Kihei Weddings: A Complete Guide to Getting Married in Kihei, Maui

There’s something wonderfully relaxed about Kihei.

It’s sunny.

It’s coastal.

It’s casual.

And it has that unmistakable Maui feeling where you can spend the morning at the beach, grab lunch in sandals, watch the sunset over the Pacific and never feel like you’re in a hurry.

For couples looking for a Maui wedding that feels beautiful without being overly formal, Kihei is a wonderful place to explore.

Located along Maui’s South Shore, Kihei stretches along a long coastline with beaches, parks, ocean views, restaurants and vacation accommodations.

It’s a particularly appealing choice for couples who want their wedding to feel like part of a real Maui vacation.

Why Get Married in Kihei?

Kihei has a very different atmosphere from the luxury resort environment of neighboring Wailea.

That’s part of its charm.

Maui County describes the Kihei coast as a southwest-opening coastline, with different sections of the shoreline experiencing different ocean and wind conditions throughout the year.  

For a wedding, that means you have plenty of coastline to explore when deciding what kind of experience you want.

Kihei offers:

• Beautiful beaches

• Ocean views

• Sunset scenery

• A relaxed atmosphere

• Restaurants

• Vacation accommodations

• Easy access to South Maui

• Family-friendly beach parks

• Beautiful photography opportunities

• A more casual island experience

And there’s something else couples often appreciate:

Kihei doesn’t feel like you’re trapped inside a resort.

You can walk around.

Explore.

Eat somewhere local.

Go to the beach.

And make the entire wedding trip feel like a Maui adventure.

What Is a Kihei Wedding Like?

There isn’t one particular style.

You could have:

A simple beach wedding

Just the two of you, an officiant and a photographer.

A small family wedding

Parents, children, siblings and a few close friends.

A sunset wedding

Ceremony followed by golden-hour portraits.

A destination wedding

Guests stay in Kihei and turn the wedding into a Maui vacation.

A vow renewal

A relaxed anniversary celebration beside the ocean.

Kihei works particularly well for couples who want the scenery of a Maui beach wedding without necessarily building the entire event around a luxury resort.

Kihei Beach Weddings

The beaches are obviously one of the biggest attractions.

And Kihei has several different beach areas, each with its own character.

Kamaʻole Beach Parks

The three Kamaʻole Beach Parks are among the best-known beaches in Kihei.

Maui County describes Kamaʻole Beach Park I as having a broad sandy beach, open spaces, ocean views and amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic areas and lifeguard services.  

Kamaʻole Beach Park II has a somewhat more intimate beach setting, while Kamaʻole III has a larger grassy area, playground and additional facilities.  

The beaches also offer views toward islands including Kahoʻolawe and Lānaʻi, creating beautiful backdrops for photographs.  

For couples, that means Kihei gives you several different beach environments to consider rather than one single wedding setting.

Keawakapu Beach

Keawakapu sits near the southern end of Kihei, close to the border with Wailea.

Maui County describes it as one of South Maui’s longer stretches of white sand, with ocean views toward Kahoʻolawe, Molokini and Lānaʻi.  

It can be especially appealing for couples looking for:

• Long beach portraits

• Ocean views

• Sunset photographs

• A natural backdrop

• A relaxed South Maui atmosphere

DLNR’s current Wiki Permits beach-location document also lists Keawakapu Beach in Kihei as a permissible location for the State’s commercial beach-activity permitting program.  

Charley Young’s Beach

Charley Young’s Beach is another Kihei location appearing on DLNR’s current Wiki Permits list.

The State’s current document identifies it as being in Kihei, north of Alanui Keʻaliʻi and north of Kamaʻole Beach Park.  

As with any public shoreline, couples should confirm the current rules, location and permitting requirements before building their wedding plans around a particular beach.

Kihei Wedding Permits

This is an important section for the site because “public beach” does not automatically mean “anything goes.”

DLNR currently says its Wiki Permits process is used for commercial beach weddings and other commercial activity on unencumbered State shorelines. It also notes that some beaches are managed by other government agencies and advises applicants to determine the appropriate jurisdiction.  

The current State beach list includes several Kihei locations, including:

• Charley Young’s Beach

• Kamaʻole Beach II

• Kamaʻole Beach III

• Keawakapu Beach

So before you book your photographer, officiant or wedding service around a particular beach, confirm:

Who manages the shoreline?

Does your activity require a permit?

What can you bring onto the beach?

Are there restrictions on structures or equipment?

For a deeper explanation, see our [Maui Wedding Permits] guide.

Kihei Elopements

Kihei is a natural fit for an intimate Maui elopement.

You don’t need a huge venue.

You don’t need a ballroom.

You don’t need a guest list of 100 people.

You can keep things beautifully simple:

Ceremony → photographs → sunset → dinner.

Maybe it’s just the two of you.

Maybe your parents come.

Maybe your children stand beside you.

The point is that the experience stays personal.

Explore our complete [Maui Elopements] guide.

Small & Intimate Weddings in Kihei

Kihei also works beautifully for small weddings.

Imagine a group of 10 or 15 people gathering for a beach ceremony, followed by photographs and dinner.

Because the wedding is small, you can spend more time with each guest.

You can walk along the beach together.

Take family photographs.

Have dinner somewhere nearby.

And actually enjoy the day rather than spending the entire afternoon moving a huge group from one location to another.

See [Small & Intimate Weddings].

Destination Weddings in Kihei

Kihei can be a particularly appealing base for a destination wedding because guests can experience much more than the ceremony.

A wedding trip might include:

Arrival Day

Guests settle into their accommodations.

Welcome Evening

Casual drinks or dinner.

Wedding Day

Ceremony.

Family photographs.

Couple portraits.

Sunset.

Dinner.

The Next Day

Beach.

Snorkeling.

Pool.

Shopping.

Or absolutely nothing.

Because let’s be honest…

doing absolutely nothing in Maui is a legitimate vacation activity. 😂

Explore [Maui Destination Weddings].

Kihei Wedding Photography

Kihei gives photographers a lot to work with.

The South Maui coastline offers:

• Sandy beaches

• Ocean views

• Palm trees

• Rocky shoreline

• Mountain scenery

• Island views

• Golden-hour light

• Sunset

Your wedding photographs can tell more than the story of your ceremony.

They can tell the story of your Maui experience.

Think about photographing:

Getting ready

First look

Ceremony

Family

Couple portraits

Walking along the beach

Sunset

Dinner

Candid moments

And don’t be afraid to let the photographs breathe.

Some of the best images may happen when you’re simply walking together rather than posing.

Explore [Maui Wedding Photography].

Sunset Weddings in Kihei

Kihei’s western-facing coastline gives couples beautiful opportunities for evening photography.

Sunset can be particularly magical.

The ceremony can take place earlier, followed by family photographs and then couple portraits as the light becomes warmer.

For photography, timing matters.

The best light doesn’t wait for you.

So if sunset portraits are important, build them into the wedding schedule.

See [Best Time for a Maui Wedding] for more ideas.

What Should You Wear for a Kihei Wedding?

Kihei tends to lend itself beautifully to a relaxed island wedding style.

You can certainly dress formally.

But you don’t have to.

Consider:

Beach Elegant

A beautiful dress with comfortable footwear.

Island Formal

A polished outfit using lightweight fabrics.

Tropical Casual

Linen, flowing fabrics and relaxed styling.

Barefoot

Because you’re getting married in Maui.

Why not?

For more ideas, see [Maui Wedding Attire].

Kihei Wedding Flowers

The South Maui landscape already gives you plenty of tropical color.

Your flowers can be simple.

Think:

• Tropical bouquets

• Hawaiian leis

• Orchids

• Greenery

• Small ceremony arrangements

• Simple reception flowers

For a beach wedding, you don’t necessarily need a huge floral installation.

Sometimes a beautiful bouquet and a lei are enough.

Planning a Kihei Wedding Around the Weather

Kihei is known for its sunny South Maui environment, but weather conditions can vary.

Maui County notes that different parts of the Kihei coastline can experience different wind and swell patterns, with seasonal conditions affecting the beaches.  

That means your exact location matters.

Before the wedding, talk with your planner or photographer about:

• Wind

• Sun exposure

• Heat

• Rain

• Ocean conditions

• Sunset

• Backup plans

A good photographer will also know how changing light affects the photographs.

How Much Does a Kihei Wedding Cost?

There’s no single Kihei wedding price.

Your budget depends on what you’re creating.

You might have:

A simple elopement

with an officiant and photographer.

Or:

A small beach wedding

with family and dinner.

Or:

A destination wedding

with dozens of guests, accommodation and a reception.

Costs can include:

• Venue or location

• Officiant

• Photography

• Flowers

• Hair and makeup

• Wedding attire

• Reception

• Catering

• Transportation

• Accommodation

• Entertainment

• Permits where applicable

For the broader Maui picture, see:

[How Much Does a Maui Wedding Cost?]

Getting Married in Kihei: Marriage License

If you’re legally getting married in Hawaiʻi, you’ll need a Hawaiʻi marriage license.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health currently requires couples to appear together before an authorized agent. The current license fee is $65, there is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 30 days. Hawaiʻi does not require state residency or U.S. citizenship. (⁠health.hawaii.gov)

For the most current requirements, always verify the information directly with the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.

Our guide is here:

[Maui Marriage License]

Things to Do With Your Wedding Guests in Kihei

If you’re bringing guests to Kihei, give them the opportunity to enjoy the area.

They can spend time:

• At the beach

• Snorkeling

• Paddleboarding

• Watching the sunset

• Exploring South Maui

• Visiting nearby Wailea

• Enjoying local restaurants

• Taking a boat excursion

• Relaxing by the pool

Kamaʻole Beach Park I, for example, offers swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, picnic areas, showers, restrooms and lifeguard services.  

You don’t need to organize every minute.

Give everyone a few ideas and let them create their own Maui vacation.

A Beautiful Kihei Wedding Day

Here’s one way to structure your day:

Morning

Breakfast.

Beach walk.

Relax.

Afternoon

Get ready.

Hair and makeup.

First look.

Late Afternoon

Ceremony.

Family photographs.

Golden Hour

Couple portraits.

Walk along the beach.

Sunset

Photographs.

Evening

Dinner.

Drinks.

Celebrate.

No giant production.

No rushing.

Just Maui.

Kihei vs. Wailea for Your Wedding

If you’re trying to decide between the two:

Wailea

Think:

Luxury resort + polished + upscale + convenient

Kihei

Think:

Relaxed + beachy + casual + local-feeling

Neither has to be better.

They’re simply different experiences.

And that’s exactly why we have separate pages for them.

Planning Your Kihei Wedding

Start with five decisions:

1. How many people are coming?

2. Beach or another venue?

3. Elopement, intimate wedding or destination wedding?

4. Sunrise, afternoon or sunset?

5. What’s most important to you—photography, location, food, guests or simplicity?

Then explore:

[Maui Weddings]

[Maui Beach Weddings]

[Maui Elopements]

[Small & Intimate Weddings]

[Maui Wedding Photography]

[Maui Wedding Planning]

[Maui Wedding Permits]

Your Kihei Wedding

Kihei doesn’t need to dress up to impress you.

That’s part of its charm.

You can walk down to the beach in the afternoon.

Feel the warm sand beneath your feet.

Watch the palm trees move in the breeze.

Say your vows with the Pacific behind you.

Take photographs as the sun drops toward the horizon.

Then go have dinner.

Simple.

Beautiful.

Maui.

And perhaps that’s exactly what you’ve been looking for.

🌺 Your Kihei wedding begins here.