As a Hawaii wedding photographer, I see no shortage of stunning tropical weddings but a Kualoa Ranch wedding tops the cake. From ceremonies on the beaches of Oahu to intimate vow exchanges in the rainforest, Hawaii truly offers up a magical array of landscapes like no other! 

But because of the endless options we’ve got on the islands, it can be hard to narrow down which one is actually going to be THE one for you! Today I’m giving you all the deets about one of my absolute favorite Oahu wedding venues, Kualoa Ranch. It’s an unbeatable venue full of glorious Hawaii backdrops & countless opportunities to make your wedding day YOURS. I guarantee you by the end of this article you’ll be at least somewhat convinced that you just need to have a Kualoa Ranch wedding!😉

Table of Contents

• Where is Kualoa Ranch?
• Getting Ready Options
• Paliku Gardens
• Moli’i Gardens/Fishpond
• Secret Beach
• Jumanji
• Fun Activities to Do

Where is Kualoa Ranch?

Great Q! Kualoa Ranch sits on the east side of the island, up north about 12 miles from Kaneohe. If you’re traveling into Hawaii from the mainland, you’ll likely be staying in the Waikiki or North Shore areas, meaning you’ll have to make a drive to Kualoa Ranch. I recommend renting a car if you’re able to so you don’t have to worry about finding public transportation on the big day!

Average driving time from Waikiki: 45 minutes

Average driving time from the North Shore area: 1 hour 

Getting Ready for Your Wedding at Kualoa Ranch

Couples LOVE Kualoa not only for its breathtaking views, but also for the endless options it provides! You won’t need to get ready for your wedding day at a hotel nearby – you can do it right here at Kualoa. 

Both Paliku Gardens & Moli’i Gardens have on-site bridal suites with air conditioning (a must-have in the Hawaii humidity!) that are included in your rental of the site! No need to worry about renting a place off-site for you to get ready & then having to transport everyone to the ceremony site! 

And we won’t forget about your partner – Moli’i Gardens actually has TWO designated spaces for you both to get ready in! There’s one bridal suite with AC, and one open-aired dupree cottage for your boo & their friends. Win-win!

Paliku Gardens Wedding Ceremony Site

Paliku Gardens is an absolute favorite of mine because of its unbeatable scenery – truly one of the most beautiful spots on Oahu to tie the knot! The gardens sit at the base of the Kanehoalani mountain peak, and offer views of Kane’ohe Bay, lush green pastures, and Chinaman’s Hat in the distance. Kay & Tom chose the gardens as their ceremony site & spiced up the already-beautiful greenery with a simple bamboo arbor accented by bright, tropical florals! 

Not only do you have access to the beautiful garden for your ceremony; you also get to use two large lawn areas & an open-air pavilion, perfect for hosting your reception in the evening! Kay & Tom chose to have their reception fully outdoors, with tropical-floral-covered banquet tables set up on the lawn.

Victoria & Vincenzo opted to host their evening activities under the open-air pavilion and it turned out absolutely beautifully, so the choice is yours to make! Want to party the night away under a gorgeous light-stringed tent, or keep it natural under the evening sky?✨

Guest capacity: 250

Rental cost: $4,495 on weekends, $3,895 on weekdays

What’s included?

Here’s what’s included in your rental of this site:

• 150 white resin folding chairs
• 15 round tables (8-10 guests each)
• 10 banquet tables (6-8 guests each)
• Open-aired pavilion (fits 120)
• Two lawn areas (fit 250 on each side)
• Bridal suite with AC
• Restrooms
• Partial food prep area

Rules & restrictions

Keep in mind that although Kualoa does provide you with plenty of chairs & tables, it’s on you to set it all up! They don’t offer setup/takedowns, so I suggest assigning setup/takedown duties to a good friend or loved one who wants to help out as much as they can.

Your rental of Paliku Gardens runs from 10am-10pm, and they ask that music is turned off by 10pm & that your vendors head out before 11pm.

Parking & transportation

Parking is easy at Paliku Gardens, as you & your guests can park for free on the lawns directly adjacent to the ceremony site! Easy peasy – you won’t have to worry about older loved ones having to walk a great distance to get to your ceremony from their cars.

Take a Virtual Tour Here!

If you’re unable to visit Kualoa Ranch in person (shoutout to the lovely pandemic once more), they’ve got great virtual tours available on their website! Sit on the couch, grab a glass of wine, and tour Paliku Gardens together on your laptop to see if it’s the ceremony site for you✨

Moli’i Gardens Wedding Ceremony Site

Moli’i Gardens provide a super unique atmosphere for your ceremony, as it overlooks an 125-acre ancient Hawaiian fishpond, one of the biggest on Oahu! You’ll tie the knot on a lush green lawn facing the fishpond, beautifully framed underneath the trees on the shore. I’m obsessed with how Kiana & Chris added their own flair to the minimal backdrop with a round arbor, decorated with bright florals! Then again, you can’t go wrong adding tropical flowers anywhere, really😍

In addition to the lawn spaces, the gardens include a covered pavilion, a long staircase leading down to the lower garden, and a boathouse at the edge of the water. Kiana & Chris took advantage of a nearby boat for some fun portraits on the water!

Guest capacity: 200

Rental cost: $3,895 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit on weekends, $3,295 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit on weekdays

What’s included?

Here’s everything that’s included in your Moli’i Gardens site rental:

• 100 white folding chairs
• 10 round tables (8-10 guests each)
• 10 banquet tables (6-8 guests each)
• Open-aired pavilion (fits 100)
• Bridal suite with AC
• Open-aired Dupree Cottage (fits 25) – perfect for cocktail hour or for groomsmen to get ready in!
• Two lawn areas (fits 150-200)
• Dramatic staircase for your bridal entrance
• Moli’i fishpond views & lush mountains in the background
• Restrooms
• Partial food prep area

Rules & restrictions

Just like Paliku Gardens, your rental is from 10am-10pm, and you should have your music off by 10pm & vendors leaving by 11pm. Kualoa suggests that you hold your ceremony at 4pm or later due to the tour activity at the boat dock!

Parking & transportation

Once again you’ve got super easy parking – there’s a paved lot right next to the ceremony site!

Take a Virtual Tour Here!

Secret Beach Wedding Ceremony Site

Secret Beach is one of the most special ceremony sites Kualoa offers because it’s actually not at the ranch – it’s a 10-minute boat ride away! You & your guests take a catamaran ride across the Moli’i Fishpond to get to Secret Beach. Where you’ll find stunning waterfront views of Mokoli’i Island, the Ko’olau Mountain range, and Kane’ohe Bay. The beach is super secluded (hence the name!), so you have plenty of space to explore, capture fun portraits of the two of you, and celebrate with your loved ones at your Kualoa Ranch wedding!

Secret Beach is also a really unique option for your ceremony. Mainly because once you get to the island, you’ll have access to kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and more water + land activities! Spend the afternoon kayaking out on the water enjoying the sun, and head into the evening playing cornhole with your BFF’s + having yummy cocktails. What a dream!

Guest capacity: 150

Rental costs:

On weekends

To rent only the ceremony site on a weekend, the rental cost is $2,095 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit.

To rent the ceremony site + a reception at an additional venue on a weekend, the cost is $1,795 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit, AND the fee for the additional venue.

On weekdays

To rent only the ceremony site on a weekday, the rental cost is $2,395 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit.

To rent the ceremony site + a reception at an additional venue on a weekday, the cost is $2,095 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit, AND the fee for the additional venue.

What’s included?

Secret Beach doesn’t include quite as much in your rental, but what is included is quite fun, if I may say so myself! 😉

• 1 boat & driver for roundtrip transportation to and from the beach
• Private restroom trailer with 3 units and AC
• 50 white folding wedding chairs available for an extra fee

Note that there’s no power supply on the beach, so you’ll have to bring your own if you’d like any electricity or lighting for your ceremony!

Parking & transportation

Parking isn’t available on Secret Beach, which is why your rental comes with a boat to transport you! This boat & assigned driver are available until the end of your rental time, and each boat transports 50-60 people & is about a 5-minute ride each way.

Take a Virtual Tour Here!

Jumanji Wedding Ceremony Site

Last but not least, let’s talk about Jumanji as a ceremony site option! If you’re looking for a more remote location in the greenery of the mountains, this is the one for you. It’s located in the absolutely beautiful Ka’a’awa Valley, gifting you with truly unbeatable mountain views and a postcard-esque backdrop for your ceremony. Seriously – who wouldn’t want to exchange their vows right in front of the lush green, jagged mountains of Oahu?!

To get to this site, you’ll park at Low Camp & take a shuttle provided by Kualoa. Make sure you prepare ahead to rent your own equipment and transport it to the site. Kualoa doesn’t provide you with equipment due to the remoteness of the location!

Guest capacity: 125

Rental costs:

On weekends – 3:00-6:00pm rental

To rent only the ceremony site on a weekend, the rental cost is $2,495 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit.

To rent the ceremony site + a reception at an additional venue on a weekend – the cost is $2,195 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit, AND the fee for the additional venue.

On weekdays – 3:00-6:00pm rental

To rent only the ceremony site on a weekday, the rental cost is $2,495 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit.

To rent the ceremony site + a reception at an additional venue on a weekday – the cost is $2,195 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit, AND the fee for the additional venue.

On weekends – 3:00-10:00pm rental

To rent the site for 7 hours on a weekend – the cost is $4,895 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit.

On weekdays – 3:00-10:00pm rental

To rent the site for 7 hours on a weekday – the cost is $4,295 plus tax & a $1,000 security deposit!

What’s included?

Since this spot is in a remote valley, you’ll have to bring equipment in on your own since there isn’t anything included in your rental! Kualoa recommends renting a generator if you’ll have music or lighting, a restroom trailer, and finding a rental company on your own to provide tables, chairs, etc. 

Rules & restrictions

Because of tours nearby, your guests are allowed to arrive starting at 3pm, the start time of your rental! You’ll have to turn music off by 10pm – just like at the other ceremony site. Your cleanup will have to be completed by the time your rental ends. Make sure you assign cleanup duties to specific guests so you’re all ready to head out once your time finishes up!

Parking & transportation

Jumanji is a remote location in the valley so, you’ll park at Low Camp & take a shuttle to your ceremony site!

Take a Virtual Tour Here!

Unable to pop by the ranch to check out the spot? No prob! Kualoa’s got a tour of this ceremony site as well for you to see in all its glory 😉

Fun Activities to do at Your Kualoa Ranch

Not only is Kualoa Ranch an absolutely stunning place to host your Oahu wedding. It’s also an uber-popular tourist destination as many films have taken place there (including Jurassic Park)! That means it has TONS of fun activities & tours to offer. All of which are available to you in addition to holding your wedding there! Take one day to have your Kualoa Ranch wedding and celebrate with your loved ones. Then come back the next day to take a tour of the entire ranch & explore it in all its beauty.

From exclusive Jurassic Adventure tours that take you to the iconic film sites from catamaran tours to ATV tours through the ranch. Pick an activity that you & your closest loved ones would have a blast doing! If you’re looking for a thrill, go ziplining through Jurassic Valley with your wedding party. Or maybe you’d rather take a slow journey to explore the scenery via horseback! Kualoa truly has SO much to offer that you have to take advantage of when you’re in the area!

Are you convinced yet?! Because I will NEVER get tired of a Kualoa Ranch wedding and photographing beautiful couples there! Slide into my DM’s or pop over to my inbox so we can start planning your dream day, my darling! I absolutely cannot wait!💖

Looking at getting married in the Seattle area instead? Check out one of my absolute favorite Seattle wedding venues here!