose.

What do You Need to Know Before Planning Your Volcanoes National Park Elopement?

If we are anything alike (and I’m assuming we are since you are here), you don’t love a crowd. You want everyone to be able to enjoy the park – that’s why the national park system was created, of course – but you also want to take in the natural beauty of national parks without feeling like you are in a theme park. I get that.

When to Elope in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

When you’re planning your elopement in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, you’ll want to avoid the peak tourist seasons. Luckily, the temperature is quite consistent year round in Hawai’i with only moderate fluctuations to daily temperatures.

Peak Months:	Slow Months:
March, June, July, August, December	February, May, September, October

What to Wear & Bring

What you should wear will really depend on the activities you choose to include in your day. If you plan to do any amount of hiking, I will bring my pop-up changing tent with us so you can hike in comfortable clothes and be able to change in privacy into your wedding clothes. I recommend wearing shoes appropriate for the amount of hiking you plan to include in your day. If you have dress shoes or heels, I recommend packing them in with us and putting them on for a ceremony or photos if the terrain allows. This area of the island also receives a great deal of rain and tends to have cooler temperatures. You’ll want to bring a rain jacket and/or a light jacket. Don’t worry, I’ll pack cute umbrellas, rain ponchos and hand warmers, just in case!

Depending on what package you book, I supply a light picnic meal. I’ll also bring some water, but recommend you bring any snacks or other drinks you like to have during hikes.

Where to Stay

There are so many options for where to stay when you plan to elope in Volcanoes National Park. You can stay within the park at Volcano House. For military personnel, the Kilauea Military Camp is a quaint & cozy option within the park. There are plenty of BnB options available in the area surrounding the park. You can also choose to stay in a hotel in Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of these areas. Luckily, when you book your elopement with me I offer guidance in choosing the perfect area to stay based on your vision for your trip.

Are There Permits or Legal Requirements for Eloping in the Park?

Yes! As with any legal marriage ceremony, a marriage license is required to get married in Hawai’i. If you want to learn more about how to obtain your license, check out this blog post.

Couples will also need a Special Use Permit to get married in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. These permits must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to your planned ceremony date. Don’t worry! I’ll help you through that process after you book with me.

Why Does Hiring a Local Photographer Make a Difference?

Because I live on the island, I get to spend time in the park exploring ceremony locations, talking to park rangers, and imagining up the perfect elopement timelines for the unique desires of each of my couples. I enjoy creating and testing possible timelines for my couples to ensure we are making the most of our time together during elopement days.

I also handle the planning and permit process, provide you with guidance to obtain your marriage license, and support you with the logistics for your day.

Ready to Plan Your Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Elopement?

If you’re ready to start planning your Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Elopement, let’s connect! Use the link below to fill out my contact form or you can email me directly at Brianna@LunaSoulPhoto.com