How to Elope at Tunnels Beach

The perfect blend of wilderness and beauty, Tunnels Beach, also known as Makua Beach, is one of Kauai’s many beautiful spots, located along the island’s famed North Shore. It is named for the underwater maze of lava tubes that create a unique marine life environment, but the beauty of this beach continues above the surface as well. With ridged mountains covered in thick greenery contrasted against turquoise waters and golden sands, Tunnels is the perfect backdrop for an adventure elopement that feels like paradise.

As a destination elopement photographer, I have been lucky enough to travel all around the world and Tunnels Beach still stands out in my mind as an epic place to elope. No matter how many times I visit this beach, it never fails to take my breath away, and I cannot wait to share my top tips for planning your own Tunnels Beach elopement so it can do the same for you.

Frequently asked questions about eloping at Tunnels Beach:

How do you elope at Tunnels Beach? 

Open year-round, Tunnels Beach is one of my favorite spots in Kauai to photograph no matter the season. Here is a breakdown of what you’ll need to know about the process:

1. Pick a Date

I have a section below outlining the best times to visit Tunnels Beach but, generally, April–October is best, especially during the shoulder seasons (i.e. April/May & September/October)! Those months offer lower prices as well as warm temperatures that aren’t as scorching as those of the summer months. They also bring smaller crowds, so you’ll feel like you have the entire beach to yourself!

2. Finalize Your Guest Count

You’re allowed a maximum of 30 people on the beach for your elopement via your permit. That number includes you, your officiant, photographer, guests, and any other vendors or performers you may want!

3. Get Your Permit & Marriage License

In order to get married on Tunnels Beach, you’ll need a Hawaiian Marriage License and a Wiki Permit rather than a Special Use Permit, since the beach is considered an “unencumbered shoreline” and doesn’t fall under the management of another government agency the way a state park does.

You can apply for the marriage license through Hawaii’s Department of Health’s official website here. You’ll need to pay the $65 fee online once you submit the application and then present it to a license agent in person—they will issue you the official license which will be valid for 30 days. The Department of Health website has a list of agents that you can meet with—just be sure to look under the “Kauai” section for the agents’ contact information. If you have more general questions and want information about the agents, you can also call the following number for Kauai-specific inquiries: (808) 241-3498. 

Hawaii also requires you to have a state-approved “Performer” to officiate the ceremony. There are some options listed on the Department of Health’s website here, but if you have someone in mind you’d really like to officiate, it is actually possible for them to become a state-approved Performer! All they have to do is register through Hawaii’s Department of Health (I’ve linked the specific webpage here) and pay the $35 fee for a 60-day license.

For the permit, you’ll need to first fill out an application to gain access to the Online Wiki Permits System, then proceed to the System’s website and officially apply through there. The permit fee is calculated by multiplying the amount of square footage you need for the ceremony by ten cents—there’s a required minimum fee of $20, which means you’re guaranteed a minimum of 200 square feet and can pay an extra ten cents per square foot if you want more. 

If you have any more questions about the permit, you can always reach out to dlnr.wiki.permits@hawaii.gov or call (808) 587-0449, or even check the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ FAQ webpage here!

4. Plan the Day & Pick Your Photo Locations

Since the beach spans roughly 2 miles, you’ll want to hire an experienced elopement photographer (like me!) who can guide you to the best spots at the best times for the best photos. I’ve done elopements at Tunnels, so I know where all the hidden gems are and am happy to help you plan a day at the beach that is filled with adventure, while capturing every magical moment of it!

5. Get Married!

All that’s left is to say your vows on the pristine sands of Tunnels Beach and enjoy every moment of it!

When’s the best time to visit Tunnels Beach: 

The best time to visit Tunnels Beach is during the shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October). During those months, you’ll find beautiful weather and excellent water conditions, but without the crowds and high prices of the summer season. Though, I will note that if you’re more interested in seeing the marine life known to hang around Tunnels Beach, then you’ll want to visit closer to the peak season (May or September), since that’s when the snorkeling conditions are at their best thanks to calmer waters!

Due to its popularity, Tunnels Beach can get pretty busy, so I suggest visiting on a weekday rather than a weekend if possible, and arriving early in the day to secure parking, since spots are limited. That also happens to be the best time for photos, especially if you visit just after sunrise when the light is hitting just right over the Pacific.

Pro Tip: If you want a slightly more dramatic vibe for your elopement, I actually recommend visiting Tunnels just before sunset. Standing on the beach, you’ll see that the sun sets directly over the ocean behind the mountains, which makes for some striking photos.  

Tunnels Beach Fall Elopement

During the fall months, Tunnels Beach is the perfect blend of everything. You’ll miss out on both the heat of the summer and the rain of the winter, find way reduced crowd numbers, and get a median balance of daylight that feels just right. Fall also tends to be more affordable in terms of travel & airfare, so it’s a win-win. 

How do you get to Tunnels Beach?

Tunnels Beach is located about 5 miles west of Hanalei Bay, just off of HI-560, also known as Kuhio Hwy.

How long is the walk to get to Tunnels Beach? 

Tunnels Beach is about 0.5 miles from the Ha’ena Beach Park lot, so it can take about 15 minutes to get there. The trek itself is super easy and absolutely gorgeous since you can walk along the shoreline instead of the highway, which means soft sand and great views of the ocean the whole way!  

How much does it cost to elope at Tunnels Beach? 

The main costs you’ll need to consider to elope at Tunnels Beach are the marriage license, the Wiki Permit, and the officiant. The marriage license is $65 and the Wiki Permit is $20, though it might be a bit more depending on how much space you want for your ceremony—the minimum square footage requirement is 200 square feet, with the cost of the permit calculated as ten cents per square foot. Then, there is the officiant cost which can vary depending on what you want. Since Hawaii requires state-approved “Performers” to officiate ceremonies, you can either hire one or have a friend/family member get ordained through the state, as I mentioned in Step #3 of the “How do you elope at Tunnels Beach?” section above. As of the writing of this guide, hiring someone who is already certified can cost an average of $100-300, while getting your chosen officiant certified for 60 days will cost $35. This means your total cost can range anywhere from $120–$385.

Other than that, your total elopement budget can be whatever you want! It will likely depend on your guest count, vendors, travel costs, etc. The couples who hire me usually prioritize having an adventure at a stunning location like Tunnels Beach and capturing every memorable moment, which is why they spend most of their budget on photography.

If you want more details on putting together a budget for your elopement, feel free to check out my full cost of eloping guide here!

Tunnels Beach Elopement & Wedding Photos

Tasha & Will’s Tunnels Beach Fall Elopement 

Tasha & Will knew they wanted to elope from the start. With neither of them having much attachment to pre-existing wedding traditions and a tendency towards not wanting to be the centers of attention, they knew an intimate day with zero drama that was totally focused on them was the perfect way to go. 

In the early stages of planning, they said: “A traditional wedding doesn’t feel right for us. We want this intimate experience where we can focus solely on each other and the beautiful scenery. We want to be relaxed and have a day that we will always remember and beautiful pictures so we can remember this special day. We will celebrate with friends and family after, but we want this just for us.”

Tasha & Will really wanted expansive ocean views from cliffs, gorgeous beaches with boulders, 4X4s, sunsets, and spots that had a little taste of everything scenery-wise. Kauai is gorgeous and feels so wild, so those are all easy asks.

They wound up with an epic 2-day adventure around Kauai that included all of that and more. 

Tasha & Will visited Tunnels Beach during their ceremony proper for a vow reading on the sand. This beach delivered perfectly on their desire to see beaches with boulders and say their vows in a place that felt like a slice out of everything Kauai has going on! With great views of the ocean, mountains right behind it, incredible lava formations on the sand, and thick greenery everywhere you look, this made for a perfect spot for them to exchange rings. 

The best part? Right after their ceremony, a huge rainbow popped up. They could see the whole thing from where they were standing, from end to end. It felt like the best sign.