Maui is a Destination Wedding and Honeymoon location that attracts many people from all over the world; they all want to come and experience a tropical island. There is something for everybody here from those who come to shop in the “Mega Hoity-Toity” Malls, golf, surf, whale watch, snorkel, stroll on the beach, dine in the trendy but affordable ‘eateries and drinkeries’ in Kihei or the trendy but overpriced resort palaces… to the ones that have a calling to experience a true tropical island experience “far and away” from the hustle and bustle of the crowds back on the touristy parts of the island. Well, they just have to drive a bit further, but then they’ll finally reach the ‘True Tropical Island Paradise’ of Hana. Hana is where the locals like to go for vacation, so take the tip and enjoy the trip!
OK, there really isn’t a bad place on Maui, it all still has a small town personal vibe and the endless white sand beaches on the South Side go on forever and back again. Boating and snorkeling on the island’s leeward side can’t be beat and you very rarely get rained out of an outdoor activity since it only rains a few days a year on the sunny south side. But this is the dry desert like part of the island, not much grows naturally here these days without heaps of piped in water. When one pictures in their mind a tropical island paradise, not only is there typically palm trees in the vision, but also lots of lush ‘rainforesty’ tropical plants.
Being located in the direct path of the trade winds, which bring in moist winds and rainfall accumulated from thousands of ocean miles, Hana is a natural tropical paradise. With year around warm weather and a constant gently misty to a light rain, the plants grow to humongous proportions. Imagine your vine house-plant ‘pothos’ with leaves about 2-3 feet in diameter!! Although the rain is consistent, it often just rains in the wee early morning hours or for a brief period during the day, just like a well programed ‘Rainbird’ lawn system.
So, this is already beginning to sound like the perfect Destination Wedding Honeymoon location, being away from the crowds with all the lush tropical beauty; heck, the fact there is no night life in Hana is a mute point since the Honeymoon couple will be bringing their own fireworks anyway!
Hana’s natural beauty is world famous with its numerous ‘True Tropical Island Attractions’ like the Seven Sacred Pools and the hike from there up the Pipiwai Trail, which passes through lush tropical foliage, amazing vistas, pools, waterfalls (including the 200′ Makahiku Falls), a bamboo forest– culminating at the base of the 400′ high Waimoku Falls. With every step is a refreshing breath of clean reinvigorating mega-plant enhanced (highly charged oxygen) air that tingles the senses and inspires the next step and the next, eager to experience the new vistas around each bend.
The Bamboo forest is nothing like any other walk in the forest. Each bamboo tree grows straight up to unimaginable heights towering way above you and the trail that forms this amazing canopy. Find a spot to lie on your back and day dream to sights and percussive sounds of the bamboo gently clunking together like a huge wind chime; this could become your ‘Happy Place’ to daydream upon for the rest of days.
For wedding couples with a modest budget or those who just have the adventurous inclination to experience camping out at Kipahulu, you will be treated to being conveniently located just a short walk to the 7-Sacred pools and the Pipiwai Trail. The campsite overlooks an endless horizon ocean view that goes on forever and at the same time comes crashing upon the rocky shores below the camp on the cliff; here you will experience a connection to the ground you sleep on that is without words but still empowering in one’s own perceptions, if so inclined. For larger ‘camping weddings’ they have a huge private section that can be reserved.
Camping is not for everybody and perhaps even seasoned campers might want to treat themselves to the next step up the budget, and that would be to seek out certain ‘Rustic Bed and Breakfast’ places. These bare essential places can range from rooms offered by a local family to a low budget rustic cabin; they may seem modest in design and frilly aesthetics, but often boast of astounding natural beauty the upper-scale Mega Palace resorts only attempt to artificially imitate. This arrangement will at least get you off the ground and offer a reasonable shower… Indoors… for the most part.
Moving further up the budget is easy with, well an un-apologetic budget, but considering that the average cost of a ‘mainland’ wedding, excluding the honeymoon, is over $30,000, even the more pricy Hana ‘Havens’ will be just a small percentage of a ‘mainland’ wedding since you can find complete Hana Wedding Ceremony, Flowers, Photography and planning Packages for a lot less than most weddings back on the mainland. The “one stop shop” Mom & Pop coordinators would be your best bet for this magical moment of your lives, being a smaller and more personal wedding team they are more flexible and can offer more cost effective logistics and will work closely with you every step of the way. After reading this article, check out the links below, you will find further factual factoids to fulfill your fantastic fantasies and fully facilitate your fun flowing marital bliss.
I should take this moment to mention the famous Highway to Hana, if you can call a winding road with a speed limit of 20 mph a highway. You won’t get to or from Hana in a big hurry and if you were to attempt to race there and back in one day it would be a shame. Quickly driving the so many scenic vistas and historical sites along the way without stopping to take in the views and feel the rich spirit of the area to “cram it all in” is not the island way, nor the best way to see everything. There are Lava Tubes, waterfall hikes, Bamboo forests — TAKE your TIME! The drive time from Lahaina to Hana is over 3 hours unless traffic is bad or there is road-work or whatnot. You should plan to start first thing in the morning and spend the whole day getting to Hana to arrive a few hours before a relaxing sunset and a toast to its glory. Do your Hana Highway research before you come to Maui so you’ve studied the places you want to stop. You will appreciate the historical events so much more when you are finally standing on such sites and see these places with your own eyes. I do say, there is a strong Spirit here, whether it’s the Islands Mana, the Spirits of Past Legends or just that natural uplifting feeling we get when we experience the wonder and beauty of it all… There is an Enchantment among True Grand Views of Nature all along the Road to Hana.
There are only two ways to get to Hana, the tropical route along the windward lush rainy side and the other “back way” going through Kula. One thing that is far and few in between on ether route are places to eat along the way so when you’re going to Hana the back way through Kula, be sure to stop at Bully’s Burger, they grow their own beef! They use the choicest cuts and the meat’s always fresh, right from the source. After leaving Kula keep an eye out for Molokini Island way down below, once you pass it Bully’s Burgers will soon appear on your left. Coming into Hana this way is best when you want to start your Hana Adventures at the Seven Sacred Pools area. If you are camping you can go right to your campsite after the drive from Bully’s and still be full for many hours. Set up camp at a leisurely pace with plenty of time to pull out the comfy chairs & toast the sunset. In the morning you can begin the enchanting Pipiwai Trail through the Bamboo Forest to the huge waterfall.
If you are staying further up the road towards the central town area of Hana it’s best to get an early start from your hotel, pack plenty of food and drinks, hit the road by 7am and you’ll be starting your hike by 11am. You may be too early for Bully’s but there’s always next time. You should still have plenty of time for the wonderful hike and then check into your Hana Haven down the road before sunset.
You can get married at Kipahulu with a very good chance to get one of the numerous secluded cliff side view spots, the permits to get married at this state park is $100, but this may be your best shot at finding a secluded spot with the least amount of ‘touristy’ foot traffic. For beach wedding permits that only cost the standard $20 just head up the road towards the central town of Hana. The price of the beach wedding permits is normally included in most wedding packages and really shouldn’t be a concern as long as you find your dream spot. Just be wary of planners that inflate that price to pad their profits, but you can expect a reasonable drive fee to help compensate for the 6 hour round trip.
The first beach worth a visit is Hamoa (going from the 7 sacred pools, there is a turnoff to the right with a loop) then a really nice beach–Koki Beach Park–this is one of our favorites for a stunningly beautiful beach wedding setting, with its multi-layered shades of red sandstone straight up the cliffs at the end of the beach. Then there is Kaihalulu which is promising for lower touristy foot traffic. The next beach is the stunningly Red Sand beach — it’s really red!
The last beach that can’t be missed is the Black Sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park; this could be your first stop on your way back to the civilized part of the island by taking the famous Hana Highway. Of course the trip can start by taking the Hana Highway first, perhaps my choice because of its amazingly lush and tropical views, I look forward to seeing that first with the hike through the bamboo forest a nice send off to the rugged and desolate shores and vistas along the ‘backway’; be sure to time your return for a nice lunch at Bully’s Burgers-our favorite and onlyburger hangout/lookout on the Magical ‘backside‘ of the Island of Maui!
If you will be having a Destination Wedding consider coming to Maui and get Married at a True Tropical Island Paradise.
Please note:
With the extensive drive time involved for a team of wedding professionals to travel all the way to Hana,
a fairly extensive drive fee is required.
For those without bottomless pockets,
we suggest that you have a very cost-effective highly romantic simple & sweet wedding
on Maui’s most popular beaches, then…
Honey Moon in Hana!
Contact the Maui Marrying Man for all your Maui Destination Wedding Planning Wishes.
A ‘Tried and True’ locally based Mom and Pop – One Stop Shop!
Bobbie Jo and this article’s author Roger Curley have a deep connection to the ocean and the Tropical Islands they have sailed to and lived among during their nearly 4 years of Sailing Adventures in the South Pacific with their son Robin aboard their ‘ol 51 foot sailboat ‘Hipnautical.’
We Bring the “Spirit of the South Pacific with the Soul of Aloha” – Joining loving couples in the deepest expression of Love!
Prior to our Sailing Adventures I enjoyed the experience of a 30+ year career in Hollywood’s Film, TV and Audiophile recording industry while Bobbie Jo has been performing Harp and Vocals at Wedding Ceremonies for over 30 years as well.
We bring our highly technical photography, video and worldly experiences together for Simply Elegant Dream Weddings on a Tropical Island.
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Experience Maui Marital Bliss through 1000’s of photos produced into slide shows that feature the countless themes of Love at a Maui Beach Wedding:
Learn All You Need to Know about Getting Married on Maui
Check out the Videos of ‘A Road Trip to Hana’ where you can view practically the entire round trip journey!
Plus our Hana Galleries – the awesome Natural Beauty of Hana at our Professional Photography site:
Come to Maui and get… Maui’d!
