Kahu Kawena

Kelly and Ken’s Oahu venue wedding at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute was a little bit of fate, a whole lot of romance, and the kind of sunshine that makes you believe in happily ever after.

Originally from Florida and now living in California, these two found each other on a dating app. During their first date, they discovered they had nearly crossed paths several times before. Naturally, the red string theory entered the chat, and honestly, who are we to argue with destiny?

After five wonderful years together, Ken proposed at Yokohama Bay on Oahu in 2024. And now, surrounded by their closest family and friends, they were ready to make it official in paradise.

Thankfully, the weather understood the assignment. Blue skies stretched above a calm ocean, while palm trees swayed overhead like nature’s very own wedding party. As they stood together, Kelly and Ken exchanged heartfelt, personal vows, reminiscing about the moments that brought them closer. There were happy tears, sweet smiles, and enough romance to make anyone believe in fate.

After the ceremony and group photos, the newlyweds wandered down to the beach for sunset portraits. Brilliantly, that sunset delivered! While Kelly’s veil caught the sunlight in the dreamiest way, golden and pink hues painted the sky. Ultimately, it was the kind of moment you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.

Congratulations, Kelly and Ken! May your marriage be filled with endless laughter, beautiful adventures, and a love that always finds its way back to the shore.

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Kelsey from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Pastel Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet, Maile Lei, and White Flower lei by Sweet Blossoms

Musician: Rodney Bejer

Wedding Venue Location: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute

Onsite Coordinator: Sky of Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Packages: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute Wedding Package by Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

Content Creators: Leialoha Socials

An Oahu beach wedding is already magical, but Kevin and Yuichi’s celebration at Waialae Beach came with a rainbow. Their love story began in Japan, where Kevin taught English at a public high school for three years.

Originally from Indiana, Kevin now works to protect Hawaii and the Pacific’s threatened and endangered plants and animals. Yuichi, originally from Japan, worked as a nurse in several areas before settling in Tokyo. Eventually, he moved to Hawaii to join Kevin, beginning an exciting new chapter together.

Along the way, these two have discovered a shared love of travel, exploring destinations throughout Japan and the United States. Naturally, their future plans include discovering even more of the world together. Honestly, moving across an ocean for love deserves its own romantic comedy soundtrack.

When their wedding day finally arrived, the celebration was intimate, heartfelt, and wonderfully personal, with only their closest loved ones present. The sky was overcast, but Hawaii had a little surprise waiting for them. As if on cue, a beautiful rainbow appeared, adding an extra sprinkle of magic to their celebration.

Following their heartfelt ceremony, Kevin and Yuichi wandered along the beach for couples portraits. With the Pacific Ocean as their backdrop, they soaked up the moment and celebrated their love. No grand theatrics were necessary, just two people choosing each other and a rainbow stealing the show. As they begin this new chapter, countless adventures await them.

Their Oahu beach wedding reminds us that sometimes the greatest adventures begin with a chance meeting halfway around the world. And sometimes, happily ever after comes with a little Hawaiian rainbow.

OAHU BEACH WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Wedding Coordination by Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Keani of Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Package: Oahu Elopement on the Beach Package #2 by Simple Oahu Wedding

Florals: Orchid Wrapped Ti Leaf Maile Leis by Sweet Blossoms Hawaii

Oahu Wedding Location: Wai’alae Beach Park

Minister for Oahu Wedding: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

Oahu Wedding Photography: Pinky of Karma Hill Photography

Discover the beauty of an Oahu venue wedding at Lanikuhonua, where love meets stunning ocean views and family bonds. There, Ashton and Jeremy said their vows beneath a fabric draped arch, with the ocean playing background vocals.

Their beautiful children walked them both down the aisle. It is the kind of detail that turns an Oahu venue wedding into a whole family’s love story. A Hawaiian blessing came first. Then a lei exchange, sealed with water from an ‘umeke bowl. Then the opening notes of Can’t Help Falling in Love, setting the tone before a single vow was spoken.

It’s in the Details

What made this Oahu venue wedding sing was the way the island got a speaking part. There was no strict color palette, no forced aesthetic. Just pastel Hawaiian florals in pink, orange, and gold, the kind that look like they grew there on purpose. Jeremy wore his maile lei. Ashton wore white flowers and a traditional gown. Fourteen people who love them dearly filled two short rows of garden chairs. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, right on schedule, the light turned everything golden. It looked like an ending. It was actually a beginning, just one with extraordinary lighting.

After we closed out the ceremony, and the couple headed to the beach for portraits. The light went full cinematic, the kind that makes photographers a little emotional too. Ashton and Jeremy wrapped up their evening with dinner at Makahiki. Sun-kissed, married in every way that counts, on an island that rolled out its best for them.

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Kelsey from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet, Maile Lei and guest leis by Sweet Blossoms

Musician: Rodney Bejer

Wedding Venue Location: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute

Onsite Coordinator: Keani of Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Packages: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute Wedding Package by Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

This Oahu wedding was the kind of love story that makes you wonder if the universe has impeccable matchmaking skills after all.

Christa and Tye met on Hinge in August 2023 while both balancing the demands of student life, and somehow built something beautiful in the middle of it all. Since then, they welcomed their baby boy and celebrated countless milestones together. Tye later proposed at the top of the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail, overlooking the ocean that has always felt like home to Christa.

Returning to Hawaiʻi to say “I do” at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute made the day especially meaningful. Surrounded by family, familiar landscapes, and the place where so many of Christa’s memories began was so beautiful to witness.

As the sun dipped lower on Oahu’s west side, the ceremony was wrapped in the kind of golden light photographers dream about. The warm glow stretched across the coastline, illuminating every smile, happy tear, and stolen glance between the newlyweds.

After the ceremony, Christa and Tye slipped away to the beach for intimate couples portraits along the shoreline. The waves rolled in behind them and the last golden rays of sunlight reflected across the water. They had a quiet moment to soak in the reality of being newly married.

There was something incredibly special about watching these two begin their next chapter together in a place filled with so much personal significance. Between raising their son and pursuing their career goals, Christa and Tye are building a beautiful future together.

Congratulations to Christa and Tye on your beautiful wedding day and the wonderful life you are building together!

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Kelsey from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet and Maile Lei by Sweet Blossoms

Additional Florals: Double Rope Pikake Lei by Hawaii Lei Stand by Beretenia Florist

Oahu Wedding Venue Location: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute

Onsite Coordinator: Keani of Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Packages: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute Wedding Package by Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

An Oahu destination wedding felt like the most natural next chapter for Bill & Aurora. Their love story began on the same street, in the same classrooms, in the quiet familiarity of growing up side by side in China. What started as a close friendship slowly and naturally deepened into something more, built on mutual respect, resilience, and steady support. When Aurora chose to continue her studies and career in the US, it became another chapter they stepped into together, which made their celebration at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute feel beautifully fitting.

Keep reading to see how their gorgeous Oahu venue wedding unfolded!

On a sweeping green lawn overlooking the ocean, with petals scattered across the grass and the sound of waves in the distance, they promised forever in a setting that felt as expansive as their journey.

Aurora was radiant, her veil catching the breeze as Bill looked at her with that unmistakable expression of someone who knows exactly how lucky he is. The lush palms, the soft shoreline, and the vibrant bouquet against the coastal backdrop made every portrait feel timeless and cinematic.

Their Oahu destination wedding was not about spectacle, but about meaning. It was about two people who chose each other with intention, again and again, and then chose the ocean as their witness.

Bill & Aurora, congratulations on a love that feels both powerful and beautifully at peace.

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Megan from Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Florals: Rustic Hawaiian Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms

Oahu Wedding Venue Location: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute

Onsite Coordinator: Keani of Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Packages: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute Wedding Package by Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Officiant: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

An Oahu venue wedding is more than a ceremony; it’s a story of love, faith, and the beauty of second chances. For Joanna and Joel, their wedding at the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute was not just about becoming husband and wife; it was about honoring the years of life and love that led them there.

Joanna and Joel’s story began in 2011 through mutual friends, the kind of serendipitous meeting that feels like divine timing. Over the years, they built a beautiful blended family of seven, filled with laughter, faith, and weekend sports. Between football games, outdoor adventures, and cheering for their youngest daughter Kamryn’s All-Star Cheer team, their life together has been full of love and togetherness.

But what makes this day especially meaningful is the journey it took to get here. After Joel’s proposal in 2015, life brought joy, challenges, and moments that tested strength. These two are meant for one another, and now it’s about to be official!

So when they chose Oahu, it felt perfect. A place tied to her past, a favorite from family trips, and a setting that captured everything they wanted, simple, beautiful, faith-filled, and full of aloha…

Surrounded By Love

Their ceremony beneath the palms at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute, surrounded by family dressed in soft pinks and creams, radiated warmth. Every look, every smile carried meaning. You could see it, the gratitude, the joy, the feeling that love always finds its way back home.

Their Oahu wedding photos capture every ounce of that emotion. The way Joel looks at Joanna, full of quiet devotion. The soft sunlight glows through the palm trees. The laughter as they walked hand in hand down the beach, leaving footprints in the sand. Surrounded by family dressed in warm shades of blush and beige, their portraits radiate pure joy and gratitude.

These images aren’t just photos; they’re a visual love letter to everything Joanna and Joel have built together. Proof that love, patience, and faith can make even the most ordinary moments extraordinary.

Congratulations, Joanna and Joel! Your Oahu venue wedding was everything beautiful, sacred, and full of aloha.

OAHU VENUE WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Wedding Venue Location in Oahu: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute

Oahu Wedding Package: Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute Ceremony Package by Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Christine of Simple Oahu Wedding

Florals: Leis, Boho Dream Bouquet by Sweet Blossoms Hawaii

Content Creator: Iniki

Oahu Officiant: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunu

Acoustic Musician: Kimo Artis

Wedding Planner in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Lauren of Karma Hill Photography

We are excited to share the story of Alexis and Kelvin’s Oahu elopement! There are love stories that unfold in bustling cities, or quiet bookstores, or beneath a starry sky—and then there’s Alexis and Kelvin. Whose story began… at a high school lunch table in Wisconsin. (Because, obviously, all great modern-day romances start with “Can I sit here?”)

They were 15. They started dating before driver’s licenses, before taxes, before the big responsibilities of life came. And over the past decade, through the awkward growing-up years and the “how are we adulting?” milestones, their relationship has only grown stronger.

In May 2022, they took a dreamy dog-filled trip to Colorado, where Kelvin proposed at Rocky Mountain National Park. There were mountains, emotion, and, we assume, at least one excited tail wag. And now their big day has finally arrived…

Alexis, a pet groomer currently studying marketing and social media management, tapped Kelvin on the shoulder for their first look. When he turned around and saw her? Let’s just say the sun wasn’t the only thing glowing.

Kelvin, a software developer, looked completely enchanted. The kind of face that says: “Wow, I’m about to marry the love of my life in paradise, and also, how did I get so lucky?”

A Dream Come True

So when it came time to plan their Oahu elopement, they knew they wanted something that felt like them: simple, heartfelt, and naturally beautiful. Enter: their ceremony at Kualoa Beach Park. With its dramatic mountains on one side and turquoise ocean on the other, it offered exactly the backdrop they’d dreamed of, lush, beachy, and utterly cinematic.

The ceremony was intimate and filled with laughter. No pomp, no stress, just two people promising forever under the Hawaiian sun, barefoot and beaming. And because this is Alexis and Kelvin we’re talking about, they eventually, at the end, kicked off their shoes and waded into the waves like the beachy romantics they are.

Their Oahu elopement photos? The light was airy and full of joy. The kind of photos that make you want to frame every single one, even if you’re not in them. From the soft kiss in the shallows to the playful splash-and-laugh moments, every frame captured the ease and affection that defines their love.

We’re still not over Alexis’s effortless beauty or how they looked so at home, together on a beach thousands of miles from Wisconsin. Because when a place this magical meets a couple this genuine, well… you get something truly unforgettable.

Congratulations, Alexis and Kelvin! Your Oahu elopement was pure magic, romantic, sunny, and full of the kind of love that’s been growing since algebra class. We’re so honored to have captured this chapter of your story! Mahalo for choosing Simple Oahu Wedding!

OAHU ELOPEMENT – SESSION DETAILS

Time Of Day: Morning

Oahu Beach Wedding: Coordination: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Beach Wedding Package: Just The Two of Us #1 – by Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Beach Location: Kualoa Beach Park

Minister for Oahu Wedding: Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

Oahu Wedding Photography: Lauren of Karma Hill Photography

Some love stories feel like they were meant to unfold beside the ocean—and Lupe and Brian’s Oahu beach wedding at Paradise Cove Beach was a beautiful, sun-kissed celebration of ten wonderful years of exactly that kind of love.

These two have been adventuring together for a decade, starting from a little beach town in Southern California—Hermosa Beach, to be exact—where their story first began. After a few years of being “just friends” in a shared circle, they took a trip to New York City and fell in love in the most cinematic way possible. Since then? It’s been a globe-spanning romance filled with travel, laughter, and the sweetest little third wheel: their daughter, Annika.

From the Great Barrier Reef to Paradise Cove

When Brian proposed in Australia—yes, in Cairns, at the Great Barrier Reef—they knew that a beach wedding was inevitable. It was a full-circle kind of choice. After all, they met at the beach, fell in love in the city, and got engaged by the sea. A wedding on the shores of Oahu, surrounded by the people they love most, felt like the perfect next chapter.

And oh, was it ever.

Their Oahu beach wedding at Paradise Cove was nothing short of breathtaking. The sky was impossibly blue, the waves gentle and glittering, and the entire day glowed with that dreamy Hawaiian light. Lupe looked radiant—graceful, elegant, and full of joy. Brian, proud and smiling wide, looked at her like she was the only person on the planet. (Spoiler: to him, she probably is.)

Annika was the sweetest part of all—beaming with excitement and adding an extra layer of magic to an already incredible day.

A Life Full of Traditions and Big Love

Brian and Lupe’s lives are the perfect mix of tradition and adventure. He’s an electrical engineer working on warfare radars (yes, actual radar systems that detect drones—so cool), and Lupe is a Director of Finance for a nonprofit that serves blind and disabled individuals (also amazing). They spend their winters skiing and snowboarding, and every summer, they return to Brian’s hometown of Beaverton, Oregon, where Annika proudly rides in her dad’s 30-year-old Derby car in the 4th of July parade. It’s a family full of heart, history, and love for the little moments.

Paradise, Promises, and Forever

Their wedding day was lovely in the most effortless way. It was warm, heartfelt, and full of laughter—just like them. The photos from their day show everything: the golden light, the barefoot joy, the way they all fit together like pieces of a storybook you want to keep reading. It was such a sweet family moment as you’ll see!

Congratulations, Lupe & Brian!

Your Oahu beach wedding was a beautiful celebration of a decade of love, growth, and the kind of partnership that only deepens with time. We’re so honored to have captured your story on such a magical day. Here’s to ten more years (and then ten more after that!) of travel, love, and salty ocean breeze.

OAHU BEACH WEDDING – EVENT DETAILS

Time Of Day: Sunset

Wedding Beach Location in Oahu: Paradise Cove Beach

Oahu Wedding Package: Complete Oahu Elopement Package #2 by Simple Oahu Wedding

Onsite Coordinator: Sky of Simple Oahu Wedding

Officiant: : Lindsay ‘Kawena’ Opunui

Oahu Wedding Photographer: Laura of Karma Hill Photography

Wedding Planner in Oahu: Simple Oahu Wedding

Oahu Wedding Florals: Leis, Boho Dream Bouquet by Dellables