At this point I’ve written quite a few feature pieces about some of my favorite wedding venues throughout Hawaii, but today’s has me VERY excited! That’s because I get to talk about Kualoa Ranch, which happens to be one of my favorite wedding venues throughout the islands of Hawaii. Kualoa Ranch has been near the top of my list of favorites for years at this point, and for good reason. Let’s not waste any time and get right into what it one of Oahu’s premiere wedding venues!

What Makes Kualoa Ranch of Oahu Special as a Wedding Venue

As I mentioned earlier, Kualoa Ranch has been a favorite wedding venue of mine for years now, and they’ve remained at the top of my list for a number of reasons. Not only is the venue itself strikingly gorgeous, which you’d expect from a wedding venue on Oahu, but they do everything right to ensure their couples have THE best possible experience on their wedding day. Kualoa Ranch has gone through some pretty big changes over the years, but their commitment to doing the absolute most for their couples has always remained as a priority. That commitment, plus everything we’re about to look at below, is why I love this venue SO much!

A Breathtaking Setting

Alright let’s get the obvious out of the way first, Kualoa Ranch is one of the most beautiful wedding venues on Oahu! The venue sits at the base of the iconic Kanehoalani mountain, which you’ll probably recognize from movies like Jurassic Park. In addition to these iconic and breathtaking mountains, the venue also features lush and spacious lawn areas, stunning views of Mokoliʻi island, and so much more. There are endless options of backdrops to choose from when taking your wedding portraits at Kualoa Ranch. Take a peek at Hannah and Herman’s intimate wedding to get a sense of the beauty of this space.

More than that though, the spaciousness of Kualoa Ranch allows it flexibility as a wedding venue in terms of your guest count. The multiple lawn spaces all have maximum capacities ranging from 200 to 250 guests, but as you can see from Hannah and Herman’s wedding they are also equally perfect for more intimate celebrations. Kualoa Ranch features a large, open air pavilion with a capacity of 120 guests in case of any inclement weather as well. These options, and the beauty that surrounds them, all make for an ideal setting for weddings of any size. There’s more to love about Kualoa Ranch as a wedding venue though. A LOT more!

Amenities and Service

When couples book Kualoa Ranch as their wedding venue they’re treated to some truly wonderful amenities. The following amenities are included in both their weekend and weekday wedding packages:

• Tables and Chairs for Seating of 150 Guests
• Large Tent for Covered Space on the Main Lawn
• On-Site Restrooms
• One On-Site Air Conditioned Getting Ready Space
• Preferred Vendors List
• Optional On-Site Catering (which we’ll cover more in depth later!)

In addition to this though, the venue also aims to provide couples with the best possible experience for their wedding day as well as throughout the planning process. The team at Kualoa Ranch excel in helping couples plan out the details of their dream wedding day. With quick response times to questions, an abundance of resources to help in the planning process, and a requirement for a licensed wedding coordinator on your vendor team, every area is covered to ensure your wedding day lives up to the vision you have for it!

Farm to Table Experience

One of the most unique aspects of Kualoa Ranch as a wedding venue, aside from the breathtaking beauty, is their optional farm to table wedding day experience! Kualoa Ranch is more than a wedding venue, it is a 4,000 acre private nature preserve that hosts their incredible agricultural and natural farming practices. Kualoa Grown is the name of the diverse agricultural program, and responsibly produces products like grass-fed beef, aquaculture, fruits, vegetables, and more.

So how does this area of Kualoa Ranch’s brand affect their weddings? When booking Kualoa Ranch as your wedding venue you can inquire about incorporating these products into your wedding day for a true farm to table experience! Everything from the food of cocktail hour and your dinner, to the florals decorating your wedding, and even your desserts can all be provided by Kualoa Grown. It’s an amazing way to elevate the experience of your wedding day while also responsibly sourcing all these different areas of your celebration!

Logistics and Travel

Last but not least is planning out the logistics of your wedding at Kualoa Ranch. Thankfully the venue also makes this area incredibly simple for anyone looking to host their wedding here. The venue has an abundance of free parking on site, making it simple for you and your guests to travel to the venue even with the largest of celebrations. The venue is also around a 40 minute drive from Honolulu and Waialae, which isn’t too far of a drive or shuttle ride. For anyone looking for something closer though, there are a ton of Airbnb and Vrbo options that sit much closer to Kualoa Ranch. 

My personal recommendation though is to book your stay at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s north shore. This resort sits at around a 40 minute drive from Kualoa Ranch as well, but offers an absolutely stunning setting for you to get ready for your wedding day. It also is much simpler getting to and from Turtle Bay when compared to Honolulu as there’s often much less traffic to deal with!

It’s easy to see why Kualoa Ranch is and has been a favorite wedding venue of mine on Oahu, and that’s saying something as there’s NO shortage of incredible wedding venues on the island! To see what I mean, just check out some of my past venue features I’ve done for the Four Seasons Resort, Lanikuhonua, and Turtle Bay Resort. For more wedding planning tips be sure to check out some of my other articles, and if you’re ready to book me as your wedding photographer be sure to send me an inquiry today!