Notice The City and County of Honolulu is not allowing any commercial events at this beach at this time. This page shows weddings we have done here in the past.
Planning a beach wedding now? See Waialae Beach Park, Magic Island and our other Oahu beaches.
Makapuʻu Beach sits at the southeast tip of Oahu, where the coast turns north toward Waimanalo. A crescent of white sand is framed by black lava rocks and sea cliffs formed by the island's volcanoes, the historic Makapuʻu lighthouse watches from the point, and Rabbit Island rises just offshore. The waves break right at the shore, which makes it a favorite of local body surfers, and Sea Life Park is just across the road.
The drive from Waikiki takes about 30 minutes along one of the most scenic roads on the island, past Hanauma Bay, the Halona Blowhole and Sandy Beach. Over the years Aloha Island Weddings planned many weddings, vow renewals, proposals and sunrise photo shoots here. Below are some of our favorite Makapuʻu couples, a little about each of their days, and links to their own wedding pages.
Real wedding
Jill & James
Jill and James said their vows on the sand at Makapuʻu under a bamboo arch, with palms lining the aisle and the cliffs and lighthouse above them. They lit a fire torch together during the ceremony, then spent the afternoon exploring: Jill in a crown of pink plumerias on the cliffs, a kiss in the ocean mist, the tide pools below the point, and even an underwater photo shoot in the turquoise water.
Real wedding
Ashley's Cliff Top Photo Shoot
After her wedding, Ashley and her husband climbed out onto the lava rock point at Makapuʻu for one of our most dramatic photo shoots. With Rabbit Island and the turquoise bay behind them, the trade winds caught a long pink chiffon scarf and sent it flying like a flag.
Real wedding
Stephanie & Ryan
Stephanie and Ryan lit a unity tiki torch together on the beach at Makapuʻu, then headed out to the black lava rocks for photos, where Ryan dipped his bride with the waves breaking behind them.
Real wedding
Beth's Makapuʻu Point Photo Tour
Beth and her groom finished their wedding day with a photo tour out to Makapuʻu Point, high above the windward coast, with Rabbit Island and the open Pacific spread out below them.
Sunrise photo shoots
Sunrise at Makapuʻu
Makapuʻu faces east, so the sun rises right out of the ocean beside Rabbit Island. Karen and James, and Naheshae and Damarus, met us on the lava rocks at dawn for golden, quiet photos before the rest of the island woke up. A sunrise photo shoot can be added to any package for $350.
Sunrise photo shoots → · Karen & James's photo tour → · Naheshae's wedding →
Proposals
Flower Hearts & a Proposal
Flower hearts on the sand are a favorite at Makapuʻu. On January 16, 2022, Mukesh surprised the love of his life with a proposal here inside a multi color tropical flower heart, with his brother and sister-in-law watching and Paul playing Pachelbel's Canon on the golden harp for their first dance.
Vow renewals
Vow Renewals at Makapuʻu
Couples come back to Makapuʻu to say “I do” again. Dikson and Alline renewed their vows here with their three children, each pouring a different color of sand into their unity sand ceremony. Another couple came from California to renew their vows by the shore break, and one couple celebrated 8 years together with a dance on the beach.
“The stars are my candles, the sun is my light, the clouds are my shade, and the translucent blue sky my stained glass windows. The sound of the sea is a choir and the gentle wind the movement of love. With sand beneath our feet, we will marry in God's own cathedral.”
Video
More Makapuʻu Love Stories
More couples who celebrated at Makapuʻu, from our YouTube channel.
Married on November 25, 2019 on the east coast beach of Makapuʻu, then celebrated at a Waikiki reception with ukulele, hula and a fire dancer. Fire dancers →
An October 10, 2021 ceremony with sweeping drone views over Makapuʻu Point, plus a few scenes at Paradise Cove.
A late afternoon ceremony in a quiet beach cove at Makapuʻu with the blowing of the conch shell, their own vows and a sand ceremony. Sand ceremonies →
After their ceremony this couple from Australia took a Lotus sports car out to Makapuʻu for speeches, cake cutting and sunset photos. See their wedding →
A photo tour after their wedding with stops at Black Point, Makapuʻu, Lanikai and Waialae. Marge & Joseph's photo tour →
Sharon and Josh came from Ohio. After their beach ceremony we took them to the Makapuʻu cliffs for photos, then on to Sandy Beach and an underwater shoot.
A bamboo archway in white chiffon and blush pink with roses, hibiscus, plumerias and orchids, a first dance, a guava juice toast and Hawaiian love songs on the ukulele.
A couple full of energy the day after their wedding, back out on the rocks of Makapuʻu for a fun photo and video shoot.
Video
Makapuʻu on Film
Bouquets of pink and yellow plumerias, lava rocks and shore break: a look at weddings at Makapuʻu.
Sea birds along the Halona coast and Koko Head, the scenic drive from Waikiki to Makapuʻu.
Design
Makapuʻu Wedding Designs & Moments
More of the arches, details and moments we have captured at Makapuʻu. Click any photo to see it full size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we get married at Makapuu Beach right now?
Not at this time. The City and County of Honolulu is not allowing commercial events at this beach, so we are not booking weddings here. This page shows weddings we have done at Makapuu in the past. We would love to help you find another beautiful beach, such as Waialae Beach Park or Magic Island.
Where is Makapuu Beach?
Makapuu Beach Park is on the southeast tip of Oahu at 41-095 Kalanianaole Highway, about a 30 minute drive from Waikiki along the coast, past Hanauma Bay, the Halona Blowhole and Sandy Beach. Sea Life Park is just across the street.
What is Makapuu Beach like?
It is a crescent of white sand framed by black lava rocks and tall sea cliffs, with the historic Makapuu lighthouse on the point and Rabbit Island just offshore. The waves break close to shore, so it is popular with body surfers, and it is one of the best places on Oahu to watch the sunrise.
Can I see more of a couple's wedding?
Yes. Many of these couples have their own page on our website with all of their photos. Look for the link under each couple's story.
Map
Where Is Makapuʻu Beach?
Makapuʻu Beach Park
41-095 Kalanianaʻole Highway
Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii 96795
About 30 minutes from Waikiki, on Oahu's southeast tip
Reminder: commercial events are not currently allowed at this beach. See Waialae and Magic Island for beaches near Waikiki.