Complete Hawaii Elopement Timeline Guide
Introduction
Congrats!! You and your partner have decided to elope on the Big Island of Hawaii and you are thrilled that you don’t have to stress over the typical wedding planning things – color schemes, seating charts, etc. However, now you’ve started to think about what you want your day to look like and you realize you need a Hawaii elopement timeline to guide your day. The Big Island is just that… big. So you have a ton of options for activities to include in your elopement day (or days) and now that is starting to feel overwhelming. Don’t worry friend, I’ve got your back and I’m here to help you plan the perfect Hawaii elopement timeline.
Table of Contents
- About the Big Island of Hawaii
- FAQs About Hawaii Elopement Timelines
- Planning Your Hawaii Elopement Timeline
- Hawaii Elopement Locations
- Hawaii Elopement Activities
- Sample Hawaii Elopement Timelines
- Hiring Your Hawaii Elopement Photographer & Videographer
About the Big Island of Hawaii
The Big Island of Hawaii, or just Hawaii Island, is the largest and easternmost island in the Hawaiian Island Chain. Because of its unique landscape, Hawaii is home to most climate types with the exception of frozen tundras (although it does snow on Mauna Kea). It’s also home to two active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Hawaii Island has a landscape for every type of couple – from deserts & old lava fields to lush rain forests & waterfalls. It’s the perfect island for couples to plan their Hawaii elopement, especially if you don’t want to choose just one type of landscape.
Major Cities on the Big Island of Hawaii
Kailua Kona
Kailua Kona is the city most visited on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s a coastal town on the west side of the island, notorious for incredible snorkeling, world-class Kona coffee, and a deep history with Hawaiian royalty. Being on the west side of the island, it is quite dry at sea level, but can be much rainier as you increase your elevation. And that is especially true in the winter months. However, most of the rain comes in short bursts and doesn’t last for days on end.
There is a major airport in Kona, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, that is an easy, less than 30 minute drive from the major attractions and accommodations in Kona. The airport is quite small, but has a great variety of options for flights in and out.
Waimea (Kamuela)
The cutest, hilliest little cowboy town you’ve ever seen. Waimea is home to Parker Ranch, one of the nation’s largest grass-fed cattle ranches. This cute little town definitely has the Paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy, influence on it and will make you feel more like you are in Montana than in Hawaii. The town has several great little farmer’s markets as well as adorable shops and restaurants. I LOVE Big Island Brewhaus. It’s a great, casual brewery and restaurant that features a ton of locally grown ingredients. Waimea is also a great stopping point if you’re planning to visit the north end of the island, including Hawi, Pololu Valley or Waipio Valley.
Hilo
On the east side of the island is the cute & historic town of Hilo. Being on the east side of the island, it gets a ton of rain which feeds the lush rainforests and abundant waterfalls. The Hilo International Airport is located conveniently close to the town and an easy drive from waterfalls and rainforests.
Volcanoes National Park
Literally, the crown jewel of the Big Island. Lol. If you know me, you know my obsession with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It’s beautiful and gorgeous and home to not one, but TWO active volcanoes – Kilauea & Mauna Loa. This national park is one of the lesser visited parks because of how remote Hawaii is. However, it is such an incredible location for spending time on your elopement day. Whether you actually elope in the park or just spend some time there taking portraits, I know you’ll be as obsessed with this place as me if you just give it a shot!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is just a 40 minute drive from the Hilo Airport and about 2 ½ hours from the Kona airport. It is in a a more remote area of the island, so if you are planning on visiting the park at all, I’d recommend staying closer to the park for a few nights. To read more about how to plan an elopement in Volcanoes National Park, check out this blog post: How to Elope in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Why plan a Hawaii elopement?
Like I mentioned before, the Big Island of Hawaii has such diverse landscapes. And that makes it perfect for any couple who wants to elope but doesn’t want to limit themselves to just one type of landscape. On the island of Hawaii you have everything from beaches & deserts to lush rainforest and even an adorable ranching town with real life Paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys).
What I love about planning Hawaii elopement timelines for couples is that it is so easy to build a custom, unique experience for every couple. No cookie cutter or one hour beach elopements around here! We’ll work together to create the elopement experience of your dreams.
FAQ’s About Hawaii elopement timelines
Can we get married anywhere we want on the Big Island?
No, you can’t choose just anywhere to elope on the Big Island. This land is sacred to the Hawaiian people, so there are places that are off-limits if you aren’t native Hawaiian. That being said, there are plenty of gorgeous locations on the Big Island that you can elope – traditional wedding venues, hiking trails & beaches.
Do we need a permit to elope on the Big Island?
Unless you are on private land, it is safe to assume you do need a permit to elope on the Big Island. Most public land requires permits for commercial activity. So, if you are paying anyone, even if it’s just your officiant, you’ll need a permit. But most of the permits are obtained by the planner, officiant, photographer, etc. There are some permits that the couples are required to apply for themselves. Wherever you choose to elope in Hawaii, be sure you ask whoever you are paying if you need a permit and who is responsible for obtaining the permit.
How do we legally get married on the Big Island of Hawaii?
The process of applying for and obtaining a marriage license in the state of Hawaii is not terribly complicated. However, you are required to meet with a licensing agent in person to obtain the license. There are very few licensing agents on the Big Island, so it’s extremely important that you schedule an appointment with an agent as soon as you have applied for your license and know the date of your travel and elopement. Read more about how to legally get married in Hawaii here: How to Legally Get Married in Hawaii
What is the best time of year to elope on the Big Island of Hawaii?
If you are eloping in Hawaii, chances are you are trying to avoid crowds and attention. I recommend planning your elopement based on school calendars. When kids are in school, there are likely to be fewer tourists here on the Big Island. The least busy times of year are February – April and September – early November. The weather changes from moment to moment and from mile to mile here. Because of the dramatic elevation and climate zone changes, you can go from desert to rainforest in less than 15 minutes of driving time. So it’s important to talk to your elopement planner and photographer about your vision to ensure the location you have chosen is ideal at the time of day and year you have in mind.
Planning Your Hawaii Elopement Timeline
When planning your Hawaii elopement timeline, the most important thing I want you to remember is that if you want to legally get married in Hawaii, you need to have an appointment with a licensing agent prior to your ceremony. There are only a handful of agents on the Big Island, so booking that appointment as soon as possible needs to be your number one priority.
6-12 months: Vision & Booking
- Define your vision for your elopement experience. Do you want:
- To invite guests
- A multi-day experience
- To include any Hawaiian culture in your ceremony
- To include beach and mountain/forest vibes
- To have an epic adventure (on a boat, a helicopter, etc.)
- To do any hiking
- Apply for your marriage license
- Book Your Vendors
- Book an appointment with a licensing agent ASAP!
- Book a photographer/videographer/planner
- Book an officiant
- Begin exploring travel and accommodation options
3-6 months out – Travel & Logistics
- Book all travel and accommodations
- Finalize your elopement timeline
- Ensure you and your vendors have applied for permits
- Purchase your wedding clothes
1-2 months out – Finalize details
- Confirm any guests who will attend
- Confirm details with vendors
- Confirm travel and accommodation bookings
1 week out – Wedding Week!
- Meet with the licensing agent
- Get to Hawaii and start soaking up your wedding week!
Hawaii Elopement Locations
The Big Island of Hawaii offers so many diverse environments that are perfect for your Hawaii elopement timeline. Below are some of my favorites in each category that are permissible for weddings
Beaches
Kona Side:
- Kikaua Point Park
- Kukio Beach
Hilo Side:
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
- Hakalau Beach Park
Rainforest/Waterfall Vibes
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Waldron’s Ledge
- Kilauea Iki Trail Overlook
- End of Chain of Craters Road
- Ha’akulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
I wrote an entire blog post about how to elope in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with tons of details about these four locations. Read more about it here.
Hawaii Elopement Activities
There are so many adventure and leisure activities you can include in your Hawaii elopement timeline. From touring a coffee farm to a helicopter ride above the volcano, there’s something for everyone.
- Helicopter Tour
- Hike across an old volcano crater
- Watch the sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea
- Snorkeling Tours
- Hike to one of four green sand beaches in the entire world
- Learn how coffee is grown in Kona
Sample Hawaii Elopement Timelines
When planning your Hawaii elopement timeline, there are limitless options for activities and ceremony locations. I love spending time getting to know couples before their elopement day to understand what they want to prioritize and then to plan a completely custom timeline that honors their desires while ensuring we do everything legally and respectfully.
Below are some options for Hawaii elopement timelines based on elopements I’ve helped other couples to plan. These timelines are completely customizable to what you and your partner desire for your Hawaii elopement.
1 – The Ultimate Adventure Elopement Weekend
- Day 1 – Kona
- 10:00am – Coffee Farm Tour
- 3:00pm – Helicopter tour with waterfall landing (ceremony here is optional)
- 6:00pm – Sunset on the beach
- 7:00pm Dinner
- Day 2 – Go to Volcanoes National Park
- 8:00am – Begin Driving the South Route towards Volcano
- 9:30am – Stop at South Point (optional hike to the Green Sand Beach)
- 3:00pm – Stop at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
- 4:00pm – Check In to Volcano Village AirBnB
- 7:00pm – Dinner at Lanikai Brewing
- Day 3 – Wedding Day!
- 6:00am – Get ready with your partner
- 9:00am – arrive at End of Chain of Craters Road for Ceremony
- 10:00am – explore the park & take epic photos
- 4:00pm – arrive back at AirBnB for private dining experience & celebration with your guests
2 – Volcanoes National Park Elopement
- 5:00am – Get ready
- 7:30am – Depart Volcano Village AirBnB
- 9:00am – arrive at End of Chain of Craters Road
- This location is great for a private feeling ceremony with epic views on the edge of the ocean
- Stay for portraits after your ceremony
- 11:00am – Drive to Kilauea Iki Trail
- Portraits on the trail & overlooking Kilauea
- 12:00pm – Drive to parking area for Waldron’s Ledge
- Easy, .4 mile hike to overlook for portraits and a picnic
- 2:00pm – Drive to sulphur banks
- More (steamy!) portraits
- 3:00pm – Drive back to AirBnB to rest before dinner
- 6:00pm – Dinner
- Private dining experience at AirBnB
- Casual dinner at Lanikai Brewing
- Drive to Hilo for more restaurant options
- 8:00pm – Return to AirBnB
3 – Waterfall & Beach Elopement
- 8:00am – Slow morning with partner – drink coffee & get ready together
- 11:00am – Arrive at Blue Hawaiian Helicopters for helicopter tour
- Waterfall landing is an option for ceremony
- Other helicopter options: waterfall tour without landing, whole island, volcanoes
- 3:00pm – Return to AirBnB to rest
- 5:30pm – Arrive at beach for sunset
- Ceremony and/or picnic & portraits
4 – Beach & Mountain/Forest Elopement
- 4:30am – Get ready
- 6:00am – Arrive at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach for sunrise ceremony on the beach & portraits
- 8:00am – Drive to Mauna Loa Overlook
- 10:00am – Forest portraits at the Mauna Loa Overlook
- 12:00pm – Return to AirBnB to rest
- 3:00pm – Head to Volcanoes National Park for hiking and more portraits (your choice of end of Chain of Craters Road or Kilauea Iki Trail
- 7:00pm – Dinner
Hiring Your Hawaii Elopement Photographer & Videographer
I love love.
Documenting couples on the day they commit their lives to one another is truly the honor of my life. I often have “pinch me” moments while I’m working with couples because I get to help them plan & document their most important day in my absolute favorite place in the world.
I specialize in working with couples who have prioritized choosing what feels right for their wedding celebration, even if that means bucking tradition. My couples often tell me they are “awkward in front of the camera”. My style of photography and videography is based on connection with you and your partner and any guests you choose to include on your elopement day. Of course, we’ll capture some really epic photos, but I’ll also prioritize documenting you, your partner and your people enjoying the moments of your elopement day.
I’m still relatively new to living on the big island. However, I am captivated by this island – the people, the culture, the land – all of it. I’ll share with you everything I know about the island and when there is something I don’t know, we’ll Google it together.
Planning a Hawaii elopement timeline with me starts with you and your partner telling me about how you like to spend time together, some of your favorite places you’ve been to together, and what it was that drew you to the Big Island of Hawaii for your elopement. From there, we’ll talk about locations that are possible for eloping, fun activities to include in your elopement experience, and how we’ll include any guest you may (or may not) be inviting. Next, I’ll create a timeline, get feedback from you and your partner, and we’ll refine it until we have a solid plan A & Plan B. From there, I’ll guide you on the permit process to ensure we’re doing everything legally and respectfully.
Ready to chat more about your custom Hawaii Elopement Timeline? Click the link below to schedule a free call!
