All four of these Big Island beach locations are intimate and ideal for a small wedding or elopement. They also all require permits, something which Simply Eloped is happy to coordinate if you book one of our Big Island elopement packages.
Pine Trees Beach
This beach has a stunning mix of black rock, white sands, ocean, and trees (ironically, there are no pine trees though, just mangroves). A favorite among local surfers for its consistent waves, this beach is easy to get to from Kona and is on the west side of the island, meaning it’s ideal for a sunset ceremony. Note that although this beach has a small paved parking lot, there aren’t any restrooms on-site.
Captain Cook Bay or Kealakekua Bay
Located on the west shore of the Big Island, this is the spot for adventurous couples looking to elope. Home to a spectacular reef, this location has a ton of stuff to see below water as well as on land. We recommend having your ceremony on the little inlet of Captain Cook Bay then renting a sea kayak and getting caught in a pod of dolphins (which of course you’ll have to hop out of the kayak to swim with).
Kiholo
Despite requiring a bit of a drive from most places on the island, this north shore location is great for couples craving a secluded ceremony. If you want black sand beaches and sea turtles, this is the place! On your way to Kiholo, there’s also a scenic overlook at Mile Marker #82 on Highway 19 with a panoramic view of the coast. Note that for this location, you’ll want to make sure you have a 4×4 car and that you book your permit more than 45 days in advance.
Puako
This beach, located on the northwest shore of the Big Island, has black rocks strewn amongst the sand. Ideal for an intimate elopement, Puako doesn’t see a lot of tourists. Plus, the snorkeling here is amazing. This region, the Waikoloa, is also among the driest of all the Hawaiian Islands, receiving just 10 inches of rain a year and the most sunshine. Nearby is the Puako petroglyph field, where you can see more than 3,000 ancient rock drawings.