How to Elope on the Big Island of Hawaii
If you’ve ever thought that eloping in Hawaii sounds like the perfect way to get married, then you’re in the right place! My name is Brianna and I’m an elopement photographer and videographer based on the Big Island of Hawaii. I help self proclaimed “awkward in front of the camera” couples plan their dream elopement on the Island of Hawaii. In this blog post we’ll go over everything you need to know about how to elope on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Where is the Big Island of Hawaii?
Before you jump into planning a dreamy Hawaiian elopement, it’s so important for you to learn a little bit about where the Big Island is. The Big Island of Hawaii is actually the Island of Hawaii. It’s the easternmost island of the Hawaiian island chain. It’s also the largest – hence the nickname, “Big Island”.
The Big Island can be thought of in terms of its two major cities: Kailua Kona & Hilo. Kailua Kona, often simply called Kona, is on the west side of the island. It tends to be much more dry and has more of the beachy, desert feel to it. Hilo is on the east side of the island and gets significantly more rain than Kona. While there are still beaches on the Hilo side of the island, because of the rain this side of the island has a much more lush and rainforest-y feeling. There are also plenty of waterfalls on the Hilo side as well as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Major Cities and Areas on the Big Island
Kailua Kona
- Kona Coffee Farms
- Ali’i Drive & The Pier
- Holualoa Artist Village
- Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
- Kealakekua Bay
- Captain Cook Monument
- Pololulu Valley
- Kikaua Point Park
- Kukio Beach
Hilo
- Rainbow Falls
- Coconut Island
- Waipio Valley Overlook
- Lili’uokalani Gardens
- ‘Akaka Falls
- Kaumana Caves
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
How to Travel Around the Big Island
Knowing that the Big Island is in fact big, here are some things you want to consider as you start to plan your travel around the island.
Major Airports on Hawaii Island:
There are two major airports on Hawaii Island, or the Big Island. One is in Kailua Kona and the other is in Hilo. While both airports are on the smaller side, they are generally quite easy to travel through and have plenty of flights going in and out of the airports regularly. Security lines in each airport are generally quite short, making travel into and out of the airports relatively painless!
How to Travel Around Hawaii by Car:
Having a rental car on the Big Island is an absolute must. The Big Island is actually quite large and the major attractions are quite spread out, so having a rental vehicle is almost necessary to be able to see more of the island. And if you’re going to rent a car, you might as well upgrade to a four wheel drive vehicle. Most rental car companies offer four wheel drive vehicles which is convenient for several beaches that have a more rugged access. It’s also a necessity for taking a day trip to the summit of Mauna Kea. But be sure to check with your rental car company ahead of time to ensure beaches and Mauna Kea are permitted.
You definitely cannot rely on ride shares like Uber or Lyft or even Taxis because there just aren’t enough of them to reliably get around the island. Public transportation is technically an option, but again is not ideal for getting around the Big Island.
Why Should You Elope on the Big Island of Hawaii?
The Big Island of Hawaii is truly a dreamy place for any outdoors lover. You have the best of beaches, mountains, and cool geology (hello Volcanoes National Park!!) on the Big Island without the crowds and touristy feeling that you can often get when you visit Maui or Oahu. The Big Island really embodies the spirit of aloha, welcoming visitors especially those who come and show aloha with no expectations. So if you are someone who is mesmerized by beautiful natural landscapes, values native cultures, and loves to feel like a bit of a local in the place you visit, eloping on the big island of Hawaii may just be the perfect place for you to elope.
Legalities of Eloping in Hawaii
If you want to be legally married in the state of Hawaii it’s important you know how to do so legally. Getting married in Hawaii isn’t a terribly difficult process, but there is one step that can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you don’t plan ahead. The good news is that there is no U.S. citizenship or residency requirement to get married in Hawaii! The most critical thing is to have with you is a valid photo ID. There is also no waiting period for marriage license once you have applied.
Apply Online
Prior to your wedding day, you’ll need to apply online for a marriage license through Hawaii’s Department of Health website:
Hawaii Marriage License Application
You’ll need to have the following information for both you and your spouse-to-be to complete the application:
- Legal name
- Date and place of birth
- Name change(s) after the ceremony (if applicable)
- Father & Mother’s names (including maiden), place of birth, and date of birth
- Ceremony location and date
- Officiant name
Once you submit your application, you’ll be given a Locator ID. It’s important to keep this number in a safe place.
Schedule an Appointment with a Licensing Agent
No more than 30 days prior to your ceremony date, you’ll need to meet with a licensing agent. This person will review your photo ID, application, and any other documents needed, and then will issue your license to you.
Now, while I absolutely love that most things are on island time in Hawaii, there’s no doubt that it is frustrating to try to get something done when you are on a tight timeline and the few people who can help you are on island time. The sooner you apply for your license, the sooner you can schedule your appointment to meet with the licensing agent. They have very limited availability, so it’s critical to apply and schedule your appointment ASAP.
To make your life easier in case rescheduling with the licensing agent becomes necessary, I suggest scheduling your appointment shortly after you arrive in Hawaii.
Meeting with the Licensing Agent
When you do meet with the licensing agent, BOTH partners must be present and meet in-person. You’ll need to bring a copy of your confirmation email, your Locator ID number, and your $65 US application fee. This meeting should be quick and easy if you have all necessary documents and your license will be issued immediately during the appointment.
Work with Your Planner & Officiant
Having a planner who lives on island and is connected to the local wedding and elopement vendor community will help you to connect with the right team to make your elopement dreams come true. It’s important to note that only licensed officiants can legally perform a marriage ceremony in Hawaii.
If you plan to bring your own officiant, they can apply for a 60-day license here:
It’s a good idea to double-check with local authorities in your country of residence for any additional requirements to recognize the marriage.
The good news is you’re already one step closer to marrying your person and by becoming familiar with the marriage license process, you’ll be ready to say, ‘I do’ in no time! Hawaii’s marriage license process doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but you’ll want to get started on the process earlier than later.
Best Time of Year to Elope in Hawaii
If you’re getting married in Hawaii you probably value two things, enjoying nature without insane crowds and warm, tropical weather. And luckily for you, the big island is perfect for that!
Tourism
There are definite tourist seasons in Hawaii. And the easiest way to think of the busiest times of year in Hawaii are to think of the typical school holidays like summer break, winter break and spring break. Those times of year – June, July and August, the week between Christmas and New Year, and March are all quite busy for tourism.
Weather
The weather is typically quite mild and warm in Hawaii year round. Of course the summer months are warmer with more humidity, but if you’re avoiding tourists you’ll avoid the hottest weather. Conversely, the winters are quite mild and warm, but are generally rainier than the summer time.
Best Locations for Your Hawaii Elopement
Volcanoes National Park
I’ve already mentioned Volcanoes National Park in this blog, but it really is worth mentioning again. This park is so beautiful and full of history. There are several incredible locations within the park where you can have your wedding ceremony that are quite unique.
- Waldron’s Ledge – this spot overlooks the currently active Kilauea Caldera. It’s a generally less visited overlook area and can feel quite private. It’s an easy .4 mile walk from the parking area to this overlook. If Kilauea is erupting, this overlook can be quite busy because of the incredible views it offers.
- Kilauea Iki Overlook – Part of the Kilauea Iki hiking trail, the overlooks are quite beautiful with lush green ferns and tall ohia trees making you feel like you’re in a Jurassic Park movie. The overlooks are beautiful, but are not very private as they are part of a popular hiking trail. Going earlier in the morning to this spot can lessen the number of people you encounter at the overlooks.
- Hilina Pali Overlook – This remote area of the park overlooks the ocean with desert-like landscape. It’s perfect for couples who really value privacy
- End of Chain of Craters Road – Holei Sea Arch, Grove of Palm Trees, dramatic cliffs & lava fields
- Mauna Loa Lookout – At 6600 feet above sea level, this spot overlooks Kilauea, the ocean and forests. And because this part of the park is not within the main gates, it’s also less frequently visited.
The closest airport to Volcanoes National Park is the Hilo airport, only 45 minutes away. The Kona airport is about 2 and ½ hours from the Park. One downside to the park (depending on how you look at it) is that it is in a more remote area of the big island. There are only a few options for restaurants and hotels near the park.
Of course if you choose to get married in the national park, a permit is required. When you hire me, I’ll guide you through the process, but you can find more information about special use permits here: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/management/special-use-permits.htm
Kikaua Point Park
On the Kona side of the airport is my absolute favorite beach for small weddings and elopements – Kikaua Point Park. This beach is only 20 minutes from the airport and the Waikoloa resort area and 30 minutes from the heart of Kona.
Kikaua Point Park is a large beach with a sandy, crescent shaped lagoon, beautiful palm trees and a green lawn space overlooking the ocean. This beach also has incredible lava rock formations that go out into the water. Even during the slowest times of year, the best time to get married at this beach are early in the morning and in the evening to avoid the beach going crowds.
Permits are required for any commercial activity on this beach. When you book your elopement with me, I take care of getting the permit for you and all permit fees for beaches are covered in your session fees.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
The world famous Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is on the Hilo side of the island, just south of Volcanoes National Park and about halfway between the Hilo and Kona airports. This black sand beach was formed when lava flowing from Mauna Loa flowed into the cold ocean. The quick temperature change resulted in a violent reaction where the lava hardened and burst into tiny grains of sand.
With this beach being world famous, you can imagine that it gets quite busy with tourists wanting to experience a black sand beach. However, if you get there early in the morning, you’ll find the beach is quiet and peaceful. You can often find green turtles basking on the beach, too!
Of course, to get married on this beach you’ll need a permit and I’ll take care of that for you. The permit fees are included in all of my elopement packages.
Where to Stay on the Big Island of Hawaii
Lodging is quite abundant on the Big Island of Hawaii. There is a wide array of hotels and resorts as well as AirBnBs and VRBOs in the Kona and Hilo areas.
Hotels on the Kona Side
For a hotel near Kona, I suggest:
- Marriott King Kamehameha
- Royal Kona Resort
- Outrigger Resort
- For a resort near Kona, I suggest:
- Four Seasons
- Kona Village, Rosewood
In the North Kona/Waikoloa area, you can find more upscale hotels like:
- Mauna Lani
- Fairmont Orchid
- Hilton Waikoloa
Where to Stay in Hilo/Volcano:
In Hilo:
- Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo
- Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
In Volcano Village:
- Volcano House – INSIDE the park
- Volcano Inn – just outside of park
What to do on the Big Island: Fun Activities
I’m often asked by couples and their families what else they should plan to do while they are eloping on the big island. And I love to break down what you should do into three categories:
- Do Something on the Water
- Manta Ray Snorkeling at Night – Trust me when I say this one is worth conquering fear for. Snorkeling with Manta Rays is one of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had. Mantas are gigantic and graceful and being in the water near them while they feed (only on plankton!) is really quite magical. I can’t recommend this activity enough while you are on the big island for your elopement.
- Fishing – Kona is the blue marlin capital of the world! If you or your partner are into fishing at all, this is likely a bucket list fish for you to catch. There are plenty of charters that operate on the Kona side of the island and fish exclusively for this pelagic species. And if you just want to catch fish while in Hawaii, there are plenty of charters that specialize in catching plenty of other species, too.
- Kayaking to the Captain Cook Monument – The marine life is protected around this monument meaning there is nearly always lots of life to see along the reed.
- Regardless of what you choose to do on the water, be sure you use reef safe sunscreen. If you wait until you arrive in Hawaii to buy your sunscreen, you’ll know you are getting a reef safe formula that protects Hawaii’s fragile coral reef ecosystem.
- Do Something above the clouds
- Helicopter – I absolutely love taking a helicopter tour of the island. There are several options for routes that you can take, but my personal favorite is the waterfall tour. It’s such an incredible way to see the island from above. And the pilots are all incredibly knowledgeable about the island and intentional about creating a wonderful experience for their guests.
- Mauna Kea – Mauna Kea is such an incredible, spiritual place. Before I talk about what I love about it, I want you to know that this is sacred land in Hawaii and if you do decide to go there, please be reverent. That said, I do love going to the summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sun set. If your rental company allows your vehicle to go up to Mauna Kea, you can take that four wheel drive vehicle to the summit with some planning. Otherwise, there are plenty of reputable tour companies that provide you with everything you need to enjoy sunset and stargazing on Mauna Kea.
- Kona Coffee Farm – While you’re not technically above the clouds on a coffee farm, a few of them are located at higher elevations. It’s such a cool experience to learn about how coffee is grown, sorted & roasted.
- Do Something on the land
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – You knew I had to talk about this. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is such an incredible place. Again, a place with a lot of cultural significance, so reverence is key there. There are so many incredible places in the park where you can have your wedding ceremony, including overlooking the currently erupting Kilauea volcano. I can stress enough how incredible this national park is. New earth is literally being formed in the park as I write this blog.
- Waterfalls – On the Hilo side of the island are several beautiful waterfalls that are relatively easy to access. Rainbow Falls is the easiest to access and is a very short walk from the parking lot to the overlook area. ‘Akaka Falls is a dramatic, tall waterfall within a state park. It’s a longer walk through a beautiful rain forest area to the viewing location of the waterfall.
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 and how incredible that I can call this my business and my work.
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 are also self proclamed as “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.
And though I’m still relatively new to living on the big island, 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.
Ready to begin your Big Island Elopement Planning? Let’s connect! I help couples plan and photograph their dreamy Big Island Elopements.
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