Everything you need to know about getting married on one of Hawaii’s Public Beaches

If you are planning an elopement wedding on Hawaii Island with less than 25 guests, you will have the opportunity to get married at one of the island’s many public beach locations. Yes, public. But hear me out!

One of the greatest things about eloping at a public beach on Hawaii Island is the abundance of permitted beaches that remain relatively private. The beach shown here is one of those. We have come to this beach countless times and been the only people on it. So, while it isn’t guaranteed, it is not unrealistic to think that it might just be you and your guests – plus a few resident green sea turtles sunbathing on the sand!

Important Details about Hawaii Elopements on Public Beach Locations

While they can be idyllic, there are few important things to note about these public beach locations though:

Hawaii Public Beach Wedding Permit

First: It is very important to note that you will need to have a permit from the State and in order to get the said permit, you will need to have insurance coverage. That’s where we come in. We can take care of this and provide all this for you and make sure you don’t run into any issues on your wedding day. You do not want to skip this step and run the risk of having your wedding be illegal.

If you decide to go it on your own, you’ll need to first make sure the beach you choose is one of the permitted beaches and then file the paperwork accordingly. We can certainly provide peace of mind in this area! The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources provides a list of sites to choose from but without knowing them, it is nearly impossible to sort through them all!

Wedding Decor on Public Beaches near Kona, Hawaii

We can also warn you that no large wedding structures or groups of chairs are permitted at most public beaches. The arch you see here was pre-approved and met State guidelines which we are highly familiar with and the chairs we provided were just for the few elderly guests in attendance (also completely fine – you just can’t have a full traditional set that has a larger footprint).

The rest of the seating and accents we provided were all smaller scale items that are permitted without any issue and really bring a lot of style and designate an intimate space for an elopement like this.

Privacy and Your Intimate Big Island Wedding

When considering eloping at a public beach on Hawaii Island, we can also tell you some beaches are more private than others and an insider’s opinion is a huge asset for trying to determine the best spot and the best timing for your wedding. One cannot reserve a specific spot on the beach and your permit will only be for a maximum of 2 hours.

Additionally, you also won’t know exactly how many other possible weddings might be happening there that day. The only exception is when we do book your permit, we are able to see if anyone else has currently booked before us. But don’t be discouraged, a public beach wedding can still be a great, cost effective and gorgeous option for an intimate wedding. This is particularly true if it is just the two of you and you are flexible on where on the beach you can go.

Other Considerations for Choosing the Right Beach Location to Elope in Hawaii

In addition to privacy, some beaches are also more accessible than others so if you have guests that might not be able to walk too far, we recommend you take this into consideration before booking a location. Additionally, there are a few that have very limited parking or might be more prone to wind or even rain. All great reasons to consult with us to help you choose the right location for whatever it is you are envisioning!

An Elopement at Kukio Beach

We planned, coordinated and designed this intimate wedding at Kukio Beach for a lovely Ironman Couple who wanted to elope in Hawaii! After completing the race, they were looking for a low-key, intimate wedding with just their closest family and friends. A location near Kona was a priority for them as well as somewhere with a mix of sand and lava rock. We chose Kukio Beach and they couldn’t have been happier!

Photography by Child Indigo Hawaii

Florals by Grace Flowers

Wedding Planning, Coordination and Design: The Chapter of Love

Testimonial for Our Elopement Service

“We had our intimate beach wedding in Kona just a few days before the Ironman Championship my groom was participating in. It was just what we wanted: simple, tropical, and fun! It was a great experience for all our guests and the relaxed, easy process we were hoping for with such a big race on the horizon! Our favorite part was the fun lei stand they came up with for distributing the leis to all our guests. If you are looking for an easy, reliable, contact with great recommendations, The Chapter of Love is the place!” -Samantha and Declan

Kona Hawaii Wedding Coordination, Big Island Wedding Planner, Vintage & Lace Weddings, Destination Wedding Planning and Coordination company in Hawaii. Daylight Mind Intimate Hawaii Wedding Reception, Public Beach Wedding in Hawaii, Kona Elopement, Beach Wedding Packages in Hawaii.