About Honolulu
Spanning from Pearl Harbor to Makapuu point, Honolulu is a 16km long city that can be found on the southeast coast of Oahu. The majority of Oahu's population occupies Honolulu, and it is also the known capital of Hawaii. This metropolis served as an important base during most of World War II as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and an estimated 24,000 graves can be found in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific that resides on the island. This makes it no surprise that Honolulu is where most of the state's schools and universities can be found today, such as the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the University of Hawaii.
Honolulu is also a buzzing port as it is an intersection for several airways and shipping routes. Other than bringing in tourists, this city sends out clothes, pineapples, sugar, aluminum, steel and other goods that are manufactured right on the island. Translating to “protected bay” or “sheltered port”, consider this beautiful city for a family vacation, calming getaway or even a Honolulu wedding venue.
Wedding Options in Honolulu
If you’re looking for a warm and tropical location for your ceremony, you can’t do much better than a Honolulu wedding venue. The island's beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world with soft sands and crystal clear waters.
- Photographer
The green mountains and blue waters of Honolulu will make for a beautiful setting for your wedding pictures. Make sure you hire a professional photographer who knows the area and can capture all the magical moments on your special day.
- Caterer
What would a Honolulu wedding be without food? This city is home to many spectacular local dishes that you and your guests will want to taste. Hiring a local caterer is a must to allow you and your guests to experience everything that Hawaiian cuisine has to offer.
- Wedding Planners
When planning a wedding you most likely want to follow a theme. All things included in the wedding, from food to music to decorations, will need to go together. This can be a big job, but hiring a wedding planner can make it much easier. They will help make sure that everything looks great and runs smoothly at your wedding venue in Honolulu.
Wedding Companies in Honolulu
Weddings require a lot of work to organize, and with so many tasks to take care of you’ll definitely need help. By hiring the right companies, you’ll make sure that your Honolulu wedding venue will be everything that you dreamed of, and it will take a lot of stress off of you, too.
- Kai Photo
If you're looking for a professional photographer to take pictures at your wedding, Kai Photo is a good option. This company has skilled photographers that are experienced in shooting weddings all over Hawaii, but they are based close by in Honolulu.
- Kahai Kitchen
Kahai Kitchen is a greatly reviewed caterer company found right in Honolulu. Their menu includes many delicious options that you and your guests are sure to love. This company is experts at providing food to events of any size, from small gatherings to large ceremonies like weddings.
- Aloha Bridal Connections
This experienced company is available to help you plan your wedding in Hawaii and would be a great choice for organizing your wedding ceremony and reception. Aloha Bridal Connections will help you create the wedding you are dreaming of, and offer free consultations on their website.
Pros and Cons of Weddings in Honolulu
Although Honolulu looks like paradise, there are always both advantages and disadvantages to having a wedding on this tropical island. Before you commit fully to a Honolulu wedding venue, it is best to consider the pros and cons of getting married here.
Advantages
- Beautiful venues
If you’re looking for a beautiful location for a tropical wedding, you can’t beat Hawaii. The scenic beach views and relaxing atmosphere will make your Honolulu wedding feel magical.
- Lots to do
As Honolulu is a popular travel location, there are lots of attractions to keep you occupied while on vacation. You may want to book a couple of extra days before your wedding to relax and experience the highlights of Honolulu.
- Access to vendors
As Honolulu is a popular tourist location either for getaways or events like weddings, you won’t struggle to find companies available to help you. This will make planning your wedding venue in Honolulu even easier.
Disadvantages
- It’s expensive
Hawaii is said to be the second most expensive place to visit in the United States. With the accumulated costs of airfare, food and hotels, you and your guests should expect to spend a lot of money to attend your Honolulu wedding.
- Pickpocketing and car theft
One of Honolulu’s biggest sources of income is tourism, and therefore pickpocketing and car thievery are at medium risk. This won’t be an issue if you are careful with your personal belongings and make sure to lock your car, but it is still a disadvantage worth considering.
- Hot summers
While the winters in Honolulu are comfortable, the summers can be quite hot and dry. The warmest time is between late June and mid-October, where daily temperatures often soar. This can be pretty hot if you aren’t used to tropical weather, which means a Honolulu wedding venue may be better suited for winter.
Famous Locations in Honolulu
- Iolani Palace
Iolani Palace was first built in 1882 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1962. This attraction was once home to King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani who reigned after him and is one of Honolulu’s most famous places to visit.
- Bishop Museum
If you are interested in learning about the enriching history and culture of Honolulu, be sure to visit the Bishop Museum. The museum is open seven days a week and is one of the largest establishments dedicated to displaying Hawaiian artifacts.
- Diamond Head
If being active is your kind of thing, you’ll have to take a hike up to the top of Diamond Head. This landmark is the remains of a volcano that erupted hundreds of thousand of years ago and is never expected to erupt again. The initial explosion left a circular crater formation that is now made into a hiking trail with some of the best views in Honolulu.