14 Best Big Island Wedding Locations + Venues in 2022-2023

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big island wedding locations

Are you on the hunt for the right Big Island wedding venue for you? Stuck between this dreamy tropical venue or that dreamy tropical venue? You’re not alone, darling – every couple getting married in Hawaii runs into this same obstacle: which stunning venue do we choose? That’s why I’ve put together this list of my 12 personal favorite Big Island wedding locations + venues, from luxury resorts to secluded beaches, but don’t worry – all of them are filled to the brim with incredible views, fabulous foliage, and plenty of opportunities to customize your wedding day to all your biggest desires. 

Ready to scroll through some of the most jaw-dropping spots on the island?

big island wedding locations

Looking for the best wedding venues in Seattle instead? Here’s a guide to the Top 10 Downtown Seattle Wedding Venues for Intimate Weddings!


The 14 Best Big Island Wedding Locations + Venues

1. Papa Kona

Where it’s located: 75-5770 Ali’i Dr 2nd Floor, Kailua-Kona

On Ōneo Bay, right next to Kailua Bay; 1 hour south of Waimea

Best features:

  • All-inclusive wedding packages
  • Private oceanfront ceremony site
  • Incredible menu options thanks to their flagship oceanfront restaurant
  • Second-floor lanai for your reception
  • Plenty of food, activity, & hotel options nearby
  • Preferred vendor list
  • Wedding planning guide for couples
  • Pro sound system
  • Delicious Kona coffee wedding favors
  • On-site event manager
big island wedding locations

Things to note:

  • The ceremony site can hold up to 80 seated guests
  • You can have your rehearsal dinner at Papa Kona, too (we love holding everything at one location)
  • The venue has an on-site parking garage that fits up to 80 cars (bless easy parking!🙌🏼)
  • Rain won’t ruin your ceremony – simply move to the covered lanai if the clouds decide to drizzle some rain down on your big day
  • Papa Kona does not have a getting ready space

Cost to get married at Papa Kona:

Papa Kona creates custom packages for its couples, so unfortunately I can’t give you a number – you can inquire through their website here, and then they will send you base packages + later create a custom estimate for you based on your needs. You’ll need to pay a $3,000 or 50% retainer (whichever is less) to get your date officially on their booked-up calendar.

Full guide to getting married at Papa Kona:

I adore Papa Kona so much that I made an entire blog post solely dedicated to How to Get Married at Papa Kona. Read it here to get the nitty-gritty about getting married at this stunning venue, including more about what it has to offer, FAQ’s, and some of the coziest places to stay nearby.

big island wedding locations

2. The Club at Hokulia

Where it’s located: 81-6636 Pu’u Ohau Place, Kealakekua

Best features:

  • Lush landscape
  • Sheltered from afternoon winds & rain
  • Stunning views of sunset over the west coast
  • Traditional Polynesian-style compound designed by renowned architects
  • Multiple ceremony sites including waterfront beach sites and a garden or Country Club
  • Covered restaurant space with flexible seating options
  • World-class culinary team + customizable menus

Things to note:

  • The club can accommodate up to 150 guests
  • There are on-site getting ready rooms + private lounges
  • Club amenities (such as the pool!) are available to the wedding party on the wedding day

Cost to get married at the Club at Hokulia: N/A – inquire for more info

3. Hulihe’e Palace

Where it’s located: 75-5718 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona

Best features:

  • Stunning ocean views
  • Spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception 
  • Tons of cultural & historical significance (built in 1838 as the vacation home of actual Hawaiian royalty!)
  • Amazing sunsets
  • Lush lawn & vibrant green foliage
  • Beautifully-furnished entry hall with portraits, marble busts, and other lovely artwork
big island wedding locations

Things to note:

  • Your rental will include 9 hours on-site
  • The venue holds up to 350 guests – but rentals for larger parties are available upon request for a larger fee
  • If you’re a member of Daughters of Hawaii, you’ll get a discount!
  • You’ll need to put down a $600 deposit to secure your date
  • Your contract must be signed at least 60 days prior to your wedding
  • Parking is not available on the grounds, so I’d recommend hiring a driver to take you in a limo/party bus/etc. and park off-property
  • Catering/beverages are not provided by the venue
  • Weddings with 150+ guests must provide a portable restroom

Cost to get married at Hulihe’e Palace: packages being at $1,000

big island wedding locations

4. Puako Beach

Where it’s located: along Puako Beach Road, Kamuela

(GPS coordinates if you like to be exact: 19.969254 , -155.843601)

Best features:

  • Secluded beach away from the more popular spots
  • Breathtaking views of the North Kohala Coast
  • Fun rocky shoreline to walk around
  • Beautiful white sand to hold your ceremony on
  • Tidepools to explore
  • Plenty of shallow water to wade in
  • Opportunities for fishing
  • Spots safe for swimming + snorkeling
  • Close to Hokuloa Church for anybody who wants to visit a historic spot along the shoreline
  • Only a short drive to plenty of world-class dining, shopping, & accommodations

Things to note:

  • You’ll need to get a wiki permit from hawaii.gov to legally get married on the beach – check out this website for FAQ’s about getting your wiki permit!
    • Your permit allows 2 hours of use
    • The permit fee is $0.10/square foot of use ($20 minimum)
    • The typical group size for beach weddings is 10-25
  • You can park at the beach, but make sure you don’t leave any valuables in your car & that you lock it up!
  • This is a public beach, so you won’t be the only ones there

Cost to get married at Puako Beach: N/A – varies depending on your permit/needs

5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Where it’s located: 62-100 Kauna’oa Drive, Kohala Coast

Best features:

  • Luscious tropical gardens
  • Customizable space for any wedding atmosphere, from beach-casual to ballroom-elegant
  • Nine spaces for ceremonies/receptions
  • Stunning sunsets
  • Personal “romance specialist” included in your package (A romance specialist? Say no more!)

Things to note:

  • A minimum of ten room nights at the hotel is required with your rental
  • A deposit of $7,500 will be required to secure your date

Cost to get married at Mauna Kea Hotel: packages range from $8,000-$13,000+

6. Holualoa Inn

Where it’s located: 76-5932 Mamalahoa Hwy, Holualoa

Best features:

  • Multiple customizable spaces for any size of wedding + any desired atmosphere
    • Malulani Pavilion
    • Great Lawn
    • Red Barn – to get ready in
    • Rooftop Gazebo
    • Zen Buddha Garden Lanai
    • Blue Jade Garden
    • Beach
  • Ability to rent the entire 30-acre estate for your celebration
  • Kona coffee & delicious garden-to-table breakfast on the morning of your wedding
  • Tons of romantic add-ons available, such as champagne & massages
  • Wedding coordinator included in most packages

Things to note:

  • Each package includes a different amount & length of nightly accommodations
  • The estate offers a total of 8 guest rooms
  • Choose from one of the base packages, or customize your own
  • The Malulani Pavilion & Great Lawn can hold up to 200 guests (or 120 guests in the pavilion on its own)
  • Parking for up to 35 cars is included in your rental (woohoo!)
  • The inn does not provide catering or rentals (e.g. chairs, tables, archways, etc.)

Cost to get married at the Holualoa Inn: wedding packages range from $4,700-$24,000+; elopement packages range from $2,180-$3,345+

7. Kahua Ranch

Where it’s located: 59-564 Kohala Mountain Rd, Waimea

Best features:

  • Three event venues available to use
    • Covered deck with an attached barn
    • Ocean-view lawn
    • Historical Ranch Chapel
  • Jaw-dropping views of the luscious, vibrant green rolling hills
  • 8,500 acres of secluded & quiet land
  • Historical significance – it’s been a working farm since 1928!
  • Close to the Kailua-Kona International Airport

Cost to get married at Kahua Ranch: N/A – inquire for more info

8. Anna Ranch Heritage Center

Where it’s located: 65-1480 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela

Best features:

  • Gorgeous views of the lush green hills of Waimea
  • Tons of native plant life + vibrant tropical foliage
  • Multiple beautiful spaces to use for your celebration
  • Lots of historical significance on the property – as their site says, “Anna Ranch captures the essence of Old Hawaii!”
  • Indoor reception space
  • Cocktail/reception patio overlooking the Wai’au’ia stream

Things to note:

  • Your rental includes different lengths of time depending on what you’re holding at the ranch:
    • Ceremony & reception: all day, from 8:00am-10:00pm
    • Ceremony only: 6 hours
    • Reception only: 6 hours
  • Your rental includes 5 venue location options – here are the maximum guest capacities of each:
    • Vintage Barn – 25 guests seated, 50 guests standing
    • Anna’s Hall – 60-80 guests seated, 100 guests standing
    • Wai’au’ia River – 100 guests
    • Orange Tree Grove – 100+ guests
    • Anna’s Lawn – 300 guests
  • You can hold your rehearsal dinner on the ranch
  • 50% of your rental fee will be due as a deposit to secure your date

Cost to get married at Anna Ranch: N/A – inquire for more info

9. Mauna Lani

Where it’s located: 68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Kamuela

Best features:

  • Breathtaking oceanfront views
  • Sacred land nestled in the “piko” (center) of five mountains
  • Multiple ceremony space options, including lawns, oceanfront, and beach sites (Kilohana Beach, pavilion, & more)
  • Both indoor & outdoor reception venues
  • Fully-customizable menus 
  • Professional chefs
  • 300+ rooms for your guests to stay in
  • Includes authentic traditions such as the Hawaiian ring blessing using koa wood, a Ti leaf, and water from the sea

Cost to get married at Mauna Lani: N/A – inquire for more info

10. Royal Kona Resort

Where it’s located: 75-5852 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona

Best features:

  • 7 different event spaces to choose from:
    • Nohea Point – a gorgeous gazebo surrounded by lush foliage, overlooking the ocean
    • Sunset Cove – a cliffside setting right on the water
    • Private Lagoon – a culturally-significant venue surrounded by lava rocks & sea turtles
    • Coconut Grove – a fairytale-esque setting over the water
    • Alii Surf Room – an elegant open-air room for your reception
    • Alii Surf Terrace – an open-air, covered lanai perfect for cocktail hour
big island wedding locations
  • Full-service packages
  • Gourmet cuisine from award-winning chefs
  • Experienced wedding planners & day-of coordination
  • Custom ceremony & reception florals
  • On-site spa services (hello wedding-day couples massages!)
  • Wedding cake menu

Things to note:

  • The largest room at the resort can accommodate up to 500 guests (so don’t worry about cutting down that guest list!)
  • Your guests can access discounted room rates to stay at the resort
  • A $1000 deposit is required to secure your date
  • Your guest count must be finalized by 30 days prior to your wedding

Cost to get married at the Royal Kona Resort: $3900-$38,500 + tax

big island wedding locations

11. Hale Wailele

Where it’s located: 78-7102 Walua Rd, Kailua-Kona

Best features:

  • Two site options for both ceremonies & receptions: a beautiful lanai & the lush green lawn
  • Plenty of space for chairs, cocktail tables, dance floor, etc.
  • Stunning infinity pool

Things to note:

  • Minimum stay of five nights on the property
  • Lanai is covered enough to protect from rain

Cost to get married at Hale Wailele: N/A – inquire for more info

12. The Dolphin House

Where it’s located: on Kealakekua Bay

Best features:

  • Gorgeous views of the coastline
  • Spacious open floor plan & high ceilings
  • Covered lanais upstairs & downstairs
  • Outdoor seating to enjoy the scenery
  • Oceanside shower & bath
  • Large lawn & palm trees

Things to note:

  • The property comfortably sleeps up to 7 people, perfect for a very intimate wedding/elopement

Cost to get married at the Dolphin House: $500/night to stay at the house

13. Puakea Ranch

Where it’s located: 56.2864 Akoni Pule Hwy

Best features:

  • Stunning views of historic ranch property
  • Over 30 acres of private space just for you & your guests
  • Ability to customize for any size & style of wedding
  • 4 unique bungalow homes to stay in
  • In-depth preferred vendor list for couples to look through
  • Covered reception lawn space
  • Beautiful “kissing tree” ceremony site

Things to note:

  • The ranch can accommodate up to 20 overnight guests, so invite your closest BFF’s to stay here with you the night of your wedding!

Cost to get married at Puakea Ranch: N/A – inquire for more info

14. Waiki’i Ranch

Where it’s located: near Kamuela

Best features:

  • Beautiful scenery overlooking the island from sloped pastures
  • Large space to celebrate
  • Fenced perimeter for extra security
  • Phenomenal sunsets
  • Mild climate without too much extreme heat or rain
  • Clear night skies for stargazing

Things to note:

  • Waiki’i is a private ranch inside of a gated community

Cost to get married at Waiki’i Ranch: N/A online – I can help you find more info!

A Full Guide to Getting Married on the Big Island

And there you have it, my tropical-wedding-lovin’ friends – 12 of the absolute most beautiful wedding locations + venues on the Big Island!

Now that you can start planning your big day and really visualize it all coming to life at one of these fabulous venues, you’ll need to get into the nitty-gritty parts of planning – permits, finding a place to stay, booking your accommodations, etc.

Lucky for you, I’ve crafted up an entire guide guiding you through to How to Get Married on the Big Island, where I go through the basic steps to planning your Big Island wedding. Be sure to check it out to learn about getting your Hawaii marriage license, how to pick the right part of the island for you, and so much more!

Dreamy Tropical Wedding Inspiration: Decor, Florals, & More

If you simply cannot get enough of the tropical goodness of all the photos in this blog post (who could blame you!), head on over to my blog post dedicated entirely to Dreamy Tropical Wedding Inspiration, from the most breathtaking tropical wedding decor to vibrant tropical flower bouquets and more. Simply scroll through, save photos to Pinterest to your heart’s content, and be ready to pick your jaw up off the floor by the end! 😉

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