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Big Island beach ceremony sites: who gives the permit, and what it costs
A beach wedding or elopement in Hawaiʻi needs a permit when anyone is paid to be there, which includes your photographer and officiant. Which permit you need depends on who manages the beach. This page lists what the official sources say for six Big Island beaches.
| Beach | Who manages it | Permit and published fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kukio Beach | State shoreline, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Land Division | State beach permit (Wiki Permit): 10 cents per square foot, $20 minimum per event dlnr.hawaii.gov |
| Kikaua Point | The sand is state shoreline. The park behind it is private, and DLNR's list says access needs a pass-through permit from the Kikaua Point Park Maintenance Corporation. | State beach permit (Wiki Permit): 10 cents per square foot, $20 minimum per event, plus the private pass-through permit dlnr.hawaii.gov |
| Mahaiʻula Beach | Hawaiʻi State Parks | State Parks Special Use Permit. No wedding fee is published; State Parks sets conditions and any fee with the permit. dlnr.hawaii.gov |
| Hāpuna Beach | Hawaiʻi State Parks | State Parks Special Use Permit. No wedding fee is published. dlnr.hawaii.gov |
| Waialea Bay (Beach 69) | The county's shoreline guide places it in Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area. Confirm with the State Parks district office before planning. | State Parks Special Use Permit, if State Parks confirms dlnr.hawaii.gov |
| Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach | The sand is state shoreline. The park beside it is privately owned and its public operation changed in 2026, so check access and parking before choosing it. | State beach permit (Wiki Permit): 10 cents per square foot, $20 minimum per event dlnr.hawaii.gov |
The state beach permit in short
- Fee: 10 cents per square foot, with a $20 minimum per event. source
- Time: set-up, ceremony and clean-up together may not exceed two hours.
- Not allowed: arches, altars, tables, tents, signs, amplified instruments and alcohol. Chairs only as strictly needed for elderly, infirm or disabled guests.
- Allowed: loose flowers, leis and bouquets, unamplified instruments, cameras, and a small podium or cake stand no more than three feet square.
- Insurance: the permit holder needs liability insurance of at least $500,000 per incident and $1,000,000 aggregate naming the State of Hawaiʻi.
- Not private: the permit does not reserve the beach, and you may not ask other people to move.
Full detail: the Hawaiʻi beach wedding permit explained.
State parks
Weddings in a state park need a Special Use Permit. State Parks asks for the request at least 45 days before the date, and says proposed commercial events should be requested no less than 90 days ahead. Groups of 26 or more always need a group use permit. source
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The park issues its own permit. See getting married in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Places we have left off
We list a beach only when an official source confirms how ceremonies are permitted there. Some well-known spots are not on this page because we could not confirm that, or because the place is culturally sensitive and has no ceremony permit. If you have one in mind, ask us and we will tell you what we found.