Oahu Elopement Guide

For all you adventure lovers who don’t need much while traveling, this may be the best investment for your trip. Hawaii Surf Campers offers restored camper vans (mostly VW buses) that can bring you the adventure you’ve been looking for. Most of their campervans are pretty basic in aesthetic, but they provide everything you need to travel around the island: a bed to sleep, stove to cook on, kitchen supplies, a shower hose.

Because Airbnb’s are reserved for monthly rentals on Oahu, we highly recommend staying in a unique boutique hotel such as the Laylow during your time on Oahu. Consider the Laylow a perfect little paradise where mid-century modern design and Hawaii’s charm are combined to create an incredible vacation experience. Located in downtown Waikiki, you are only a five-minute walk from Waikiki Beach and a 3-mile drive from Diamond Head Crater Hike.

We love the 1960’s vibe this boutique hotel gives us! With only 112 bungalows and suites, this hotel has a bit of a more intimate feel. Not to mention, this hotel is home to the apparel shop (& your morning coffee fix), Oliver & Oliver, as well as one of Ed Kennedy’s newest restaurants, Mahina & Sun’s.

Located on the North Shore, you get to enjoy amazing sunsets in your fully remodeled oceanfront bungalow. This would be a great option if you are having a few family and friends join you for your elopement. You could have your own separate space while still having your family on the same property.

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, Turtle Bay is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the calmer pace of Oahu’s North Shore. And the best part about this resort?! You have an ocean view from every room!  You can enjoy five miles of coastline just minutes from your room. This is an awesome option, especially if you plan to elope on the north shore!

Blue Hawaiian offers private charter flights that would be perfect for your elopement day. Couples who have charted a private tour in the past have combined their ride with an activity once they land. Whether it’s a horseback ride, a luxury picnic, or a zipline excursion, you can design your helicopter tour to be a complete adventure!

If there ever was a time to learn how to surf, it would be on your elopement day! Waikiki Beach is known for its smaller waves that make it really easy to learn to surf. Check out Ty Gurney Surf School to set up a surf lesson! The best part is that you can book private lessons where you will have 1-on-1 instruction from the surf experts!

Check out this private sunset sail with Waikiki Catamaran Charters! Whether you are looking for a perfect way to end your elopement day with just you and your partner or with a few family and friends, this sunset sail is exactly what you may be looking for! You can have a private chef prepare delicious appetizers or a gourmet dinner for you and your partner. We love this option for a more intimate and private experience to end your day!

Rent your own kayak from Active Oahu Tours & Activities for a few hours on your elopement day. You can rent a double kayak and paddle to Mokoli’i, which many people know as Chinaman’s Hat. This tour company will provide you with kayaks, seatbacks, life vests, dry bags, safety equipment, and private instruction before you head out. We would recommend this type of experience for a couple who is comfortable kayaking and has experienced a self-guided kayak tour before.

Kualoa Ranch is the epitome of incredible Hawai’i landscapes! Jurassic Park was actually filmed here! Kualoa Ranch offers an incredible private adventure experience where you get to access an exclusive tour of the property while zooming around on ATVs during the 2.5 Hour Raptor Tour.  Make sure to bring an extra pair of clothes because these rides can definitely get muddy!

Sandy Beach is located on the Southeast shore of O’ahu and is only thirty minutes from Waikiki. This beach is located at the bottom of Koko Crater, also known to Hawaiians as Kohelepelepe. It is one of the only sandy beaches along this rocky coastline. This beach is also popular among locals who bodyboard and bodysurf the shore break, so we recommend visiting early in the morning.

At around 3 miles long, this beach is one of the longest stretches of white sand beach on Oahu. We love that this beach is backed by ironwood trees, which provide amazing shade! Another really beautiful aspect of this beach is that you have the Ko’olau mountains and several islands in the distance. This is also one of the only beaches that allow you to set up an arch and chairs for your guests (on weekdays) if you decide to elope here with a few family and friends.

Lanikai Beach Park on Oahu is a half-mile stretch of beautiful sand and palm trees, which looks out over the crystal clear waters. Two islands called “Na Mokulua” less than a mile offshore create a beautiful paradise atmosphere on this beach. There is no public parking, and on the weekends you can’t even park in the neighborhood, so make sure you are prepared to walk at least 10 minutes from the Kailua area.

Kualoa Park Beach is incredible because it has a narrow beach with a view of Mokoli’i (also known as Chinaman’s hat) in the background. You can also get amazing views of the Kualoa Mountains from this beach park. If you are dreaming of capturing both the ocean and the mountains in one location, we definitely recommend checking out this beach!

This versatile destination has a long stretch of sand that gives you and your family a bit of breathing room as you soak up some rays, making it the perfect choice for an all-day beach affair. Sunset Beach is ideal for any activity that requires waves, like surfing or body-boarding! This beach is located outside of Haleiwa Town past Waimea Bay.

This is a loop trail that is 3.7 miles long located near Hau’ula, Oahu. You start out in the forest and it quickly opens up into open, dry country. You will hike up some switchback before you get to some benches that overlook the ocean and the town of Hau’ula. You can go one of two ways after the shelter. Either way you take, you will make your way around the loop! As always when hiking trails in Hawai’i, make sure to stay on the trail as this trail is close to a public hunting area.

This trail is a 5.2 mile hike on the North Shore of O’ahu. You gain about 1,200 feet elevation throughout the entire hike and will hike through several gulches. One of the coolest parts about this hike is that you will be able to view native and introduced vegetation along the entire trail. Please make note that this trail is open on weekends. Also, this trail tends to be muddy so make sure you have proper footwear.

This is a 7.2 mile trail located near Pearl City, Oahu. This trail offers two options of either hiking lower or upper Waimano Trail. They form a big loop. If you decide to hike lower Waimano Trail, you can follow a stream for quite a while up the valley. You will ascend to join the Upper Trail eventually. If you decide to take the upper trail, you will follow a ditch and tunnel towards the east of Waimano Valley. You will climb over a ridge and follow an abandoned dam. You will follow some switchbacks until you arrive at Ko’olau summit. Take note that when parking in this area, please be mindful and respectful of the community that lives at the start of the trailhead.

This hike is a 4.5 miles round trip and begins at the back of Wa’ahila Ridge State Park. You start off this hike amidst beautiful ironwood and guava trees and continue between the ridge and forest as you make your way up the ridge. This hike offers amazing views of Manoa Valley, Palolo Valley, Honolulu, and Ko’olau Range. Some really neat aspects of this hike are that you get to see amazing native Hawaiian plants and trees such as koa and ohia lehua. If you want to go further, you can continue down Kolowalu Trail and descend down into the back of Manoa Valley. You can even camp at Kolowalu trail shelter if you are really adventurous! Make sure to check the availability of permits before your hike! 

This is a .75 mile hike if you are looking for an easier accessible hiking trail during your trip. You can start below the parking area and make your way across the stream. You will have to hike on unstable rocks that may be slippery, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes that you will feel secure in. This trail forms a loop, so it won’t matter which direction you choose. You will be able to see bamboo, ironwood, and eucalyptus forest through this hike. It features a small waterfall if you need to cool off during your hike. You can also connect with Nu’uanu Trail about halfway through if you want to continue your hike.

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. Kuoha Culinary is an amazing chef on the island of Oahu. They specialize in small upscale catered and private events.

I can’t imagine anything more perfect than a beach picnic after a full morning of adventuring! Aloha Artisans offers a customized picnic set up depending on what you are dreaming up for your elopement day. Included in this picnic set up is an incredible wood table, a tablescape for at least four people, an accent rug, an umbrella, and complete delivery and breakdown so you don’t have to worry about a thing! 

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!

Ordering room service at a resort in Oahu is actually an excellent 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! 

La Mer is Hawaii’s only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant. You will have amazing ocean views during your dinner, as well. 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.