━ 10 Beaches · Island-Wide ━
Top Hawaii Beach
Wedding Locations
The 10 best beach wedding locations on Hawaii's Big Island — from pristine Kona white sand at Kuki'o, Kikaua Point, and Old Kona Airport to dramatic black sand at Punalu'u, Kehena, Kaimu, and Kiholo Bay. Top Hawaii beach wedding spots curated by Kona Wedding Officiant®.
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Hand-Picked · Island-Wide
10 of the best Hawaii
beach wedding locations.
Hawaii's Big Island is home to the most diverse range of beach wedding settings in the entire Hawaiian archipelago — from pristine white sand North Kona coves hidden behind private resort gates, to dramatic black sand beaches created by ancient and modern lava flows. No other Hawaiian island offers this variety in a single day's drive, which is why couples consistently search for the top beach wedding locations Hawaii has to offer right here on the Big Island.
This page features the 10 top Hawaii beach wedding locations our couples consistently choose. We've grouped them into 4 Kona white sand favorites across North Kona and Kona town, 4 dramatic black sand beaches, and 2 lush East Hawaii beach parks in Puna and Ka'u — covering every region's best beach wedding spots.
Kona Wedding Officiant® has performed hundreds of ceremonies across all 10 of these top Big Island Hawaii beach wedding locations since 2017. Our local team handles every detail — Hawaii State permits, marriage license filing, traditional Kukui nut leis, and end-to-end coordination — so all you have to do is say "I do." Browse below and click any beach to explore its full gallery and details.
Want To See Them All?
Browse the complete Big Island Beaches directory → with 33+ wedding locations across every region — including Kohala Coast resort beaches.
10
Top Beaches
4
White Sand
4
Black Sand
2
Puna & Ka'u
2017
Marrying Since
1,000+
Ceremonies
White Sand · North Kona & Kona Town
Top Beach Wedding Locations
in Kona, Hawaii
4 Curated Locations
Crystal turquoise water, soft white sand, and the classic tropical Hawaii beach wedding aesthetic. From hidden private resort coves at Kuki'o and Kikaua Point to beloved town beaches like Old Kona Airport and intimate Holualoa Beach — these 4 white sand locations are widely considered the top beach wedding locations Kona has to offer.
Black Sand · Volcanic Coastlines
Top Big Island Black
Sand
Beach Wedding Locations
4 Curated Locations
Black sand beaches are a Big Island signature — formed when molten lava meets the Pacific, shattering into glassy black grains. Punalu'u in Ka'u is the most famous and accessible. Kiholo Bay's hidden black sand cove sits along North Kona. Kehena and Kaimu in Puna offer the most dramatic, otherworldly settings — making them the best black sand beach wedding locations on the Big Island.
East Hawaii · Puna & Ka'u Parks
Lush Coastal
Beach Parks
2 Curated Locations
The windward and southern shores of the Big Island offer something truly unique — lush, jungle-fringed coastlines, dramatic lava cliffs, and tide pools rich with marine life. Mackenzie Park in Puna and Whittington Beach Park in Ka'u are two of East Hawaii's most beautiful and underrated beach wedding settings.
Hawaii's Two Beach Worlds
White Sand or
Black Sand?
Both make for unforgettable Hawaii wedding ceremonies. Here's how to choose between the two — and why many of our couples actually pick one of each for their wedding day and their portraits.
01
White Sand Classic
The quintessential Hawaii beach wedding aesthetic — soft white sand underfoot, calm turquoise water, swaying palms, and warm afternoon light. North Kona and Kona town white sand beaches deliver picture-postcard ceremonies and rank consistently among the best beach wedding locations Hawaii has on offer.
• Soft, walkable sand for guests
• Calm turquoise water + reef snorkel options
• Generally easier vehicle & mobility access
• Classic beach wedding photography aesthetic
• Best for: traditional ceremonies & larger groups
02
Black Sand Drama
Found almost exclusively on Hawaii's Big Island, black sand beaches were forged when molten lava shattered into glassy grains as it met the sea. The contrast of black sand against white wedding attire creates some of the most striking ceremony photography on the planet.
• Dramatic, otherworldly volcanic backdrop
• Exclusively Big Island — found nowhere else in Hawaii at this scale
• Punalu'u: green sea turtles often present
• Striking high-contrast wedding photography
• Best for: elopements, intimate & bold ceremonies
Why Couples Choose The Big Island
Hawaii Island offers more beach diversity than any other Hawaiian island
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White & Black Sand
The only island where you can wed on both in a single day
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10 Top Beaches Curated
Hand-picked by our local team since 2017
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Volcanic Drama
Punalu'u, Kehena, Kaimu & Kiholo black sand
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Permits Handled
State permits, insurance & coordination included
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Sea Turtle Sightings
Honu often visit Kuki`o, Punalu'u & Kiholo Bay
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Local Officiant Team
1,000+ ceremonies across all 10 of these beaches
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Group Size Range
From elopements to 25+ guest celebrations
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Marriage License Filed
State of Hawaii filing handled by us
Top Hawaii Beach Wedding
Locations on the Big Island
Choosing the right beach for your Hawaii destination wedding is one of the most exciting and important decisions of your planning process. The top Hawaii beach wedding locations are concentrated on the Big Island — which offers the most diverse range of beach wedding settings of any island in the Hawaiian chain. Kona Wedding Officiant® has been helping couples navigate that variety since 2017, and this page features the 10 top beach wedding locations Hawaii couples consistently choose, organized by sand color and region.
Top Beach Wedding Locations Kona, Hawaii — White Sand Coast
Kuki'o Beach sits within the gated Hualalai/Kuki'o resort community in North Kona — a pristine, palm-fringed crescent of white sand with calm turquoise water and a tranquil, secluded atmosphere, often ranked among the best beach wedding locations Big Island couples can access. Kikaua Point Park, just minutes away, is one of Hawaii's most underrated hidden gems — a tiny, perfectly protected white sand cove ideal for elopements and intimate ceremonies of 25 or fewer guests. Old Kona Airport Beach is the longest white sand stretch in Kailua-Kona town — easy public access, ample parking, and beloved by local couples seeking top beach wedding locations Kona with town convenience. Holualoa Beach is a small coastal cove just south of Kona town — intimate and perfect for sunset elopements with a romantic, secluded feel.
Top Big Island Hawaii Beach Wedding Locations — Black Sand
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach in the Ka'u district is Hawaii's most famous black sand beach — and one of the few places in the world where you'll often see honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) basking on the shore during your ceremony. The contrast of jet-black sand against white wedding attire creates unforgettable photography and makes Punalu'u one of the top beach wedding locations Hawaii for bold, memorable ceremonies. Kiholo Bay, on the North Kona coast, is a hidden black sand cove with calm aquamarine water — many of our couples are surprised to learn there's a black sand beach right on the Kona side. Kehena Black Sand Beach in Puna is a secluded, clothing-optional beach popular with bohemian couples seeking a wild, intimate elopement setting (we recommend Kehena for very small ceremonies only). Kaimu Black Sand Beach is one of Hawaii's most fascinating — the original Kaimu was buried by lava in 1990, and a brand-new black sand beach has formed in its place. Reaching Kaimu requires a 15-minute walk through a lava field planted with young coconut palms — an unforgettable, otherworldly setting.
East Hawaii Beach Parks: Mackenzie & Whittington
Mackenzie State Recreation Park in Puna is a dramatic ironwood-shaded coastline along sheer black lava cliffs — the surf crashes against the rock, and the result is one of the most cinematic wedding settings on the island. Mackenzie is best for couples who love bold landscapes over soft sand beaches. Whittington Beach Park in Ka'u sits along Honu'apo Bay and features ancient Hawaiian fish pond ruins, calm tide pools full of marine life, and stunning coastal views. Both Mackenzie and Whittington see far fewer crowds than the Kohala or Kona resort beaches — making them ideal for couples seeking privacy and a strong sense of place.
White Sand or Black Sand: Choosing the Best Beach Wedding Spot
White sand beaches deliver the classic Hawaii beach wedding aesthetic — soft, walkable sand, turquoise water, palms, and warm light. They're typically easier for guests and accommodate larger groups well, which is why couples searching for the best beach wedding locations Hawaii often start here. Black sand beaches deliver something you genuinely cannot get on any other Hawaiian island — dramatic, volcanic, otherworldly settings that produce some of the most striking wedding photography on Earth. Many of our couples actually choose both — booking a white sand ceremony and then doing a sunset portrait session at a black sand beach the following day. Our team is happy to help you map this out during your free planning consultation.
Hawaii Beach Wedding Permits, Logistics & Travel Fees
All public beaches in Hawaii require Hawaii State permits for wedding ceremonies, and we obtain these for every couple as part of our all-inclusive wedding packages. If we are unable to obtain these for you, we will guide you on how to obtain them for your wedding day. Travel fees apply based on location: Kohala Coast ceremonies carry a flat $200 per vendor travel fee, while East Hawaii locations like Mackenzie, Kehena, Kaimu, Whittington, and Punalu'u carry distance-based travel fees that are included in most Volcano and Black Sand Packages, or are a flat $300 per vendor if not included in your package. Private resort beaches like Kuki'o and Kikaua Point are managed by their respective resort properties — we coordinate access for our couples.
Browse All Big Island Beach Wedding Locations
This page features the 10 top Hawaii beach wedding locations our couples consistently choose. For the complete view of all 33+ Big Island beach wedding locations — including additional Kohala resort beaches like Coconut Grove at Mauna Lani, Hapuna Beach, North Kona coves, and Hilo-side options — visit our master Big Island Beaches directory. You can also browse our regional pages for Kona Coast wedding locations and Kohala Coast wedding locations.
Booking Your Top Hawaii Beach Wedding
Ready to claim your beach and your date? Schedule a free planning consultation with our team. We'll walk you through which of these 10 top beach wedding locations Big Island couples love best fits your date, group size, mobility needs, photography vision, and ceremony style — and help you find the perfect spot to say "I do" on Hawaii's most beautiful island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top Hawaii Beach Wedding Questions
Common questions about planning your Hawaii beach wedding ceremony — from choosing the right beach to permits, travel fees, and ceremony timing.
The 10 top Hawaii beach wedding locations include Kuki'o Beach, Kikaua Point Park, Old Kona Airport, and Holualoa Beach on the white sand side, and Punalu'u, Kiholo Bay, Kehena, and Kaimu on the black sand side. Mackenzie Park and Whittington Beach Park round out the list with their dramatic East Hawaii coastlines — spanning North Kona's pristine white sand coves all the way to Ka'u and Puna's volcanic black sand beaches.
The top beach wedding locations Kona has on offer are Kuki'o Beach, Kikaua Point Park, Old Kona Airport Beach, Holualoa Beach, and Kiholo Bay. These are the best beach wedding spots along the Kona Coast — ranging from pristine white sand resort coves and intimate hidden gems to a dramatic black sand beach right at Kiholo Bay. All five are within easy driving distance of Kailua-Kona town.
Both make for stunning Hawaii beach wedding ceremonies. White sand beaches like Kuki'o, Kikaua Point, and Old Kona Airport offer the classic tropical aesthetic — soft sand underfoot, calm turquoise water, and warm afternoon light. They're typically easier for guests of all mobility levels and accommodate larger groups well.
Black sand beaches like Punalu'u, Kehena, Kaimu, and Kiholo Bay deliver dramatic, otherworldly volcanic backdrops you cannot find at this scale anywhere else in Hawaii. Many of our couples actually choose both — a white sand ceremony, followed by a black sand portrait session the next day.
Yes — we officiate weddings island-wide. Travel fees apply based on location: Kohala Coast ceremonies carry a flat $200 per vendor travel fee, while East Hawaii locations like Hilo, Puna (Mackenzie, Kehena, Kaimu), and Ka'u (Punalu'u, Whittington) carry distance-based travel fees. These fees are included in most Volcano and Black Sand Packages, or are a flat $300 per vendor if not included in your package.
All public beaches in Hawaii require Hawaii State permits for wedding ceremonies. Kona Wedding Officiant® obtains and handles permits for all our couples as part of our all-inclusive wedding packages. If we are unable to obtain a permit for your specific date or location, we will guide you on how to apply for one.
Private resort beaches like Kuki'o and Kikaua Point Park are managed by their respective resort properties — we coordinate access for our couples directly with the resorts.
Yes — when chosen carefully and timed properly. Punalu'u and Kiholo Bay are the most accessible and family-friendly black sand options, ideal for ceremonies of varied group sizes. Kehena is clothing-optional and best suited for very intimate elopements only. Kaimu — the new black sand beach formed by the 1990 lava flow — requires a 15-minute walk through a lava field to reach. We guide every couple to the right black sand beach for their group size, mobility, and ceremony vision.
We recommend booking your Hawaii beach wedding 6 to 12 months in advance, especially for popular sunset times, resort beach locations like Kuki'o, and peak wedding season (April through October). Last-minute Hawaii beach weddings within 30 days may still be possible depending on date, location, and permit availability. Schedule a free planning consultation to check availability for your preferred date.
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7 dramatic black sand beaches — Punalu'u, Pohoiki, Kehena, Kaimu & more.
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