Kauai Elopement Guide

For all you adventure lovers who don’t need much while traveling, this may be the best investment for your trip. Kauai Camper Rentals offers restored Volkswagen Westfalia full campers and camping supplies. The campervan sleeps two adults and is stocked with a two-burner propane stove, running water, two tables, and privacy curtains around the entire van. They hook you up with all the information you need for camping around Kauai.

Located on the western side of Kauai, these historic, restored plantation cottages are everything you’d hope for when staying close to the beach. Each cottage includes Hawaii-style furniture, a full kitchen, and a private lanai. You even have access to over two miles of black sand beach. With limited options for accommodations on the west side, these cottages are the perfect place to stay, especially if you plan your elopement in Waimea Canyon.

This beach house is ideal if you are looking for a larger space to accommodate a few family or friends on your elopement day. This brand new house is absolutely gorgeous with wood finishes throughout, outdoor showers, a backyard, hot tub, and private lanai and outdoor space for your family and friends to hang. Not to mention, this house is ideal if you are looking to cliff jump at Shipwreck Beach or enjoy any of the beaches near Poipu!

The garden cottage is perched on a bluff so that you can see the entire Wainiha River valley. This accommodation has a private pool and spa for you to enjoy during your stay. Imagine watching the stars from your hot tub after your elopement day! You can pick fresh fruit off the trees filling the property. And, if you are feeling the need to get in the ocean, you’re only about two miles from the beach! This is an ideal place to stay if you are looking to spend the majority of your time on the north shore of Kauai.

This house is one story with four bedrooms, a full bath with a tub and another bath with a shower. This is perfect if you have decided some friends and family to your elopement, and you are looking to elope close to Kapaa. At this accommodation, you will find an outdoor hot water shower, full kitchen, dishwasher, and a BBQ outside for grilling out! The tasteful and straightforward aesthetic of this house makes you feel right at home. 

Island Helicopters Kauai offers three different types of helicopter tours. The Kauai Grand Deluxe: Circle Island Tour includes flying over scenic areas like Jurassic Falls, Olokele Canyon, Waimea Canyon, Nā Pali Coast, Mt. Waialeale Crater and much more! They also offer the Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure, which is the Grand Deluxe Circle Island tour plus 25 minutes on the ground at “Jurassic Falls,” also known as Manawaiopuna waterfall! This company also offers private charters that you can book for your elopement day. 

If there ever was a time to learn how to surf, it would be on your elopement day in Kauai! Hanalei Bay is known for its smaller waves that make it really easy to learn on. Rent a board from Kauai Surfboard Rentals starting at $40 a day! This is the perfect morning activity after some adventure on your elopement day.

You can experience a romantic sunset sail along Na Pali Coast on a custom 65′ Star Class luxury catamaran if you book Captain Andy’s tours. This is a great evening activity to wind down your elopement day. You can enjoy freshly prepared dinner and cocktails while viewing some of Kauai’s most stunning scenery.

Choose from three tour options that each offer a different experience. Kipu Ranch Adventures offers the Ultimate Kauai Off-Road Ranch Tour and the Waterfall Triple Trail Expedition. In either of these tours, you will be able to ride through pastures, tropical valleys, and into the Hawaiian rainforest. You will be able to explore known movie locations, waterfalls, and wildlife along the way! They even offer private tours if you decide that an ATV adventure would be fun for your guests.

Rent your own kayak from Wailua River Kayak Rentals for a few hours on your elopement day. You can rent a double kayak and paddle to the Sacred Uluwehi Falls. You can pick up the kayaks between 8am and 10am and only need to return them by 4pm. Wailua River Kayak Rentals also give you the option to purchase a dry bag and cooler for an additional fee.

Hanalei is one of the most quaint, picturesque, and beautiful towns in all of Hawaii. The beach nearby is a large crescent golden bay surrounded by dramatic green mountains. This region is one of our favorite places for capturing ceremonies where the mountains meet the ocean. It’s perfect for couples that are staying on the North Shore!

Polihale Beach has some of the most dramatic coastline on the island. It’s the beginning of the famous Napali Coast with an expansive golden sand beach over six miles long! There are many spots along this large beach to have your private ceremony and escape the crowds. One of the best things about this beach is that it’s so far from the other main tourist attractions, so this location doesn’t often get too crowded.

Kalapaki Beach is located near Lihue in a protected cove. It’s perfect for couples that want to get married nearby several accommodation options and prefer not to drive far for their elopement ceremony. This location is typically very sunny and escapes the harsh weather conditions that are usually on the northern end of the island. There’s a mountain range across the bay which adds to the dramatic backdrop for a ceremony. We recommend getting married at sunrise to have the highest chance of privacy!

Poipu Beach is located on the southern tip of the island near the cute Hawaiian town called Koloa. This beach was actually ranked as one of the top ten beaches in the United States by the Travel Channel! There are several golden crescent bays lined with coconut trees and bright blue water. It’s a perfect location to capture trash-the-dress photos because the ocean conditions are often very calm!

Anini Beach is the perfect location to escape the crowds on the northern part of the island. It’s a beautiful beach with several private areas to share your vows. If you plan to stay in an Airbnb location in this region of the island, this would be the best option for a sunset ceremony. We love the slow pace of this location and would be ideal for an elopement ceremony with guests.

Okolehao Trail is one of the best trails on the northern side of the island. It has stunning views of the surrounding mountains, ocean in the distance, and Hanalei town below. The trail is best for experienced hikers who are comfortable climbing ropes and heading up steep trails. From the top of the highest viewpoint, you’re able to see 1/5 of the entire island!

Nounou Trail is located near Kapaa and is recommended for couples that want to hike a short and steep trail to stunning views above the ocean. It’s a popular hike in the area, so we recommend leaving early so that it’s not crowded at the top. The trail has a beautiful pine tree forest and there are many guavas and avocados along the path!

The Queens Bath Trail located near Princeville is a perfect short hike with dramatic black lava rock cliffs, a waterfall, and tide pools for swimming. This area is safest during the summer months when the trail is dry and the ocean conditions allow for swimming. We recommend wearing proper hiking shoes because the path can often be extremely muddy. It’s definitely an epic destination to add to your adventure list!

Awa’awapuhi Trail located within Waimea Canyon State Park has a once in a lifetime vista! It’s less busy than other trails in the state park, which allows you to have privacy for photos. The trail is wide and gradual for most of the hike. We recommend leaving early in the morning for a better chance of clear skies. It will take a few hours to hike, but it’s worth the effort!

The Kalalau Trail is one of the most famous hikes in the world! The views are absolutely stunning during the entire experience. There are dramatic mountains, towering waterfalls, and isolated hidden beaches. This is definitely recommend for experienced hikers because there are areas of the trail that are very thin with steep drops to the bottom of the valley. The entire trail is one of our favorite hikes in Hawaii!

We love the idea of hiring a private chef to prepare a meal for you at your accommodation! This dinner experience is ideal for couples that absolutely love the place they booked, and would prefer to go back to their cozy Airbnb and have a private chef prepare your wedding dinner for you. Farm Cook Kauai is an amazing private chef on the island of Kauai. Their culinary creativity is inspired by our local farmers, fishermen and ranchers, and their exceptional service is inspired by aloha.

I can’t imagine anything more perfect than a beach picnic after a full morning of adventuring! Parma Kauai offers fun, fresh, and unique grazing that’s delivered right to you. They provide cheeses, meats, olives, fresh fruit, and sweet and savory details. This would be perfect for a picnic type of experience for lunch!

This is a popular option for couples that prefer to get married at sunset and want to enjoy a private meal beside the ocean. We have worked with restaurants and resorts that offer a “Dinner Under the Stars” private dining option with a table surrounded by tiki torches in a secluded location on the property. You will be able to discuss meal options with the restaurant manager so that you can pre-order all of the courses that you would like to enjoy for dinner! The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa have several different private dining options you can view here.

Ordering room service at a resort in Kauai is a great option for a romantic private dinner on your hotel room balcony. Many of the meal options are similar to the fine dining restaurants available at your hotel property. This is a wonderful option if you prefer to have your elopement photographer capture dinner moments in a private and comfortable location. The hotel staff will be able to set up a dinner table on your balcony with proper linens, wine or champagne, and all of the delicious courses that you decide to order!

Oasis is a full bar and restaurant right on the ocean located in Kapa’a. With outdoor and indoor seating available, you will catch some incredible ocean views. Oasis is unique in that they serve a menu that features 85 percent locally produced food. If you are looking for a quaint and charming restaurant in Hanalei, definitely take a look at Postcards Cafe. Nestled in a plantation beach house, you will find a cozy atmosphere with a delicious menu including farm vegetarian options, ocean-to-table entrees and delicious desserts.

We recommend asking the restaurant manager to set up a private dinner away from other guests in the restaurant. This will allow us the opportunity to capture the special moments of your dinner celebration, while also giving you space and privacy during your meal.