Maui, Hawaii Elopement Planning Guide
If you’re looking to celebrate your love on one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Maui may be the perfect spot. A variety of landscapes and microclimates with a rich culture, you can feel the special mana (spiritual energy of power and strength) of the land. There are so many beautiful places to hold your ceremony, from the south side beaches in Wailea that offer perfect sunsets, to the lush east-side town of Hana. The Maui, Hawai’i Elopement Guide will set you up with the resources you need to get your elopement party started, all while being a respectful malihini (visitor) to the special island of Maui.
Maui Ceremony Locations
You will likely want to book a place to stay near where you are eloping. Maui offers stunning locations in every corner of the ‘āina (land), and drive times can be long. Your day will want to be spent more on foot, cruising hand-in-hand with your love instead of in the car!
Hana, Hawai’i is one of my all time favs. For my couples are interested in eloping in Hana, I recommend reading my guide on the Maui Wedding Creatives website where I lay out all of my recommendations!
Paia, Hawai’i offers a more laid-back experience on the north shore, and tends to have less tourists and more of a surf/hippie vibe. Morning elopements are beautiful on the north shore, where the wind is light and the beaches are empty.
Wailea, Hawai’i is my favorite for sunsets. The south side has beaches with coconut trees, lava rocks and colorful sunsets.
Kula, Hawai’i is where we can get view of the entire island, as we will be high in elevation! The Kula Lavender Farm offers private ceremonies, or for my mega adventurous types we can head to 10,000 ft. and get married on the top of Haleakala.
Favorite Vendors On Maui
One of my all-time favorite florists is Hawaii Flora Fauna, who makes one-of-a-kind wearable art and unique lei that are stunning. For my brides that would just like to wear a simple haku lei, check out Haku Maui. For hair and make up, check out Meili Autumn Beauty, her team travels all over the island and will have you covered for that natural beach look that my brides love! The officiant typically will put the permits for our location, and get you all set up legally for your ceremony! Looking for a full list of my favorite vendors on Maui? Head over to my contact page and send me an email and I’ll help you plan everything and connect you to all the talented artists and officiants on the island for your special adventure.
Activities To Plan After Your Elopement
There are so many romantic things to do on Maui during your trip, that will be the icing on the cake of a beautiful elopement. From a serene dip in the stream at Iao Valley, to a hike through Haleakala’s majestic landscape — you will get a chance to connect with yourself, your love, and the Earth in a way that is sometimes challenging in today’s chaotic world. I’m a big fan of slowing down and listening to this beautiful place. When going off the beaten path, I have a couple of tips that will help keep you in alignment with being a respectful visitor!
To make sure your hikes are safe, stick to designated trails in appropriate parks and avoid going on private property or to places that aren’t culturally respectful. With 3 million visitors every year, this is so important to being a badass tourists with common-sense and a reverence for this place. Pack the reef-safe sunscreen and avoid putting on chemicals before jumping in the streams or oceans! We are one of the first state’s to ban the sale of sunscreen that has oxybenzone and octinoxate in the ingredients (YAY for protecting oceans!), so if you forgot to pack it, no worries you can always grab reef-safe sunscreen at one of the stores here! Avoid hiking during flash flood warnings or rainy days, it will surprise you how quickly the water levels can change — always stay safe and wait for a nice day to head to waterfalls.
If you have specific requests or would like to know more about unique and romantic activities during your trip, hit my contact page and shoot me a message! I’m happy to help not only plan your dream elopement but craft a special itinerary for your day from a locals perspective and with a whole lotta heart.
