How to Get Married at the Club at Hokuli’a in South Kona, Hawaii

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bride and groom first kiss

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I’m back at it again today with yet another one of the most jaw-dropping wedding venues on the Big Island: the Club at Hokuli’a! If you’ve been searching for a venue that allows you to experience a quieter part of the island, enjoy a luxurious experience from top to bottom, and tie the knot in front of breathtaking ocean views, you may have just found your place at the Club at Hokuli’a.

wedding party cheering

About Weddings at the Club at Hokuli’a

Get to know the venue

The Club at Hokuli’a is located in Kealakekua, in South Kona, on more than 1,000 acres of stunning land. It’s sheltered away from the typical afternoon rain and winds that hit this area of the island, and offers some of the most jaw-dropping views you could ask for! Hokuli’a was designed by well-known architects, with traditional Polynesian-style compound architecture in mind, that meshes the luxury amenities of the indoor venue with the natural beauty of the Hawaiian tropics.

To get to Hokuli’a (specifically located at 81-6636 Pu’u Ohau Place), you can fly into the Kona International Airport (KOA). The venue is only about 20 miles from the airport, so you can catch an Uber/Lyft, get a shuttle to your hotel/resort, or rent a car if you’d rather!

bride and groom walking at venue

The Benefits of Getting Married at the Club at Hokuli’a

Unobstructed views of the South Kona coastline

Mhmmm you read that right: some of the absolute best views of the stunning South Kona coastline can be found at Hokuli’a. The club community spans across three whole miles of the coast, encompassing 1,300 acres of lush green land that one could only dream of. This means not only do you get the luxury of a beautiful, Four-Seasons-esque venue space – you also get to step outside and witness some of the most phenomenal scenery on the island. Calm, clear waters, remarkable sunsets, + spacious beaches = a dream come true!

tropical wedding

A uniquely-luxurious event space in the area 

Hokuli’a is one of the only “luxury” event spaces in South Kona – the majority of the venues with this upscale vibe are hotels located in North Kona. So you get the best of both worlds: breathtaking ocean views without sacrificing the luxury of a stunning, high-end wedding venue for the bougiest day of your tropical wedding dreams!

You get to enjoy the peace & quiet of South Kona

Hokuli’a lies in the lovely area of South Kona, one of my favorite parts of the island. It’s super close to Keauhou, a beautiful resort area near Historic Kailua Village, as well as Ali’i Drive, a popular tourist area in Kona. Overall, this venue is pretty central to the majority of South Kona, making it a perfect place for couples who want easy access to popular spots to visit and plenty of accommodations, dining, & shopping!

Here are some of the main benefits of South Kona:

  • It’s quieter than other tourist-y parts of the island, and typically less crowded
  • The weather is a bit cooler
  • It’s coffee country – need I say more? Infinite coffee shops, companies, and retreats galore.
  • It’s close to historical parks and plenty of activities for guests to enjoy
  • Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau is nearby for great snorkeling & a fascinating history museum
  • Easy access to Kealakekua Bay as well for snorkeling & hiking (such as the hike into Captain Cook Monument)
  • There are lots of lovely Airbnb’s and spacious estate properties nearby

Multiple ceremony sites

I always love when venues offer multiple ceremony sites to fit every type of couple & style of celebration! Hokuli’a offers multiple ceremony sites, ranging from beach and waterfront ceremonies with stunning views to the lush green lawn to a vibrant garden. You can even elevate the on-site bocce ball court and tie the knot right on it, or get married in a covered setting in the club restaurant, with beautiful ocean views in the background. 

couple kissing under flower petals

Designated rooms to get ready in 

It is always a major win to me when a venue has designated getting ready rooms so that you don’t have to find a location (like a hotel/Airbnb) offsite, then travel to the ceremony location once you’re ready. We love keeping day-of travel to a minimum & all-inclusive venues!

Hokuli’a has both male and female locker rooms for couples to get ready in with your closest loved ones. They’re fully-equipped with showers, private restrooms, toiletries + amenities, lockers, and even full, west-facing, open sitting rooms overlooking one of several ceremony spaces! Getting ready with a view? Count me in.

Close proximity to many hotels

I’ve mentioned this already, but I can’t stress enough how helpful it is for your venue to be close to hotels and other accommodation options. This makes it super easy for you to travel to your place to stay the night of your wedding, and makes guest transportation/logistics easier as well! 

Hokuli’a is super close to many hotels, resorts, and popular Airbnb’s + condos. Skip down to this section for some of my personal favorites!

bridesmaids in tropical robes

Built-in lawn games for evening fun

Playing games with friends & family atop a luscious, well-manicured lawn, overlooking the South Kona coastline? Yes, please! Hokuli’a has a gorgeous lawn available both for your ceremony and for fun lawn games in the evening during your reception. Grab your friends, a refreshing drink, and enjoy the evening

Fun fact: the venue’s website even has a “Lawn Cam” live feed, where you can see the views from the ceremony lawn. Click here to see it for yourself!

bride and groom with family

Open-air dining pavilion with *chef’s kiss* views

Who wants to eat their meal fully indoors when you’re in the middle of one of the most breathtaking locations in Hawaii? Not me, that’s for sure! Take advantage of Hokulia’s stunning open-air pavilion for your dining experience, enjoying panoramic views and fresh ocean air while you munch on delicious platters & sip your favorite cold drinks. Even the bar is outdoors, providing you the full relaxed, island-vibe experience from the start of your wedding day to the very last call of the night!

palm trees at night

World-class dining & culinary team

Oh yes, this is a must-have for me: a menu of high-quality dining options and an uber-talented culinary team. Hokuli’a is known for their phenomenal dining and drinks, and you bet your booty you’ll get to take advantage of that on your wedding day! Customize your menus to fit your palette and enjoy either a classic banquet menu, plated meals, or a pupu display.

Talented preferred vendors

I love it when venues and vendors have other vendors they trust to recommend to you – it takes some of the hard work out of it on your end! Hokuli’a has multiple vendors (including a planner and a florist) that they recommend and can connect you with to ensure your day comes together beautifully.

tropical wedding ceremony

Downsides of Getting Married at the Club at Hokuli’a

Parking is somewhat limited

Limited parking seems to be a common downside of many wedding venues, especially ones that are a part of a larger event space or venue, like a club. If you’re having a wedding with over 100 people involved, I’d recommend organizing shuttles (& make it an even better time with a party bus or limo for your wedding party!) for you and your guests to get to & from the venue. This way, you won’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll find parking, and plus, who wants to have to drive themselves around on their wedding day? You deserve all the valet parking and chauffeur services.

Prone to afternoon showers

The “mauka,” or mountainside areas of South Kona, are more prone to afternoon showers & wind than other parts of Kona & the Big Island in general. That’s simply the sacrifice you have to make for the phenomenal views of the South Kona coast! Luckily, Hokuli’a has sheltered areas in case of rain and the experienced staff are pros at making sure the rain, well, doesn’t rain on your parade (on your wedding day) 😉

bride and groom dancing

Club at Hokuli’a Wedding Packages

Hokuli’a unfortunately doesn’t have their pricing information available on their website, so you can inquire with them here to get customized information & quotes based on your specific wedding day!

bride and groom wearing leis

FAQ’s About the Club at Hokuli’a

How many guests can I have at my Club at Hokuli’a wedding?

The ceremony sites at the Club at Hokuli’a can accommodate up to 150 guests! So there’s plenty of room for all your friends, colleagues, family, aunts, uncles, long-lost cousins, great-great grandparents. . . you name it.

What happens if it rains on our wedding day?

This is a great question, as the mountainside areas of South Kona are more typically prone to afternoon showers. However, Hokuli’a is fairly sheltered from the rain that often hits the west coast, and the restaurant has a covered space in case of rain, as well!

Can we customize the food for our wedding?

Absolutely you can! The Club at Hokuli’a offers some of the best dining around, and their menus are fully customizable to ensure you can feast off the plates of your damn dreams on your big day.

Will we have access to the club for our wedding?

You sure will! You & your wedding party are able to use club amenities on the day of your wedding. Take a swim in the stunning outdoor pool, work off some stress at the fitness center, play a game of golf, or enjoy a morning of luxurious R&R with a massage at the club’s spa! All of that sounds like a pretty damn magnificent start to your wedding day to me 😉

tropical wedding reception

Hotels & Airbnb’s to Stay at Near the Club at Hokuli’a

One of the biggest pros to getting married at the Club at Hokuli’a is the sheer amount of nearby places to stay. This makes it suuuper duper easy for you & all your guests to find somewhere to sleep during your time in South Kona, and you have no shortage of options! Whether you and your love are looking for a bougie resort where you can get pampered AF the day after your wedding, or you’d rather book a small condo overlooking the ocean to enjoy some peace & quiet in private, I guarantee there’s a place for you. Here are some of the best hotels, Airbnb’s, & condos in the South Kona area – most of them located along the Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook)!

Hotels in South Kona:

Airbnb’s/Condos in South Kona:

fire dancers at hawaii wedding

Club at Hokuli’a Wedding Photographer

Now that you may have found your perfect Big Island wedding venue, you may be looking for a Club at Hokulia wedding photographer to capture your big day! Enter. . .moi 😉

If you’re looking for a gal who was born & bred to photograph Hawaii weddings, is ready to guide you every step of the way, and will take some bomb-ass photos to help you re-live your big day for the rest of your life, you can take a look at what I offer here! Feel free to slide into my DM’s, or fill out my contact form here when you’re ready to start talking all things Club at Hokuli’a weddings!

couple in garden

12 Best Big Island Wedding Locations + Venues

I cannot say ENOUGH how dreamy of a location the Big Island is for couples looking to celebrate with a stunning tropical wedding. Every part of the island has its own unique charm, and has plenty of incredible wedding venues to choose from!

Because it can be difficult to narrow down your choices out of all the 10/10 venues available to you, I’ve curated a list of my 12 Favorite Big Island Wedding Venues to help ease your search for the perfect venue. Give it a read, and I can promise you that you’ll find at least one venue that will fulfill all your biggest tropical Big Island wedding dreams!


Full Guide to Planning a Big Island Wedding

And because there’s much more to wedding planning than just selecting your venue (although that is definitely one of the most fun parts), I built an entire separate Guide to Planning a Big Island Wedding just for you.

In the guide, I go through:

  • Picking a part of the island for your wedding
  • Looking at venues
  • Hiring a photographer & other vendors
  • Nailing down your date
  • Getting your Hawaii marriage license
  • Booking your travel & accommodations
  • Planning things to do

Trust me when I say this is the only guide you’ll need in order to feel confident planning your wedding on the beautiful Big Island!


More Hawaii Wedding Planning Resources

And if you’re still left wanting more after all that (I don’t blame you, I’ve got some pretty killer resources for you all over my website 😉 ), check out the few I’ve linked below! These are jam-packed with more Hawaii wedding venues, my best planning tips, and the most beautiful tropical wedding inspo you’ll ever see.

How to Get Married on Oahu

Dreamy Tropical Wedding Inspiration: Decor, Florals, & More

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