| From far away, it can be confusing knowing which of | | | | specially on Kauai such as kayaking, horseback riding, |
| 4 beautiful and exotic islands to choose from for | | | | tube rides, taro patch tours, ziplining and much more. |
| your beach wedding in Hawaii. Here is a brief | | | | It has great natural diversity, including a large colorful |
| breakdown of the 4 main Hawaiian islands based on | | | | canyon, steep cliffs, jungle, and desert. Many people |
| my 10+ years living and traveling on these islands: | | | | consider it to be the best of both worlds because |
| Oahu-This is where Waikiki and Honolulu are located. | | | | you can have your tropical island getaway and |
| It is NOT the Big island, which is a common | | | | romantic Hawaii wedding on a beach without 100 |
| misconception. This island is where most of the | | | | unwanted guests, yet you still have options of many |
| people in the state of Hawaii live, and thus it is very | | | | things to do. |
| much like a big city you would find on the United | | | | The Big Island/Hawaii- The Big Island, or the Big I, is |
| States mainland dropped onto an island setting, at | | | | the largest of the main islands and is very large with |
| least until you leave the Honolulu/Waikiki area. If you | | | | very few residents. There is not much nightlife, but |
| are looking for nightlife traffic and tourists, this is a | | | | you certainly can get far away from everything. The |
| good place to go. If you are looking for a | | | | Big Island of Hawaii also has an active volcano you |
| quintessential trip to tropical Hawaii, this is not the | | | | can hike out to and actually see the hot lava enter |
| best choice. | | | | the ocean. Other than that, you will not have so |
| Maui-This is the next most populated and busiest | | | | many things to 'do' (there are of course all the |
| island. It is not really like a major city, but it does | | | | normal tourist activities), but it does have immense |
| have a lot of people, city grid-like streets, and | | | | natural diversity. (Out of the world's 33 climatic |
| reminds many of southern California put on an island. | | | | zones, the Big I has 26 of them.) |
| However, it is possible to get away on Maui if you | | | | So, there is my personal overview of the 4 main |
| head to the west side (which is dry) or around the | | | | islands (there are 7 in the state of Hawaii but almost |
| other side of the island towards Hana (where | | | | all visitors go to these islands only). Having a Hawaii |
| unfortunately there are few to no places for tourist | | | | beach wedding is a wonderful experience. Having a |
| accommodation). Maui is full of social butterflies and | | | | Kauai beach wedding is even more special in my |
| its great nightlife is not consolidated into one place | | | | opinion because of the special nature of this garden |
| like on Oahu. | | | | island. Kauai has so many secluded spots and |
| Kauai-This is the beautiful garden island and it is filled | | | | gorgeous backgrounds that the pictures always turn |
| with tropical flowers, botanical gardens and lush | | | | out better. There are beaches where you can stand |
| beauty. Kauai does not have grid-like streets and is | | | | facing one way and have a mountain scene behind |
| considered the 'country' get away from the 'city' of | | | | you, face another way and have mountains and a |
| Oahu. It is the least populated of the Hawaiian islands. | | | | beach and a pier, and face yet another way and |
| Kauai has a valley called Kalalau valley which many | | | | have cliffs and a river next to a beach behind you! |
| guide books and people consider to be the most | | | | You can imagine how stunning the wedding |
| beautiful place on the islands (I think it's actually the | | | | photography is when you have that much variety in |
| most beautiful place on Earth!), so you will often find | | | | one spot. |
| Kalalau on the cover of a book on Hawaii. (It's like | | | | Of course, no matter which island you choose, having |
| the cover girl of Hawaii, your quintessential gorgeous | | | | a wedding coordinator or wedding planner will make |
| vista.) | | | | your special Hawaii beach wedding day run so much |
| Kauai does not have the nightlife options that the | | | | more smoothly. It's so comforting and relaxing to |
| previous 2 islands have, but there are options of | | | | know that someone else is running around doing your |
| some bars and places to dance. There are many | | | | worrying for you! Luckily for all the brides and |
| options of things to do during the day/night ranging | | | | grooms-to-be, there are many attentive and |
| from all of the normal tourist attractions (snorkeling, | | | | experienced wedding coordinators in Hawaii. |
| helicopter rides, luaus, boat rides etc.) to things found | | | | |