An independent guide, not a wedding service
Getting married in Hawaii, from the license to the beach permit
Plain-English guides to the marriage license, beach and park permits, officiants and places, checked against the State of Hawaii’s rules.
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IndependentAn independent guide, not a wedding service. We take no bookings and sell no packages.
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Checked against official sourcesEvery guide lists the official sources it was compared with.
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DatedEvery guide shows the date its facts were last checked.
Your countdown
From “yes” to aloha
Find the stage you are at and open its guide.
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First, decide
Island, season, budget, and whether it is legal here or at home
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Months before
Officiant, a permit for a beach or park, guests’ travel
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Before you fly
Apply online and gather your documents
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In Hawaii, up to 30 days before
Meet a license agent together, in person
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After
Certificate copies, a new name, recognition abroad
Guides by topic
Everything for the big day
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Beach & park permits
Who needs a permit for a ceremony on a beach or in a park, and the rules on the day.
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- 5 guides
Marriage license
Requirements, the fee, documents and the 30-day window, step by step.
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Fresh from the guide
Latest guides
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Getting Married in Hawaii as a Foreign Visitor: License Rules
Foreign couples use the same $65 Hawaii marriage license as residents, with a passport as ID. Here is what differs: the Social Security number field, translations, arrival timing, US entry and recognition at home.
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Best Time to Get Married in Hawaii: Weather, Cost and Crowds by Island
May is the best all-round month for a Hawaii wedding. Monthly rain, hotel rates, visitor numbers and real wedding counts for Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai.
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Magic Island Weddings (Ala Moana): Permit, Sunset Timing & Parking
Who issues what at Magic Island, what the city's published rules say about ceremonies, sunset times by month, and the parking, restroom and crowd limits to plan around.
Planning timeline
Plan it in the right order
What a Hawaii wedding costs, when to marry and what to book when.
- First, decide
- Months before
- Before you fly
How much does a marriage license cost in Hawaii?
The license costs $65, paid online, and DOH does not refund it; no state page we read gives a cash price, as our online application guide explains.
Hawaii Revised Statutes §572-5(e), as compiled on the Legislature's site, tells private agents to collect a $5 surcharge in addition to the license fee, and it exempts agents appointed as civil service employees, which we read as covering DOH's own office. The DOH and EMRS pages we read do not say whether that surcharge sits inside the $65 or comes on top, so ask when you book. A first certified copy of your certificate is $12.50 on DOH's list, with a possible online extra covered in the copies guide above; performer fees and any permits are separate.
Can we get a Hawaii marriage license online?
Only the application is online. You still collect the license from an agent, together and in person, so a couple cannot finish the process from home.
How far in advance should we get a marriage license in Hawaii?
Apply as soon as your dates are firm, since the application lasts a year. Set the agent visit for no earlier than 29 days before the ceremony, and book early if you need an evening or weekend slot.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Hawaii?
No. DOH says: "Once the license has been issued, there is no waiting period before the marriage can take place." A morning agent visit and an afternoon ceremony are allowed.