Luxury Wedding Venues of Hawaii: Kualoa Ranch on Oahu

From luxurious spaces atop lush mountains, to effortlessly elegant beachside venues bathed in a golden sunset, the Hawaiian islands are home to some of the most refined and beautiful wedding venues you’ll come across. Knowing this, and having the opportunity to document many timeless wedding celebrations across the islands, I thought it would be helpful to discuss some of my favorites and what makes them unique. That idea is what’s led to this article where we’ll be taking a look at one of Oahu’s premiere wedding venues: Kualoa Ranch!

The Details and Amenities at a Glance

We’ll be taking a more in depth look at everything that makes Kualoa Ranch one of Oahu’s most luxurious and sought after wedding venues below, but I wanted to include a quick list of the details and amenities of the space for easy access. There is a LOT more to Kualoa Ranch than these notes though, so be sure to continue reading! 

• Guest Capacity Ranging from 120 to 250

• Optional In-House Catering

• Preferred Vendors List (for Ease of Planning)

• 15 Round Tables and 10 Banquet Tables (fitting 180 to 230 Guests)

• Seating for 150 Guests

• 1 On-Site Getting Ready Space (Air Conditioned with a Private Restroom)

• 40'x60' String Lit Tent Available for Use on the Main Lawn

• On-Site Restrooms, Parking, Electricity, Water, and Food Prep Area

*As of the time of writing (February of 2025) the cost of a wedding at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is $6,495 + tax for Weekends, and $5,495 + tax for weekdays.

The Setting

One of Kualoa Ranch’s biggest strengths as a wedding venue on the island of Oahu is the undeniable beauty of its setting. The venue features strikingly gorgeous views of the Kanehoalani Mountain, Kaheohe Bay, Ko’olau Mountains, as well as the iconic Mokoli’i Island. The sheer variety and abundance of these breathtaking views make for a surreal setting for an unforgettable wedding experience. Few wedding venues allow you to enjoy ocean views, mountain peaks, lush rolling fields, and romantic gardens all in one space. Those with keen eyes may also recognize the area for its many appearances in Hollywood films, most notably the Jurassic Park series!

A space as remarkably gorgeous as this is only worth booking if the space is used correctly, and thankfully through 8 generations of family ownership Kualoa Ranch has perfected their operation. With a focus on providing the perfect setting for any wedding day, and achieving this through sustainable practices, Kualoa Ranch understands how to use their space to the fullest while still respecting the island they've called home for generations.

The 4 main spaces to choose from for a wedding at Kualoa Ranch include:

• Main Lawn (250 Seated Guest Capacity)

• Bowl Lawn (250 Seated Guest Capacity)

• Water Tower Lawn (200 Seated Guest Capacity)

• Open-Air Pavilion (120 Seated Guest Capacity)

The beauty and flexibility of these spaces allows couples to craft their dream wedding experience from the ground up, something we’ll cover in more detail later!

The Logistics

One area many couples that choose a destination wedding find concerning is planning the logistics of it all. For this reason, I recommend booking one of Hawaii’s immensely talented wedding planners to take this unneeded stress off of your plates. Even so though, it is reassuring to know that Oahu’s Kualoa Ranch keeps things easy in terms of the logistics of your wedding.

For starters the venue is a simple 45 minute drive from Waikiki, a neighborhood of the capitol city Honolulu where many of the best, most luxurious resorts can be found. The venue also boasts a surplus of free parking, allowing your guests to easily get themselves to the site of your celebration. 

While the venue only features the single getting ready suite on site, the close proximity to Waikiki’s resorts gives couples the option for one or both to get ready in the elegant comfort of their resort of choice. 

Finally, couples that book Kualoa Ranch for their wedding have access to the space from 10am to 10pm, which is the hard cut-off time for music. Vendors then have until 11pm to vacate the property. This allows couples to enjoy an uninterrupted 12 hours of celebration with their friends and family!

The Flexibility

Arguably the best feature of Kualoa Ranch as a wedding venue on Oahu is the dynamic flexibility offered to its couples. The diverse spaces and their approach to weddings allow you to truly create the wedding day of your dreams. This is achieved in a variety of ways:

• Total Freedom in Choice of Vendors (though a Preferred Vendors List is Available for Ease of Planning)

• On-Site Food Prep Area for Your Caterer

• Multiple Ceremony Locations and Backdrops to Choose From

• The Gorgeous String-Lit Tent Giving You Multiple Options for Your Reception

• Optional Farm to Table Catering Through Kualoa Grown

The Reason to Book Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch is unlike any other wedding venue on Oahu. The freedom of choice allowed to couples, the effortless beauty of the space, the variety of backdrops available, the simplicity of planning a wedding day here, and their commitment to providing the highest quality experience to every couple all make Kualoa Ranch a wedding venue that seems nearly too good to be true. It’s very much the real deal though, and if you’re eager to see more of this enchanting space check out this gallery from a luxurious wedding I had the opportunity to photograph!

For couples interested in bringing their wedding vision to life at Kualoa Ranch you can contact them through their email: weddings@kualoa.com or via phone: (808) 457-4358. If you’re thinking of booking me to document your wedding in a way that’s personal and authentic to the day you’ve dreamt of, send me an inquiry through my contact page today!