This page explains the entire process of how to get married on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii.
Outline Of How To Get Married On Oahu
You have decided to get married on the island of Oahu, CONGRATULATIONS! The steps for getting married on the island of Oahu in Hawaii are:
1. Choose a day and time.
2. Apply for a Hawaii Marriage License online within 1 year of your wedding date.
3. Hire a Licensed Hawaii Wedding Officiant (such as myself).
4. Choose a location for the ceremony.
5. Pick up the Hawaii Marriage License no more than 30 days prior to the wedding day from the Hawaii dept of Health or authorized Agent.
6. On wedding day bring the Hawaii Marriage License to a Licensed Hawaii Wedding Officiant (such as myself) and have a ceremony or simple marriage license signing to become legally married.
7. Licensed Wedding Officiant certifies the marriage online with the state of Hawaii on the day of ceremony after the ceremony or marriage license signing.
8. State of Hawaii sends confirmation email to the couple 2 business days after marriage is certified by the Licensed Hawaii Wedding Officiant with a link to a downloadable copy of the Hawaii Marriage Certificate. They will also mail a hard copy to the couple within 1-4 weeks.
Hawaii Marriage License Application Process
The wedding couple must apply for the marriage license themselves online up to one year prior to the wedding day. They then must appear in person together no more than 30 days prior to the wedding day to verify their identities by providing a valid government issued photo ID like a passport, drivers license, state ID, or Military ID. The marriage license is valid for 30 days once issued.
1) Apply for the marriage license at https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-licenses
2) On the application for the officiant choose Kimberly Marie Crinella.
3) For Location you may leave blank if you haven’t decided and I will complete when I certify your marriage.
4) Go together to pick up your marriage license and show valid photo id Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at
The Health Department Building
1250 Punchbowl St. Honolulu
Room 101 (1st floor)
(corner of Beretania and Punchbowl Streets across the street from the State Capital Building)
If you are not able to make it to the Dept. of Health during their business hours there is a list of authorized After Hours Agents that may issue the Hawaii marriage license around the island of Oahu at https://health.hawaii.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-licenses/license-agents/ where you can schedule an appointment and meet them at a public location.
Birth Certificates are not accepted as proof of id.
A divorce decree is only needed if one of the couple was divorced within 30 days of applying for the marriage license.
Couples Coming From Countries Outside USA
Couples from countries outside the USA may have an additional step of requesting a Apostille which is a type of certification or notary service that is recognized by countries which signed the Hague Convention Treaty. Click here to see a list of countries which require an Apostille.
How to Apply for a Use Permit to use a Oahu Beach for your Wedding, Elopement, or Vow Renewal
🌊If you want to get married on one of Oahu’s beautiful beaches some but not all Oahu beaches require a beach use permit from the state of Hawaii to have a wedding at those beaches. To obtain a use permit a $1M Liability Event Insurance Policy and an application for permit plus fee must be submitted to the state of Hawaii.
For an additional fee of $50 I will provide the use permit for couples who I officiate their wedding or vow renewal ceremony and they choose a beach which requires a use permit. Below is information on how to do it yourself.
The State of Hawaii’s terms of use for a wedding are featured at
https://dlnr.ehawaii.gov/permits/terms.html
1. The State requires a Public Liability Policy.
The insurance industry typically describes this type of policy as “special event” or “private event insurance”.
A Google-search for “special event insurance” or “private event insurance” or “wedding insurance” will yield a number of companies that offer policies for one or two day events. Currently, these policies can be obtained starting at about $75 total for the $1,000,000 of liability coverage required by the State of Hawaii’s Wiki Permits. When purchasing a special event or private event insurance policy, please take care to (1) check the box to add the venue as an additional insured; and (2) when describing the location, please state, “State of Hawaii, [name of site].” You may be requested to provide an address – however, beaches and shoreline areas typically do not have an address. We recommend that you do not put “Hawaii” into your search for insurance; the major companies offering event insurance are national companies not based in Hawaii. You can receive a quote on a policy at these following services:
2. For the permit you will apply through the State of Hawaii Wiki Permit process where you submit a copy of the $1M Liability Insurance, the application for the use permit and a fee for the use permit.
Information on applying for the use permit to have your wedding Oahu beach is featured at
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ld/commercial-activities/
Another option for a wedding ceremony on Oahu is one of the beautiful botanical gardens around the island of of Oahu filled with lush assortments of tropical plants, trees, and flowers which make a spectacular backdrop for weddings and vow renewals. There is a usage fee on some and some are free to use. The couple must apply for the use permit themselves directly through each garden. No additional event insurance is required to have your wedding at these Botanical Gardens.
Oahu State Parks
Weddings at state parks are possible but the use permit application process, cost, and insurance requirements are different than the use permit process for City and County beaches and parks. The State Parks use permit process can take several months to be approved and the couple must apply for the use permit themselves.
Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park (East Oahu)
ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area (Central Oahu)
Diamond Head State Monument (Waikiki)
Heʻeia State Park (East Oahu)
ʻIolani Palace State Monument (Honolulu)
Kaʻena Point State Park (Wai’anae)
Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (East Oahu)
Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area (Aiea Trail Central Oahu)
Ke’ehi Lagoon Memorial State Park (Honolulu)
Lāʻie Point State Wayside (North Shore)
Mālaekahana State Recreation Area (North Shore)
Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside (East Oahu)
Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site (North Shore)
Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside (Honolulu)
Queen Emma Summer Palace (Honolulu)
Royal Mausoleum State Monument (Honolulu)
Sand Island State Recreation Area (Honolulu)
Ulupō Heiau State Historic Site (East Oahu)
Waʻahila Ridge State Recreation Area (Honolulu)
Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area (Central Oahu)
🌳Oahu Botanical Gardens🌴
Wahiawa Botanical Garden (Wahiawa) FREE. Call (808) 621-5463 to request a use permit. Max number of people = 30.
Foster Botanical Garden (Downtown Honolulu) FEE APPLIES. Call (808) 768-7135 to request a use permit. Max number of people = 50.
Lili’uokalani Botanical Gardens (Downtown Honolulu) Has a waterfall. Apply for permit at Foster Botanical Garden. FREE. Call (808) 768-7135 to request a use permit. Max number of people = 25.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden (Kaneohe) FREE. Has a fresh water lake and several garden options. Call (808) 233-7323 to request a use permit. Max number of people = 50.
Lyon Arboretum (Manoa) Has garden options for ceremonies as well as offers indoor facility rentals for ceremonies or receptions. FEE APPLIES
Senator Fong’s Plantation and Gardens (Kaneohe) FEE APPLIES
WANT TO GET MARRIED, ELOPE OR RENEW YOUR VOWS ON OAHU? CONTACT ME!
