Kauai locations
Shipwrecks Beach + Trail
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Hanalei Bay
Tunnels Beach + Haena Beach
Polihale State Park
Secret Beach
Kuilau Ridge Trail
Nāpali Coast
Waimea Canyon
Kauai is definitely one of the most jaw-dropping islands as far as its mountains and waterfalls...you can see them from the road as you drive around the island :) That being said, taking advantage of areas with views of the mountains can be really incredible!
Location Details
Nearest towns:
Poipu, Kalaheo, Koloa
Shipwrecks Beach + trail (Keoneloa Bay) - South shore
About:
Beautiful golden sand beach with a stunning rock formation as backdrop. A short hike through the forest takes you up to a cliff that makes for incredible photos! See more here:
Location Details
Nearest towns:
Princeville, Hanalei, Kilauea
Hanalei Bay (North Shore)
About:
If you want mountains and beach Hanalei Bay has a huge stretch of coastline surrounded by mountains on the North shore. It’s about 15minutes from Princeville which has lots of accommodation options. There are more people here but the beach is so big that you can always find a private area.
Location Details
Tunnels Beach (Makua) + Haena Beach (North Shore)
Nearest towns:
Princeville, Hanalei, Kilauea
About:
Northernmost beach with mountains and a golden sand beach :) Some native Hawaiian officiants I work with have requested we no longer hold ceremonies here to respect locals, however, it is a great location to take photos after your ceremony and pairs well with a ceremony at Hanalei bay.
Location Details
Polihale State Park (West Side)
Nearest towns:
Waimea
About:
One of my favorite places to camp on Kauai and just explore in general. Polihale just reopened after being closed for most of the pandemic and afterwards so I’m really excited to be offering it as a location again. Long stretches of endless beaches backed by the start of the Napali coast mountains as your backdrop. Many people 4x4 this coastline and if you are seeking somewhere remote and private, you are sure to be able to find your own spot on the beach :)
***If you want to get to this location, you need a jeep or 4WD vehicle. The road is easy to drive, just long and bumpy and if there has been heavy rain it can get really muddy. We don’t need to drive on the sand.
Closest places to stay:
Poipu, Koloa, Kalaheo
Location Details
Secret Beach (North Shore)
Nearest towns:
Princeville, Hanalei, Kilauea
About:
Steep trail to get down (no more than 5min down the trail) and then we can hike along up to 3 different coves and choose a more secluded area depending on tides. This would involve more of a scramble down and then changing into your outfits when we get to the beach area you would like to have your ceremony! If weather has been rainy, trail can be really, really muddy.
Location Details
Kuilau Ridge Trail (East side)
Nearest towns:
Kapaa, Wailua
About:
Lush green forest, and beautiful views of surrounding mountains and rain forest! There is an incredible spot here for a photo along the ridgeline surrounded by ferns. Seems like you don’t need to go too far to get to some epic views! .75miles in according to this video has some great vistas!
Location Details
Nāpali Coast (by boat or helicopter)
Nearest towns:
You can access the Napali coast by helicopter (Lihue), or by boat (departs from the North Shore near Hanalei or South shore near Waimea. If you are visiting during the winter time, you will 99% be departing from the south shore).
About:
The Nāpali Cost is one of the iconic views when one thinks of Kauai! To see the Nāpali Coast you can do so by boat, by helicopter tour, or by hiking. I tell all of my couples, even if you don’t want to incorporate this into your elopement day, it is a MUST while you visit Kauai 🙂
For elopements, and permits, the easiest way to do this is by boat or by helicopter tour (if you want to land at a waterfall).
By Boat:
If you want a Napali Coast boat ceremony or reception I strongly recommend booking in the summer (June/July)...May and August can be okay, but we start to get bigger waves in the spring and fall and HUGE waves in the winter which prevent the boat tour companies from going to the Napali coast and rerouting to a different area for safety instead and sometimes canceling.
There are lots of different companies to choose from but the most popular or unique tours involve exploring caves along the Napali Coast, hidden beaches, options to snorkel, and some tours go across to Niihau, one of the islands you can only see by boat.
Holoholo Kauai Boat Tours
Captain Andy’s
THIS ONE GIVES A PRICE ESTIMATE FOR THEIR PRIVATE CHARTER
Go Blue Adventures
Location Details
Waimea Canyon
About:
Most lookouts in Waimea Canyon are off limits for marriage ceremonies so getting photographs in this area requires a hike! If that’s your thing I think you will love this area!
Permits often take more time to process and get approved so we are more likely to get approved if we submit it at least 90days before your elopement date.
Here is one of the trails we can get approved for…about a 2 hour hike one-way! 4 hours round trip.
Awa'awapuhi Trail
Know before you go:
- Distance: ~6.7 miles round trip
- Duration: 4.5-5 hours
- Elevation gain: ~2000 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate - the hike back is uphill, but likely to be quicker than the hike downhill into the valley
Additional Notes:
- The trail is well-marked with .5-mile markers
- Bring trekking poles or find a sturdy walking stick on the trail for support
- Wear hiking sandals or shoes you don’t mind getting muddy
- Watch this video
