There are many beautiful locations to consider getting married at in Maui. Below I’ve outlined a several locations that you might want to consider.
Maui Wedding Locations:
Bellstone Black Rock Black Rock divides the beautiful beaches of Ka’anapali and Kahekili. Resorts line the coast but there are several public beach accesses available. This area is the site of one of the last volcanic eruptions on Maui. Snorkeling and scuba diving is especially good in this area as Black Rock forms a great reef wall. Locals are often seen diving into the deep waters around the rock. Useful Information: FREE Parking available at the parking garage between the Sheraton and the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel. However, only a few sites are free and fill up quickly. Pay parking is available at Whalers Village Shopping Center. Paved walking path stretches the entire length of Ka’anapali Beach. Restaurants, snack bars, gift shops located at the resorts lining the beaches. Public access pathways located between many of the hotels. Great site for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving when the ocean is calm. Directions: Take Highway 30 from Lahaina toward Ka’anapali. Turn left onto Ka’anapali Parkway at Mile Marker #24. Black Rock is located at the end of Ka’anapali Beach Dragon’s Teeth Useful Information: FREE, paved parking is located off Office Road. The hike to the point is approximately 5 minutes along the edge of the golf course. Honokahua Preservation Site is halfway to the point on the right side of the path. Wear sturdy shoes when walking on the lava point, as the area is rocky and uneven. Windy area – no facilities or water available. Good view of Oneloa Bay from the left side of the point. Directions: Turn left on Office Road just past Mile Marker #30 off of Highway 30. Parking is located on the right where the Office Road meets Lower Honoapiilani Road. Honokahua Preservation Site Useful Information: Weekly “Sense of Place” tours are offered to visitors by employees of The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua. View the area but DO NOT enter the actual burial grounds. Please show respect, as this is a religious site. Directions: Take Lower Honoapiilani Road to the end where it becomes Office Road. There is a small parking lot here. Park and walk along the edge of the Ritz Carlton golf course toward the ocean and Makalua-puna Point. The Preservation Site will be on your right. It is well marked with informational signs. Kahakuloa Head Useful Information: Wear sturdy hiking shoes if you plan to walk any of these trails. Carry plenty of water if hiking, as there is no shade, water, or facilities available. Directions: Travel east on Highway 340 past Kahakuloa Village, a short distance past the 14 –mile marker. Kahakuloa Head is on the left. Nakalele Point and Blowhole Useful Information: The blowhole, point and light beacon can easily be seen from the two trailheads without taking the hike. Two trails lead down to the blowhole – the first and longer trail called the Acid War Zone, leads down from Highway 30 starting at a dirt parking lot on the side of the road. The second and shorter trail begins less than 1/2 mile from the first site and is marked by a dirt pullout on the side of the road. Use extreme caution when walking these trails, as they are rocky and descend steeply toward the ocean. Wear sturdy shoes. Be very careful around the blowhole as the waves and resulting eruptions are unpredictable and dangerous. Directions: Follow Highway 30 (Honoapi’ilani Highway) north from Kapalua. The Acid War Zone trail is near Mile Marker #38 where a gravel parking lot is located. A dirt jeep road begins the trail, which takes approximately 30 minutes to hike. The second trail to the blowhole is located 1/2 mile past Mile Marker #38 and is marked by a dirt pullout along the side of the road. Olivine Pools Useful Information: Wear reef shoes when walking on the lava. Wear study shoes to walk the trail to the pools as it awkward and may be slippery. Do not wear lotions or oils in the pools as it may harm tiny sea life. DO NOT remove rocks, fish, or any sea life from the area· No facilities available. Monitor the ocean at all times – waves can be very unpredictable and dangerous. Directions: Take Highway 30 past the Bellstone going toward Kahakuloa Village. A small gravel road on the left is located just prior to Mile Marker #16. Park and walk toward the ocean. A rock platform overlooks the pools. To the left of this overlook is a lava bench and a trail leading down to it and the lava shelf. Kahakuloa Village Useful Information: Wonderful views of the village and ocean before and after the village. No gas stations or restaurants located in the village. Road is VERY NARROW for 1.5 miles leading into and out of the village – be very cautious and drive slowly! Directions: Take Highway 30 around the west end of Maui from Kapalua. The highway turns into Highway 340 just prior to the village. Kahakuloa Village is located between Mile Markers #14 and 15 on Highway 340. Lahaina Haleakala Volcano |
|
|
|
Maui is a large island with many great wedding sites to choose from. The island is composed of two dormant volcanoes joined together by a large valley. Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island and there is a lot here.
The Two Best Areas of Maui
There are many great areas of Maui, but we believe the two best are South and West Maui. So that you won’t have to travel a long way to your wedding site, it is probably a good idea to book your lodging fairly close to the location of your wedding.
Our favorite area is South Maui (sometimes referred to as the “sun belt”) where Kihei, Wailea and Makena are located. South Maui sits at the foot of 10,000 foot Mount Haleakala. The area boasts some of the best hotels on the island and some of the world’s finest beach sites. The weather here is drier and warmer year-round with a refreshing offshore breeze.
Every night the clouds over Haleakala slip down over Makena and create these awesome sunsets. Clouds also rise over the nearby uninhabited island of Kahoolawe. This and the offshore cinder cone of Molokini provide great views that are perfect for your sunset weddings.
The West Maui coast contains the island’s largest grouping of hotels and tourist activities. It is located in the Lahaina/Kaanapali beach area at the foothills of the west Maui mountains.
The area has green hills and white sandy beaches with many cliffs and bluffs jutting into the sea. There are many hotels and condos in this area and several excellent (though sometimes crowded) free beach sites for your wedding.
The weather in West Maui is a little wetter and the wind is often stronger than in the South especially in the winter, so weather is more likely to be a factor here. The clouds rising over the nearby islands of Lanai and Molokai offer great sunsets.
All of the public beach sites we list are FREE. Unless it is a public park, the other sites all require a site fee. Remember, if you aren’t sure by looking at the pictures what you want, we can describe the locations to you over the phone so you can find just the right site for your wedding.
But you don’t have to decide where you will get married until after you arrive. If you would like the opportunity to make your own selection before the ceremony, we’ll give you directions so you can scout out several sites.
have arranged our selection of Maui wedding locations by the type of site:
Free Maui Beach Sites — By far the most popular locations for a Maui wedding is on the beach. Maui’s beaches are second to none. The West and South Maui beaches face into the setting sun and therefore offer great sunsets about 95% of the time!
There are many great free locations to choose from. We have locations like Makena Cove (which is one of our favorites) where the surf pounds away at the black lava rocks just a few feet from the site of your ceremony.
Maui has some of the best beaches in the world. Many are perfect for your romantic wedding. As all beaches are public and therefore free, you can use just about any beach, even those right in front of your condo or hotel if you prefer.
But some sites are obviously better than others. We have performed weddings on so many of Maui’s beaches we definitely have several that we recommend, depending on the area where you are staying.
We have limited the choices on this page to those that offer features most couples prefer for their wedding site: beauty, seclusion, less chance of rain, low wind and a good view of the sunset.
South Maui Beach Sites
Overall, we believe that South Maui is the home of the best free beach wedding sites. They’re less crowded, with less rain and wind, and are generally more suited for your romantic wedding site.
The sunsets in the Makena area are usually awesome. The offshore view is of the islands of Kaholoowe and Molokini which usually have clouds over them which glow orange at sunset. It is likely that you’ll have a beautiful sky here for your sunset wedding. Each evening the clouds from Haleakala slide off the volcano and down towards the sea over Makena. Those clouds sometimes look dark and forbidding, but they seldom produce rain, even in winter.
Makena Cove
This location is a small and sheltered cove which is difficult to find by the casual tourist. Many locals have never even been to the beach, but fishermen often come here on weekends. It’s far less likely to be frequented by bathers and casual swimmers (it is not a good swimming beach because of the rocks and the large waves).
The biggest drawback about Makena Cove is that it is very popular with wedding coordinators and so it is often likely that there will be several other weddings going on during the same evening. There are also no restrooms or facilities at the cove and no paved parking area but there is parking on the road.
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach has been rated as the world’s number one beach by one source. The best location at this site for a wedding is the grassy hill overlooking the beach. The slope is gentle as you approach the crest of the hill, but steep on the ocean side offering an impressive view of the beach, the West Maui Mountains and the ocean.
The paved pathway leading down to the beach goes around the hill so that it is much more likely to be secluded on top of this hill than at many other public sites. But keep in mind that there is only one wedding site on this hill, and because this is a public area, it is possible that someone else might arrive first and hold onto the location (for picnicking or another wedding).
There is public parking nearby for 30 cars as well as a public restroom at the bottom of the hill. To reach the beach, take Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) south past Kihei to Wailea Alanui Drive. Turn left and the beach is just past the Grand Wailea Resort between it and the Four Seasons.
Ulua Beach
This beach is a popular public swimming location between two hotels (the Renaissance and the Outrigger Resorts). There is a nice spot on the sandy beach next to where the hill reaches the ocean and forms a small jetty of rocks in the water.
Weddings can be done on the beach or up on the narrow grassy hill overlooking the beach. This second site is a favorite of our couples for their dinner on the beach because of the romantic overlook of the ocean and easy accessibility for our chef.
There are public restrooms and 40 parking spaces available. To reach the beach, drive down Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) past Kihei until it makes a “T” at Wailea Alanui. At that signal, turn to the right (north). Quickly look on the left for the sign to Ulua Beach.
Po’olenalena Beach
This is a beach in the Makena area that is not as well known. The beach is long and sandy with a hill and lava rock outcropping to the left with palms overlooking the ocean.
The parking at this beach is not paved and the only “facility” available is a single uni-sex portable potty. To reach the beach, take Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) south past Kihei to Wailea Alanui Drive. Turn left and drive past the Kea Lani Resort until you see the small sign leading to the beach. Then walk over the hill to the left to reach the more secluded spot.
Makena Surf
Makena Surf is a location that our couples love. We often have the entire beach to ourselves or possibly one other wedding party. Because the beach is so big, the other wedding party can be a long ways away. It has palm trees in the distance and local lava rocks for dramatic picture settings. The sunsets are gorgeous. This is one of our first choices for a great wedding.
Cove Beach
Cove Beach is a popular site for surfers. Right to the left of the main beach is this small cove (pictured above). It provides a great look for your photography as you will have a palm tree overlooking your sandy beach site.
To reach the beach, turn south on Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) towards South Maui. When you reach Kihei, turn right on South Kihei Road as it heads along the coast for several miles until you reach the clearly marked sign for Cove Beach.
The site does not have many parking spaces and no facilities. But it is easily accessible and located right on South Kihei Road, the busy street that runs along the ocean through the town of Kihei so you are not far from many services
Black Rock Black Rock divides the beautiful beaches of Ka’anapali and Kahekili. Resorts line the coast but there are several public beach accesses available. This area is the site of one of the last volcanic eruptions on Maui. Snorkeling and scuba diving is especially good in this area as Black Rock forms a great reef wall. Locals are often seen diving into the deep waters around the rock. Useful Information: FREE Parking available at the parking garage between the Sheraton and the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel. However, only a few sites are free and fill up quickly. Pay parking is available at Whalers Village Shopping Center. Paved walking path stretches the entire length of Ka’anapali Beach. Restaurants, snack bars, gift shops located at the resorts lining the beaches. Public access pathways located between many of the hotels. Great site for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving when the ocean is calm. Directions: Take Highway 30 from Lahaina toward Ka’anapali. Turn left onto Ka’anapali Parkway at Mile Marker #24. Black Rock is located at the end of Ka’anapali Beach Dragon’s Teeth Useful Information: FREE, paved parking is located off Office Road. The hike to the point is approximately 5 minutes along the edge of the golf course. Honokahua Preservation Site is halfway to the point on the right side of the path. Wear sturdy shoes when walking on the lava point, as the area is rocky and uneven. Windy area – no facilities or water available. Good view of Oneloa Bay from the left side of the point. Directions: Turn left on Office Road just past Mile Marker #30 off of Highway 30. Parking is located on the right where the Office Road meets Lower Honoapiilani Road. Honokahua Preservation Site Useful Information: Weekly “Sense of Place” tours are offered to visitors by employees of The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua. View the area but DO NOT enter the actual burial grounds. Please show respect, as this is a religious site. Directions: Take Lower Honoapiilani Road to the end where it becomes Office Road. There is a small parking lot here. Park and walk along the edge of the Ritz Carlton golf course toward the ocean and Makalua-puna Point. The Preservation Site will be on your right. It is well marked with informational signs. Kahakuloa Head Useful Information: Wear sturdy hiking shoes if you plan to walk any of these trails. Carry plenty of water if hiking, as there is no shade, water, or facilities available. Directions: Travel east on Highway 340 past Kahakuloa Village, a short distance past the 14 –mile marker. Kahakuloa Head is on the left. Nakalele Point and Blowhole Useful Information: The blowhole, point and light beacon can easily be seen from the two trailheads without taking the hike. Two trails lead down to the blowhole – the first and longer trail called the Acid War Zone, leads down from Highway 30 starting at a dirt parking lot on the side of the road. The second and shorter trail begins less than 1/2 mile from the first site and is marked by a dirt pullout on the side of the road. Use extreme caution when walking these trails, as they are rocky and descend steeply toward the ocean. Wear sturdy shoes. Be very careful around the blowhole as the waves and resulting eruptions are unpredictable and dangerous. Directions: Follow Highway 30 (Honoapi’ilani Highway) north from Kapalua. The Acid War Zone trail is near Mile Marker #38 where a gravel parking lot is located. A dirt jeep road begins the trail, which takes approximately 30 minutes to hike. The second trail to the blowhole is located 1/2 mile past Mile Marker #38 and is marked by a dirt pullout along the side of the road. Olivine Pools Useful Information: Wear reef shoes when walking on the lava. Wear study shoes to walk the trail to the pools as it awkward and may be slippery. Do not wear lotions or oils in the pools as it may harm tiny sea life. DO NOT remove rocks, fish, or any sea life from the area· No facilities available. Monitor the ocean at all times – waves can be very unpredictable and dangerous. Directions: Take Highway 30 past the Bellstone going toward Kahakuloa Village. A small gravel road on the left is located just prior to Mile Marker #16. Park and walk toward the ocean. A rock platform overlooks the pools. To the left of this overlook is a lava bench and a trail leading down to it and the lava shelf. Kahakuloa Village Useful Information: Wonderful views of the village and ocean before and after the village. No gas stations or restaurants located in the village. Road is VERY NARROW for 1.5 miles leading into and out of the village – be very cautious and drive slowly! Directions: Take Highway 30 around the west end of Maui from Kapalua. The highway turns into Highway 340 just prior to the village. Kahakuloa Village is located between Mile Markers #14 and 15 on Highway 340. Lahaina Haleakala Volcano |
|
|
|
Maui is a large island with many great wedding sites to choose from. The island is composed of two dormant volcanoes joined together by a large valley. Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island and there is a lot here.
The Two Best Areas of Maui
There are many great areas of Maui, but we believe the two best are South and West Maui. So that you won’t have to travel a long way to your wedding site, it is probably a good idea to book your lodging fairly close to the location of your wedding.
Our favorite area is South Maui (sometimes referred to as the “sun belt”) where Kihei, Wailea and Makena are located. South Maui sits at the foot of 10,000 foot Mount Haleakala. The area boasts some of the best hotels on the island and some of the world’s finest beach sites. The weather here is drier and warmer year-round with a refreshing offshore breeze.
Every night the clouds over Haleakala slip down over Makena and create these awesome sunsets. Clouds also rise over the nearby uninhabited island of Kahoolawe. This and the offshore cinder cone of Molokini provide great views that are perfect for your sunset weddings.
The West Maui coast contains the island’s largest grouping of hotels and tourist activities. It is located in the Lahaina/Kaanapali beach area at the foothills of the west Maui mountains.
The area has green hills and white sandy beaches with many cliffs and bluffs jutting into the sea. There are many hotels and condos in this area and several excellent (though sometimes crowded) free beach sites for your wedding.
The weather in West Maui is a little wetter and the wind is often stronger than in the South especially in the winter, so weather is more likely to be a factor here. The clouds rising over the nearby islands of Lanai and Molokai offer great sunsets.
All of the public beach sites we list are FREE. Unless it is a public park, the other sites all require a site fee. Remember, if you aren’t sure by looking at the pictures what you want, we can describe the locations to you over the phone so you can find just the right site for your wedding.
But you don’t have to decide where you will get married until after you arrive. If you would like the opportunity to make your own selection before the ceremony, we’ll give you directions so you can scout out several sites.
have arranged our selection of Maui wedding locations by the type of site:
Free Maui Beach Sites — By far the most popular locations for a Maui wedding is on the beach. Maui’s beaches are second to none. The West and South Maui beaches face into the setting sun and therefore offer great sunsets about 95% of the time!
There are many great free locations to choose from. We have locations like Makena Cove (which is one of our favorites) where the surf pounds away at the black lava rocks just a few feet from the site of your ceremony.
Maui has some of the best beaches in the world. Many are perfect for your romantic wedding. As all beaches are public and therefore free, you can use just about any beach, even those right in front of your condo or hotel if you prefer.
But some sites are obviously better than others. We have performed weddings on so many of Maui’s beaches we definitely have several that we recommend, depending on the area where you are staying.
We have limited the choices on this page to those that offer features most couples prefer for their wedding site: beauty, seclusion, less chance of rain, low wind and a good view of the sunset.
South Maui Beach Sites
Overall, we believe that South Maui is the home of the best free beach wedding sites. They’re less crowded, with less rain and wind, and are generally more suited for your romantic wedding site.
The sunsets in the Makena area are usually awesome. The offshore view is of the islands of Kaholoowe and Molokini which usually have clouds over them which glow orange at sunset. It is likely that you’ll have a beautiful sky here for your sunset wedding. Each evening the clouds from Haleakala slide off the volcano and down towards the sea over Makena. Those clouds sometimes look dark and forbidding, but they seldom produce rain, even in winter.
Makena Cove
This location is a small and sheltered cove which is difficult to find by the casual tourist. Many locals have never even been to the beach, but fishermen often come here on weekends. It’s far less likely to be frequented by bathers and casual swimmers (it is not a good swimming beach because of the rocks and the large waves).
The biggest drawback about Makena Cove is that it is very popular with wedding coordinators and so it is often likely that there will be several other weddings going on during the same evening. There are also no restrooms or facilities at the cove and no paved parking area but there is parking on the road.
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach has been rated as the world’s number one beach by one source. The best location at this site for a wedding is the grassy hill overlooking the beach. The slope is gentle as you approach the crest of the hill, but steep on the ocean side offering an impressive view of the beach, the West Maui Mountains and the ocean.
The paved pathway leading down to the beach goes around the hill so that it is much more likely to be secluded on top of this hill than at many other public sites. But keep in mind that there is only one wedding site on this hill, and because this is a public area, it is possible that someone else might arrive first and hold onto the location (for picnicking or another wedding).
There is public parking nearby for 30 cars as well as a public restroom at the bottom of the hill. To reach the beach, take Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) south past Kihei to Wailea Alanui Drive. Turn left and the beach is just past the Grand Wailea Resort between it and the Four Seasons.
Ulua Beach
This beach is a popular public swimming location between two hotels (the Renaissance and the Outrigger Resorts). There is a nice spot on the sandy beach next to where the hill reaches the ocean and forms a small jetty of rocks in the water.
Weddings can be done on the beach or up on the narrow grassy hill overlooking the beach. This second site is a favorite of our couples for their dinner on the beach because of the romantic overlook of the ocean and easy accessibility for our chef.
There are public restrooms and 40 parking spaces available. To reach the beach, drive down Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) past Kihei until it makes a “T” at Wailea Alanui. At that signal, turn to the right (north). Quickly look on the left for the sign to Ulua Beach.
Po’olenalena Beach
This is a beach in the Makena area that is not as well known. The beach is long and sandy with a hill and lava rock outcropping to the left with palms overlooking the ocean.
The parking at this beach is not paved and the only “facility” available is a single uni-sex portable potty. To reach the beach, take Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) south past Kihei to Wailea Alanui Drive. Turn left and drive past the Kea Lani Resort until you see the small sign leading to the beach. Then walk over the hill to the left to reach the more secluded spot.
Makena Surf
Makena Surf is a location that our couples love. We often have the entire beach to ourselves or possibly one other wedding party. Because the beach is so big, the other wedding party can be a long ways away. It has palm trees in the distance and local lava rocks for dramatic picture settings. The sunsets are gorgeous. This is one of our first choices for a great wedding.
Cove Beach
Cove Beach is a popular site for surfers. Right to the left of the main beach is this small cove (pictured above). It provides a great look for your photography as you will have a palm tree overlooking your sandy beach site.
To reach the beach, turn south on Highway 31 (Piilani Hwy.) towards South Maui. When you reach Kihei, turn right on South Kihei Road as it heads along the coast for several miles until you reach the clearly marked sign for Cove Beach.
The site does not have many parking spaces and no facilities. But it is easily accessible and located right on South Kihei Road, the busy street that runs along the ocean through the town of Kihei so you are not far from many services.