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Kauai Sites and Suggestions

Disclaimer:

The sites and suggestions listed on this page are chosen for their beauty and availability. Accessibility, weather and information on each area aren’t always mentioned. A good idea is to research at the library or local bookstore by picking out a guidebook for your chosen island. We highly recommend " The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook " and Hawaii: " The Big Island Revealed " for those two islands.

Order books at www.hshawaii.com

Our maps for each island should help somewhat with general logistics. It is recommended before making a final decision on a wedding site that either you or a trusted substitute view it in person, first. Public parks and beaches require permits that must be filed for as far in advance as possible. Please contact the island’s respective mayor’s information office for further info.

Kauai: 808-241-6303

Big Island: 808-961-8223

Maui, Molokai, and Lanai: 808-243-7587

Oahu: 808-523-4385

Additionally: Weather is an important factor. Typically the islands are often referred to as either windward or leeward. Windward being the side that faces the wind and leeward being the protected and typically, drier side. North shores and east shores are windward, while south and west shores are leeward. In addition the interiors of each island are generally mountainous and wetter than the coastal areas. Check out the University of Hawaii Weather pages for current weather conditions in Hawaii. Remember, this is the tropics. A typical day’s forecast will include light winds, sunny skies and passing showers--year round! Don’t be afraid to ask any of our listed vendors for information pertaining to their "neck of the woods", and as a picture tells a thousand words we’ve highlighted certain text/photo links throughout our island introductions and these sites and suggestions pages.



About the island of Kauai: some people have heard that it’s always raining here. While it remains true that we are the wettest of the islands, we are also, in this editor’s opinion, the most lush and beautiful -- The good news is most of the rain happens at night!

Despite the passing showers no site should be overlooked simply because of rain. The resulting rainbows and waterfalls of would be a shame to pass up. Instead, I would suggest being prepared and having a (covered) backup plan if necessary.

Let’s start with the north side of the island and work clockwise.

The NORTH SHORE is the most lush of the island and features the Na Pali coast mountains as a backdrop. Because of this, the north shore has many dazzling sites to behold. Most of those sites aren’t exactly destinations as many are only views from the side of the road, but these lookouts would make great photo additions for the happy couple, perhaps en route to your reception!

Limahuli Gardens at the end of the road is lovely (808) 826-1053, and the views from Kilauea Lighthouse (808) 828-1414 are spectacular! Want a big fancy ceremony? Why not try the highly praised Princeville Resort or Hanalei Bay Resort . If you are adventurous try looking at our "Exotic Weds" listing in the directory. There you will find companies that will marry you at a remote waterfall accessed by helicopter, or on the water by the incredible Na Pali coast by boat. How about on horseback by one of the commercial stables available here?

Interested in a sunset ceremony? Try one of these fabulous beaches: Ke’e at the end of the road, Tunnels, Lumahai or Hanalei Bay have all been featured in movies such as From Here To Eternity and South Pacific. Other Northeasterly sites include Anini Beach or Moloaa Bay . If you are not intimidated by nude beaches, two more choices are the beautiful sands of Secret Beach or Donkey Beach ; however, they are hard to get to. Secret Beach is accessed by a ten minute walk and Donkey Beach is accessed by four wheel drive through cane fields.

The EAST SHORE has the densest communities from Kealia down through Lihue , yet there are many accessible and lovely sites here. If you are interested in a church ceremony this area has the highest number available (see our Church & Clergy section on the directory).

Non-church weddings have many possibilities here as well and have the benefit of being close to many restaurants and other resources for after ceremony celebrations. The Wailua River would be my first choice on this side, perhaps riverside or at the beach at the mouth of the river. There are also a couple of private river boat companies that can provide trips and ceremony at Fern Grotto or on private property which features gardens and luaus for one of the companies. Good beach ceremony sites are Kealia, Lydgate Beach Park (which has a county park and pavilion) or scenic Kalapaki Bay beach which also fronts one of the islands lovelier resorts.

Moving towards the SOUTH SIDE of the island you will find Kilohana Plantation with it’s beautiful Gaylord’s Restaurant, or one of Poipu beach areas fine resorts are all perfectly suitable. For a more relaxed atmosphere, there are several gorgeous tropical gardens around the entire island. Check with National Tropical Botanical Gardens: Lawai Gardens and Allerton Gardens (808) 742-2623, and Olu Pua Gardens (808) 332-8182. For beach sites, the Southwest to Westerly side of the island feature the most dramatic sunsets. We suggest, Poipu Beach Park as the most accessible however, Maha’ulepu Beach is positively breathtaking but, unfortunately requires a drive through cane fields and dirt roads and closes at sunset. There are also no facilities there of any kind.

Some of the resorts feature full facilities while also benefiting from being beach front properties. Lawai Beach is certainly one of the less expensive ones while it also has a top notch restaurant beach front as well.

Last but not least we have the WEST SHORE of Kauai. Here lies Waimea Canyon/Kokee county park feature a lovely lodge and some awesome lookouts for vow exchange. Waimea Canyon has been referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. For the adventurous why not try to charter a helicopter from Inter-Island and take those vows high in the mountains amid the backdrop of a privately owned waterfall. Sunset Beach Ceremonies: Salt Pond Beach Park and Polihale Beach both have county facilities, though Polihale requires a long ride through the cane fields.