Our top Hilo picks: · Liliʻuokalani Gardens (lush greenery) · Coconut Island (ocean view) · Both on Banyan Drive · Perfect for a no-stress Hilo-side wedding
⸺ Watch a Real Ceremony ⸺
See a Wedding on the Hilo Side
A real Kona Wedding Officiant ceremony filmed at one of our Hilo locations.
Filmed on location in Hilo · East Big Island
AREA
Hilo · East Big Island
SETTINGS
Gardens · Ocean · Waterfall
OUR TOP PICKS
Liliʻuokalani & Coconut Island
PARKING
Limited
⸺ Hilo-Side Weddings
About our Hilo Locations
There are several locations in Hilo that make for a great wedding ceremony. Our top choices are Liliʻuokalani Gardens and Coconut Island — the gardens offer lush greenery and Coconut Island offers an ocean view. Both are located on Banyan Drive, and both are perfect for a no-stress Hilo-side wedding.
For a simplistic waterfall elopement, explore Boiling Pots at Rainbow Falls. For east-side beachfront options, Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park are both solid picks.
Not sure which spot fits your vision? Schedule a consultation and we'll walk you through the options.
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⸺ All Our Hilo Spots at a Glance ⸺
Where in Hilo You Can Say "I Do"
A quick overview of the Hilo-side ceremony locations we work at — from manicured gardens to a hidden waterfall to east-side beach parks.
Our Hilo Ceremony Spots
Six Hilo-side locations to choose from. Our top two picks sit side-by-side on Banyan Drive.
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Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Lush greenery · Our top pick
Hilo Bay
Classic east-side bay setting
Carlsmith Beach Park
East-side beachfront option
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Coconut Island
Ocean view · Our top pick
Rainbow Falls / Boiling Pots
For a simple waterfall elopement
Richardson Ocean Park
East-side beachfront option
⸺ About the Area
Planning Your Hilo-Side Wedding
Hilo sits on the east side of the Big Island, roughly a 90-minute drive from Kailua-Kona and the Kona International Airport. It's a lush, green, slower-paced town with its own airport (ITO) that makes it convenient for couples flying in from the mainland or inter-island.
Unlike the sunny, dry Kona Coast, Hilo is known for its tropical rainforest climate, waterfalls, botanical gardens, and east-facing shoreline. It's the perfect choice for couples who want a wedding setting that feels more like old Hawaii — green, quiet, and uncrowded.
Our Top Hilo Picks
Liliʻuokalani Gardens and Coconut Island are our two favorite Hilo ceremony spots. Both are located on Banyan Drive, just steps from each other. Liliʻuokalani Gardens offers manicured Japanese-style gardens with ponds, stone bridges, and lush greenery. Coconut Island is a small island connected by a footbridge, offering open ocean views toward Hilo Bay.
Other Hilo-Side Options
For a simple waterfall elopement, Boiling Pots at Rainbow Falls is a scenic option. For an east-side beachfront ceremony, Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park are both solid choices.
Hilo Weather
Hilo receives more rain than the Kona side, which is what keeps it so green. Rain here often comes in short bursts rather than all-day storms, and ceremonies can usually be timed around weather with a bit of flexibility. Morning ceremonies tend to have the best odds of clear skies.
⸺ Each Hilo Location, Explained ⸺
Your Six Hilo-Side Ceremony Spots
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Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Our top pick. A 24-acre Japanese-style public garden on Banyan Drive with ponds, stone bridges, and lush greenery — the most popular Hilo-side ceremony spot.
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Coconut Island
Our other top pick. A small island connected by a footbridge, right next to Liliʻuokalani Gardens. Ocean views across Hilo Bay with Mauna Kea in the distance on clear days.
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Hilo Bay
Early mornings at Mauna Kea Beach are quieter — before the daytime crowds arrive.
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Rainbow Falls / Boiling Pots
For a simple waterfall elopement. Boiling Pots is the series of pools and small falls up the Wailuku River from Rainbow Falls — a scenic choice for couples who want a waterfall backdrop.
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Carlsmith Beach Park
An east-side beachfront park with calm, protected tide pools and shoreline — a solid pick if you want a Hilo-side beach ceremony.
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Richardson Ocean Park
A black-sand east-side beach park just past Carlsmith — another solid pick for a Hilo-side beach ceremony.
⸺ COMMON QUESTIONs ⸺
Hilo-Side Wedding FAQ
Hilo sits on the east side of the Big Island, roughly a 90-minute drive from Kailua-Kona and the Kona International Airport. Hilo has its own airport (ITO), which is a convenient option for couples flying in.
Our top two picks are Liliʻuokalani Gardens (for lush greenery) and Coconut Island (for ocean views). They sit right next to each other on Banyan Drive, so some couples do both — a ceremony at one and portraits at the other.
Yes — Boiling Pots at Rainbow Falls is our go-to for a simple waterfall elopement on the Hilo side.
Yes. Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park are both east-side beachfront options. They're a different look than Kona-side beaches — more green, more lava rock, and in the case of Richardson, black sand.
Hilo gets more rain than Kona, which is what keeps it so green. Rain often comes in short bursts rather than all-day storms, and ceremonies can usually be timed around weather. Morning ceremonies tend to have the best odds of clear skies.
All-inclusive Hilo-side wedding packages start at $995 and include a licensed officiant, professional photographer, Hawaiian leis, coordination, and marriage license filing. Travel fees may apply for Hilo locations since they're on the east side of the island.