To marry in Hawaii you need a $65 marriage licence, a licensed officiant and, for a ceremony on a state beach, a permit. There is no residency or citizenship requirement, no waiting period and no blood test.
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Key takeaways
Hawaii has no residency or citizenship requirement for couples marrying there.
The marriage licence costs $65 and is valid for 30 days after you pick it up, in Hawaii only.
There is no waiting period and no blood test.
A wedding on a state beach needs a right-of-entry permit, is limited to two hours and cannot use arches, altars or tables.
Kualoa Ranch on O'ahu and Olowalu Plantation House on Maui publish prices from $5,495 to $14,000.
Choose Your Hawaiian Island
O'ahu
O'ahu offers convenience, with Waikīkī's beachfront resorts on the same island as Honolulu.
Photo: Jacub Gomez
Maui
Maui is known for its sunsets, its beach resorts in Wailea and Kā'anapali, and private estates such as Olowalu Plantation House.
Island of Hawai'i
The Island of Hawai'i, often called the Big Island, has volcanic landscapes and gardens, with resorts along the Kona coast.
Kaua'i
Kaua'i is green and quieter, with garden venues suited to a more intimate wedding.
The licence costs $65.00, made up of a $60 application fee and a $5 portal fee. All fees are non-refundable.
You both need a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, driver licence or state ID.
There are no state residence or US citizenship requirements.
There is no waiting period, and blood tests are not required.
You must appear together in person before an agent to pick up the licence. Proxies are not allowed.
Your officiant must be licensed by the State of Hawaii.
The licence is valid only within the State of Hawaii, and the ceremony must take place within 30 days of picking it up.
How to Get Your Licence
Apply online
Complete the online application, pay the fee and write down or print your Authorization Code/Locator ID.
Meet a licence agent
Meet an agent together, with your photo IDs, no sooner than 30 days before your ceremony date.
Book a licensed officiant
Check that your officiant is licensed by the State of Hawaii.
Marry within 30 days
Hold the ceremony within 30 days of picking up the licence.
Beach Wedding Permits in Hawaii
The Department of Land and Natural Resources issues a right-of-entry permit for a beach wedding on unencumbered state shorelines. DLNR notes that even where a beach sits next to a county park, the sandy shoreline is generally still under state jurisdiction, so you need the state permit and the county cannot issue one for the sand.
The fee is 10 cents per square foot, per event, per day, with a minimum of $20 per event.
The event cannot run longer than two hours.
Arches, bowers, altars, tables, chairs, tents and tarps are not allowed, and neither are amplified instruments.
Chairs are allowed only in a limited number for elderly, infirm or disabled guests.
Loose flowers, leis, bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres are allowed, along with unamplified instruments such as a conch shell, and cameras.
For an arch or seating for every guest, look at a venue with its own grounds.
Hawaii Wedding Venues and What They Cost
Two Hawaii venues publish their prices:
Kualoa Ranch, O'ahu: Paliku Gardens costs $5,495 plus tax on weekdays and $6,495 plus tax at weekends, according to Kualoa Ranch.
Olowalu Plantation House, Maui: The estate's 2025/2026 rates run from $9,000 for up to 50 guests on a weekday to $14,000 for 150 to 200 guests at a weekend. Parties of more than 200 need approval from DLNR.
Do you need to be a resident to get married in Hawaii?
No. The Hawaii State Department of Health sets no state residence or US citizenship requirement, so couples from anywhere can marry there. What you do need is to be 18 or older, bring valid photo ID and collect the licence together in person, since proxies are not allowed.
How much is a marriage licence in Hawaii?
It costs $65.00 in total, and the Department of Health does not refund it. You pay when you apply online, then meet a licence agent within the 30 days before your ceremony. The licence only works in Hawaii and expires if you do not marry within 30 days of collecting it.
Do you need a permit to get married on a beach in Hawaii?
Yes. A ceremony on a state shoreline needs a right-of-entry permit from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, priced by area with a $20 minimum. Keep the ceremony under two hours and leave out arches, altars and tables, or choose a venue with its own grounds.
Mark Tuason is the Senior SEO Specialist at Wedded Wonderland, where he writes and refreshes the brand's guides to destination weddings and cultural wedding traditions. He starts with the questions couples search for, checks the answers against trusted sources, and shapes each guide to help them plan, compare and book with confidence. Based in the Philippines, he specialises in content strategy and on-page SEO.
