Big Island honeymoon: a local’s guide for couples
If you’re planning a Big Island honeymoon, here’s the short version from people who live and photograph here: stay on the sunny Kohala Coast, plan one or two big adventures, and leave plenty of slow evenings for sunset. The Big Island is roomy and far less crowded than you’d expect, which is exactly what most newlyweds are after. Below is our local’s guide to where to stay, what to do together, where to have dinner, and how to fit in a few photos you’ll want on your walls.
A surprise proposal that started with a storm
This couple’s story is a good reminder that Hawaii plans can change and still turn out perfectly. A storm upended their original Kauai vacation, so he reached out to us to help coordinate a surprise proposal on the Big Island instead. We did a lot of planning together, and we loved that he wanted every single detail to be right: the spot, the timing, the light. He asked on the beach at the Four Seasons Hualalai in the warm late-afternoon light, and she said yes.
If you’re thinking about popping the question on your trip, we wrote a whole guide to planning a surprise proposal in Hawaii, and you can see more of our Big Island proposals here.
Where to stay on your Big Island honeymoon
For most couples, we’d point you to the Kohala Coast, the stretch of resorts north of the Kona airport. It’s the sunniest, driest side of the island, the beaches are calm and golden, and you can go a whole day without driving anywhere.
The Kona Village at Rosewood, where this proposal happened, is quiet and palm-lined, and it’s not unusual to find a honu resting on the sand there. Further north, Mauna Lani and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel each sit on beautiful beaches with plenty of room to spread out. If you’d like to see what photos look like at these resorts, here’s our Four Seasons Hualalai page and our guide to Kona Village.
Give the honu their space
A green sea turtle was resting on the beach during this session, and you can spot it in a few of these frames. We love moments like that, and we also love giving honu plenty of room. Honu are a protected species, and NOAA recommends staying at least 10 feet away from sea turtles, on land or in the water. Enjoy them from a distance, skip the selfies up close, and let them nap.
Romantic things to do on the Big Island
You don’t need to fill every day, and honestly we’d advise against it. Pick a couple of these and leave the rest of the trip for the beach and long dinners.
Snorkeling with manta rays at night off the Kona coast is the one couples talk about for years. Boats head out after dark and the mantas glide in to feed on plankton under the lights, often gliding just below you. A sunset sail along the coast is a gentler option and a lovely way to spend an evening, and from December through April you’ll likely see humpback whales too.
For something completely different, take a day for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It’s a long drive from the Kohala Coast, so start early, pack layers, and check the park’s current eruption and closure updates before you go. Stargazing is another Big Island specialty, and a guided tour up Maunakea for sunset and the stars is one of the most memorable nights you can have here. Bring warm clothes, because it gets cold up there.
Closer to the resorts, the Pololū Valley lookout at the end of the road in North Kohala is worth the scenic drive. The trail and lookout close now and then for maintenance, so check with the state DLNR before you head out.
Date-night dinners worth booking
Some of the best sunset tables on the island are right at the resorts. Brown’s Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid, CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani, and ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualalai all sit close to the water, so you can time dinner around the sunset. Up in the cooler ranch town of Waimea, Merriman’s has been a favorite for farm-to-table food for years. Book the sunset tables well ahead, especially around the holidays. Our list of the best outdoor restaurants on the Big Island has more ideas.
Honeymoon photos that feel like you
A honeymoon session is one of our favorite things to photograph. We keep it relaxed and easy, with light direction and lots of time to just be together while we work around you. Golden hour before sunset gives you that warm glow you see here, and it slides right into your dinner plans.
A fresh flower haku lei is a lovely touch for photos. Our favorite Big Island lei maker for sessions is Serena Leilani of SLEI Hawaii, based in Waikōloa, who does custom orders. For outfits, our guide to what to wear for couples beach photos walks you through colors and fabrics that photograph well. And because Aislinn edits every gallery herself, including clearing out stray beachgoers, your photos come back looking like you had the beach to yourselves.
When to plan your honeymoon
The Kohala Coast is sunny most of the year, so there’s no bad season for a Big Island honeymoon. Winter brings humpback whales and slightly cooler evenings. Spring and fall tend to be quieter and easier to book. The weeks around Christmas, New Year’s, and spring break fill up first, for resorts and for photographers, so plan early if you’re traveling then.
Honeymooning on the Big Island? Tell us your dates and where you’re staying, and we’ll check our sunset availability. Reach out here.
Big Island honeymoon: quick questions
Is the Big Island good for a honeymoon?
Yes. It’s quieter and less crowded than Maui or Oahu, the Kohala Coast resorts are calm and sunny, and there’s real adventure nearby, from manta ray snorkeling to the volcano.
Where should we stay on the Big Island for a honeymoon?
Most couples are happiest on the Kohala Coast, north of the Kona airport. The Four Seasons Hualalai, Kona Village, Mauna Lani, and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel are all favorites.
How many days do we need on the Big Island?
We’d plan at least five or six days. That leaves time for a long day trip to the volcano and still gives you plenty of slow beach days.
Can you help plan a surprise proposal on the Big Island?
Yes, and we love it. We help you plan the spot and the timing, then capture the moment and the celebration afterward.
When should we book honeymoon photos?
As soon as you know your dates. Sunset sessions on the Kohala Coast fill first around the holidays and spring break.
Written by Aislinn Chalker, founder of Wilde Sparrow Photography. I have photographed couples and families on Hawaii’s beaches since 2012, our team holds more than 200 five-star reviews, and our work has been published in Click Magazine. Learn more about us.
