Hawaii: Best island/spot/idea for wedding proposal
 

Hello and wanted to seek advice on the most important event of my life to date. I am planning on taking my GF to hawaii at the end of this september for 3 weeks. I was hoping to propose to her at the beginning of the trip as we are meeting her sister in Maui 10 days later. I was researching the best island/place to make a romantic spot for a proposal. The advice i was given was to keep it simple, natural and focused on something we have shared together. Thus i was trying to find a remote beach that i could do a sunset dinner/drink (hopefully with some help from hotel). I was just hoping from anyone who has been in hawaii before some advice of what island or place i could look.

Thanks for any advice.

www.stayhawaii.com

www.hawaiiprinceresorts.com Mauna Kea or Hapuna Prince

Kohala Coast least rain in September sunset on that

beach would be awesome... very memorable might set something

up with them... to make it even more memorable I would set

up a copter ride over the erupting volcano there pre-proposal

if budget is super good...the experience of a lifetime.

Congrats and Good luck!

www.princeresortshawaii.com sorry link dyslexia

Take a stroll (or sit) on any beach at sunset, and you'll be fine.

p.s. you want her to remember the moment, not hoopla and bells and whistles.

First of, congratulations! If you are looking for a secluded beach and romantic island, you cant go wrong with Kauai. It's also known as the Honeymooner Island becuase it really is very romanctic and breahtakingly beautiful. Also, it boasts the most sandy beaches compared to the other islands. Avoid Poipu Beach though as its the most populated and obviously not a secluded beach. Pick up the travel book Kauai:Revealed (or any book in the Revealed series should you choose another island). It gives great tips and plenty of in-depth detail of pretty much every single beach on the island. You can read through it and pick a beach that suits your style.

Do keep us posted! We would love to hear how it all pans out for you! good luck!

The overlook at little park at the St Regis in Princeville has a wonderful romantic view.

Hawaii is a beautiful place for your proposal. Your advice to keep it simple, natural and from the heart is perfect. If you want to do something special with an engagement ring, you might consider presenting it in a seashell or accompanied by a handmade lei. If you are proposing at a resort or a restaurant, you might arrange for a photograph to be taken shortly after the proposal and while she is still beaming with joy. Congratulations and aloha! Saige

If you google "best ways to propose on a beach" you will get a lot of ideas.

I was thinking of a Helicopter ride. I thought I saw one sometime that did a remote landing at a waterfall. That would be private and romantic.

@Spirobulldog

You are right, in Kauai there is a helicopter company that does a remote landing at Jurassic Park Waterfall. Its breathtaking! I saw it in the Kauai: Revealed travel books. When i did my helicopter ride we didnt land at the falls, cause i opted for another agency, but we flew over that waterfall and its beautiful!

I would vote for Kauai as well. Our helicopter ride there is one of our best vacation memories ever. The Na Pali coast is gorgeous, and a full rainbow appeared as we were flying by.

I have to vote for Kauai as well since that's where my DH proposed to me almost 10 years ago!

I can give three nice suggestions as my poor husband had to try three different spots due to unforeseen circumstances!

Location 1 - he first choose to propose to me at Hanakapi'ai Falls which is a beautiful 100 foot waterfall and pool about 4 miles hike in on the Napali Coast Kalalau Trail. We got to the falls, had a swim, and unbeknownst to me he was preparing for the big question when a German solo tourist approached us to take his picture swimming under the falls. The German then proceeded to hang out with us until we decided to hike part way back down to the beach (Hanakapi'ae Beach).
Location 2 -
Thwarted from his plan at the waterfall, my BF decided to propose on Hanakapi'ai beach which is lovely and usually quiet due to being 2 miles hike in. Alas, another lone hiker (this time Asian) appeared and proceeded to wade into the water despite the promiment signs warning of dangerous surf (November). I became worried about this swimmer because after calling to him, he did not appear to speak English well. We finally got him to see the signs(he was very nice and grateful as he had not noticed them) and then what appeared but a stray cat! This seemed odd on a hike but it seems there are all manner of stray animals in odd places on Kauai. So, I became occupied with feeding our picnic remmants to the stray cat (while my poor BF was silently pulling out his hair). Romantic mood once again broken, we hiked back to our car and back to Princeville Hotel where we were staying.
Location 3
He then suggested we walk down to the beach overlooking Hanalai Bay to watch the sunset (as he planned his third attempt). I agreed and we were happily walking along the gorgeous and serene beach when he suggested we sit down and rest. I first said "no" as I was enjoying the walk but he said he had a cramp in his foot so ok, fine, we sit down. Once again, unbeknownst to me he was getting up his nerve to propose when I started to notice movement in the sand. Oh look, a little sand crab - how cute. Then another, and another, and another . . . . OMG, we are surrounded by an army of tiny sand crabs - aack I jump up to vacate the premises! By this point, my poor BF is at his wits end and yells "Can you please sit down, I'm trying to propose!!!" I'm so shocked that I sit back down and he starts the little speech he had prepared so carefully. Unfortunately, I am so distracted that I can't help my eyes darting around to ensure crabs aren't about to climb on me that he gives up and says "if I get you out of this crab nest, will you marry me?" and we hightailed it out of there.

So, I guess the moral of the story is to be prepared to improvise and nothing says love like carrying your girlfriend out of a nest of sand crabs!

I have two suggestions for Oahu, but neither are for sunset. One is Eternity Beach, which is a little cove that you hike down to near the Blow Hole. The only thing is that sometimes it's a little littery (I haven't been for a few years, so don' t know current state). But it's beautiful, and often empty, and very romantic! That's where the famous scene from the movie "From Here to Eternity" was filmed. My second is to go to Malekahana, and hike out to Goat Island (you have to do this during low tide). You'll be the only ones on the little island, which has a beautiful little beach. Take a picnic over in a blow-up raft. Don't do this if you're not good swimmers, though, and if it's not low tide! Check it out with a local first to make sure it's safe.

Or at sunrise on Haleakala on Maui. That would be memorable! Take some hot chocolate!

@norcal- what a cute and funny story! i love that all these little mishaps happened yet he still managed to propose during all this craziness going on...its just like life and marriage, its how you resolve things that matter even if things dont always go as planned :)

Most of the nicer resorts in Hawaii will have beautiful spots on property, overlooking the ocean, with seating like a bench or chairs. They are used to getting requests like this, I imagine, and also have prepared areas for weddings.

I remember a pretty spot at the Mauna Lani on the Big Island, and other ones at the Hilton Waikoloa (but that's more a family and kid-oriented resort, not especially romantic).