WHERE TO ELOPE IN HAWAII | BEST OAHU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS
Wanting to Elope in Hawaii?
Hawaii is one of the most magical and beautiful places in the WORLD. The diverse landscapes, tropical forests, fiery sunsets and turquoise water are just a few of the things that make Hawaii so special. There is really nothing like it, which makes Hawaii the perfect place for a destination elopement.
If you are dreaming of eloping in Hawaii, this blog post is for you. As a Oahu Elopement Photographer, i have shot at every nook and cranny all over the island. This elopement guide will go over some of my all time favorite elopement location in Oahu, Hawaii to help you choose where you want to elope.
Hawaii has tons of different options of locations and scenery. From lush green jungles against the blue pacific ocean to the skyline views in town, there is a perfect location for anyone who is looking to get married in Hawaii!
As a non-native Hawaiian living in Hawaii, I do my best to respect the culture and the land. Throughout this post you will see me use generalized names of places so that I am not giving away exact locations. I am doing this intentionally. Many of these spots are not designated for tourists and I do not want to publish something on the internet that encourages tons and tons of traffic to beautiful, peaceful places here on Oahu.
When working with me, I always shoot with a photography permit, follow leave no trace principles and encourage all of my non-native clients to learn more and be respectful towards native Hawaiian culture and traditions. None of these locations are off limits, located on sacred land or illegal to shoot at. After our session together, I will encourage you to not tag on social media the specific location we shot at and to leave each location we shoot at better than we found it. I never want to be a part of the reason why a spot gets over-used or discovered via social media.
If one of these locations stand out to you and you'd love to shoot here, please contact me via my contact form! I would love to work with you and show you around this beautiful place. I believe we all play a part in keeping Hawaii beautiful and this is just a small thing I do to ensure I am leaving no trace here in Hawaii.
WEST SIDE, OAHU
Eloping on the West Side of Oahu
BEST FOR: sunsets, white sand beaches, mountain backdrops, golden light, & quiet.
The West side is known for its one of a kind sunsets. This side of the island of Oahu gives you a front row seat to watching the sun go down. Usually these beaches are a bit more private, out of the way. Has gorgeous white and tan rocks and caves. There are tons of different location options nearby that are perfect for anyone wanting a beautiful golden sunset session.
The only thing I would keep in mind is that if you are coming from Honolulu, you have to account for at least an 1.5 of driving. Traffic from Honolulu out west can be bad in the evening but definitely well worth it! Because the west side is harder to get to, the beaches are less crowded, the vibe is a bit slower and the views are amazing!
WEST SIDE OAHU ELOPEMENT LOCATION – KO OLINA:"
WEST SIDE OAHU ELOPEMENT LOCATION - PARADISE COVE:
WEST SIDE OAHY ELOPEMENT LOCATION – WAIANAE:
EAST SIDE, OAHU
ELOPING ON THE EAST SIDE OF OAHU
BEST FOR: sunrises, cliffside elopements, green mountains.
The East Side of Oahu is known for their gorgeous sunrises, black rocks and amazing cliffs and mountains. East side is such a great option if you are on a time crunch and unable to go too far from Honolulu. It is the perfect escape from the typical city views without traveling too far. Many couples do 2+ hour sessions and we hit a few of the best east side spots because they are all so close yet so diverse! This gives you a variety of different photo looks without having to travel all around the Island!
Shooting here at sunset is gorgeous but we won't have a direct view of the sun going down but, the entire sky will light up with pink and orange clouds and it still make for a dreamy golden hour vibe.
EAST SIDE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - MAKAPUU:
EAST SIDE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - HAWAII KAI:
EAST SIDE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - WAIMANALO:
NORTH SHORE, OAHU
Eloping on the North Shore of Oahu
BEST FOR: sunsets, sunrises, white sand beaches, palm trees, cliffside locations
The North Shore is my personal favorite for many many reasons. North shore is a quiet, calm and beautiful escape from the crazy world of Waikiki. The famous North Shore of Oahu has it all. There are miles and miles of gorgeous white sand beaches, beautiful cliffs and palm trees everywhere. Eloping on the north shore is something that you would never regret! Endless gorgeous beaches, blue water and views in every direction makes for the perfect Hawaii Elopement.
The north shore has front row seat to sunsets as well and has so much beauty to offer. Shooting at sunrise is peaceful and calm and shooting at sunset is romantic and dreamy.
NORTH SHORE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - WAIMEA
NORTH SHORE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - TURTLE BAY
NORTH SHORE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - LAIE:
NORTH SHORE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - HALEIWA:
TOWN - HONOLULU, OAHU
Eloping in Honolulu
BEST FOR: urban vibes, beaches with city backdrops, and downtown elopements
Honolulu is a GORGEOUS city. I have had tons of couples shoot around the city and it always turns out looking so cute. There are a few beaches right in the urban Honolulu area that are gorgeous plus tons of amazing cityscapes, lights and buildings. A lot of my local couples go this route to have something different and new and I adore this!
Some of my favorite things to do in the city is walk around and find cute cafes and colorful murals which make for such fun & unique wedding photos in Hawaii! There are endless options when eloping in town & these Hawaii elopements are always a blast!
HONOLULU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - KAHALA:
HONOLULU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - ALA MOANA:
HONOLULU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - WAIKIKI / KAKAAKO:
HONOLULU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - MANOA:
WINDWARD SIDE
Eloping on the Windward Side
BEST FOR: jungle view, waterfalls, green mountains, turquoise water, tropical vibes
If you are wanting green, gorgeous luscious jungle, this is for you! The windward side gets most of the rain + has some of the most calm beaches on the island. If you love big green mountains, lush jungles or calm turquoise waters this is the spot for you. Eloping on the Windward Side of Oahu will give you that untouched Hawaii natural beauty feel. The is something about this slower paced side of the island that makes it feel like it’s own secluded island.
HONOLULU ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - KAILUA:
WINDWARD SIDE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - KUALOA:
WINDWARD SIDE ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS - KA’ AAWA:
Want more help planning your special day in Hawaii? Browse my Resource Guide Here!
If Eloping is not your style, Check out my guide on The Top 10 Wedding Venues on Oahu, Hawaii
For Booking - Inquire here, Hawaii Elopement Photographer, Sheyanne Lyn Photos
