Aloha

Matthew + Ryan

June 7, 2024 | Kaua'i

To our family and friends - we are so grateful for your inspiration, love, and cheers over these past 11 years as we have explored the world, and within it, what it means to cultivate a relationship filled with love and respect for another soul. It is no small miracle to find your people in this world of over 8 billion humans, let alone to find one special person.

We are excited to celebrate our love in one of our favorite places in the world - the magical garden isle of Kaua'i - and we cannot wait to share it with you! It is our hope that you will fall in love with this beautiful island in Hawai'i as much as we have while we celebrate our journey of finding one another, together, in a tropical paradise with you.

Come adventure with us!

Events

Welcome Party

Tuesday, June 4, 6pm - 8pm
Grand Hyatt Resolution Garden (near the beach)

Join us as we kick off the week of adventure at an oceanside party! You'll have made the journey to paradise - now it is time to relax and get on island time. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and our favorite Hawaiian shave ice as you ease into the week. Fingers crossed for an epic sunset as well!

M+R Tip: We are always hangry after the long flight to Kaua'i. We like to have a dinner reservation or plan ready to go for our first day. If you are arriving on Tuesday, we have you covered!

Suggested Attire
Come as you are, casual or festive! If you want to embrace the island vibe, shorts and a Hawaiian shirt or fun floral dress would be perfect.

Our photographer will be here so you can strike a pose in front of the amazing beachside garden.

Na Pali Coast Catamaran

Wednesday, June 5, 7:15am - 1:30pm
Port Allen Marina, 30 min drive from Hyatt

We've chartered a catamaran with Capt Andy's for an unforgettable sailing adventure along the most photographed coastline in the world - the breathtaking Na Pali coast.

Enjoy breakfast and say aloha to spinner dolphins while sailing and enjoying the epic views in the morning. Later we'll snorkel with sea turtles and native fish, before an on-board BBQ lunch. Not a fan of snorkeling? No worries - it's totally optional and the ride is still amazing! Snorkel gear is included.

Suggested Attire
A swimsuit + coverup/shirt is ideal for this day. Even if you don't snorkel, ocean spray does happen, so you will want an outfit that is water friendly. It can be windy and cool as we sail along, especially if there is cloud cover.

Our photographer will be on the boat to capture great photos of everyone and the Na Pali coast.

Open Day to make it your own

Thursday, June 6

There is no shortage of exploring, shopping, eating, etc on Kaua'i! Check out some of our favorites below for inspiration.

Wedding and Reception

Friday, June 7, 4:30pm - 9:30pm
Beach House in Poipu, shuttle provided

Trolley's from the Grand Hyatt to the Beach House begin at 4pm.

Sip on your drink of choice and take in the scenic ocean views as we start the evening together with a cocktail-mocktail hour on the lawn followed by our oceanside "I do's” at 5pm.

The Beach House is famous for its sunsets, and we will enjoy the view and the nightly arrival of the parrots as we take sunset photos and transition to dinner and celebration under the stars!

Shuttles back to the Grand Hyatt will be on standby throughout the evening. Last shuttle leaves at 9:30pm.

M+R Tip: The Beach House Mai Tai is the best!

Suggested Attire
Island Formal
We will be wearing tuxedo's and would love our guests to join us in looking their best. Bright colors highly encouraged. This is not a beach wedding, so you do not need to worry about sand.

Pool Farewell

Sat. June 8, 11am - 4pm
Grand Hyatt pool

Come relax with us on your final day in paradise and hang out with the best people in the world at a beachside pool and lagoon! Don't feel obligated, but for those who want to relax before heading to the airport for the evening flight home, this is a great option to not get sandy at the beach.

We'll have a cabana and light snacks, so come by if you'd like to soak up those final sun rays before heading back to the mainland. There's even a lazy river!

M+R Tip: If you are staying at the Grand Hyatt, they offer a Hospitality Suite where you can grab a shower before heading to the airport after a day at the pool and beach. Another favorite is to book a spa treatment at the Grand Hyatt's fabulous Anara Spa. A pre-flight massage or hydration float, followed by an open air shower surrounded by lava rock, is hard to beat!

Suggested Attire
pool and resort casual

Our Kaua'i Faves

Kaua'i is called the Garden Isle as it is the oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands and is filled with fantastic flora and lush green mountains. Whether you want to extend your trip to paradise beyond the wedding, or are just looking for something to do during your free time, there is no shortage of activities.

You can find everything from a relaxing beach day, to a day of self care and spa treatments, to world class hiking to giant waterfalls along incredible coastline filled with remote beaches. Kaua'i has you covered as it offers something for everyone.

To help in your planning process, here are a few of our favorite things to do and places to eat on Kaua'i. For planning purposes, we've divided these into North Shore, and South Shore to help give you an idea of where they are on the island. Note that all events and recommended lodging are on the South Shore of Kaua'i, however a day trip to Hanalei should not be skipped!

We've also made a google map with pins for all of the places. See the map.

To Eat

While we are doing our best to offer you plenty of activities filled with good food, we know that you'll want to explore the island on your own too! Remember, Kaua'i is small - many restaurants require reservations.

Some of our favorites:

Nice Restaurants
(reservations are a must)

South Shore

Beach House in Poipu (aka our wedding and reception location!!)

Eating House 1849 in Poipu

Merrimans in Poipu

Keoki's Paradise in Poipu

Kiawe Roots in Lawai

North Shore

The Dolphin in Hanalei

The Terrace in Hanalei

Bar Acuda in Hanalei

Casual Restaurants

South Shore

Kalaheo Cafe - amazing local place for breakfast and lunch and dinner on some evenings

Tiki Tacos - two locations, and one of our absolute favorites! Best fish and kahlua pork tacos around.

Koloa Pizza - fantastic pizza after a long day in the sun, or get it to go and enjoy while watching the sunset

Living Foods - Cafe and market in Koloa with pastries, sandwiches, and to-go food. You can also order and enjoy on the patio.

Koloa Fish Market - excellent poke to go for a great beach lunch

Da Crack - an island version of Chipotle and Qdoba

North Shore

Hanalei Bread Company - great breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast on the north shore

Hanalei Street Food - several options to choose from

Kalypso Bar and Grill - beach theme, casual, and fun

Sams Ocean View - excellent restaurant on the east side of the island that has great views of the Pacific Ocean.

Scorpacciata Pizza - consistently voted best pizza on the island

Coffee, Juice and Snacks

South Shore

Eden Coffee - great coffee in Koloa - this is where you'll find us every morning. Try the Eden Freeze!!

Kauai Juice - fresh juices and salads to go (we'll be bringing juice for everyone on the catamaran)

Fresh Shave - best shave ice around with their natural fruit syrups! Don't miss this one, and fortunately, they'll be at the Welcome Party as well!

Lappert's Ice Cream - made on Kaua'i and so delicious!

North Shore

Kalalea Juice Hale - excellent fresh juice and acai bowls - we never miss this one!

Wishing Well - in Hanalei has great shave ice, smoothies and coffee

Activities

Below are some of our favorite activities on Kaua'i. Note that some will require reservations.

Beaches & Water

South Shore

Poipu beach - A short drive from the Hyatt, this is an excellent public beach with life guards, and often sea turtles and seals! This is the most family friendly beach too as there is a small natural bay that keeps large waves out.

Shipwrecks beach - Scenic beach at the Grand Hyatt - great way to enjoy the sound of the ocean - though it is not considered a safe swimming beach for most people as it is less calm and there are no lifeguards.

Na Pali Pirates - While we are chartering a catamaran for the day to cruise up and down the Na Pali Coast, it is also very fun to hop on board the zodiac raft to explore the many sea caves along the coast that our large boat will not be able to enter. Note that if you are prone to motion sickness, have back pain, or are pregnant, you'll probably want to pass on this one.

North Shore

Tunnels beach / Haena State Park - Very scenic beach with great views of the mountains from the beach that offers excellent snorkeling. Note that parking fills up quickly in the morning and can be a challenge.

Anini beach - Calm and enjoyable beach on the east side of the island. A day trip to this beach with a stop at Kalalea Beach Hale for breakfast and either Tiki Tacos for a late lunch or Sam's Ocean View for dinner would be excellent!

Kayak or SUP Hanalei River - Head to Kayak Hanalei to rent your kayak or stand-up paddle board and enjoy a day on the river as you head into a beautiful wildlife refuge.

Hikes

South Shore

Awa'awapuhi Ridge - Near Waimea Canyon, this hike is 5.8 miles RT, with nearly 2,000' of elevation gain. While it is considered moderately challenging, there are points with significant exposure along this trail so good footwear, and no fear of heights are prerequisites for this one. If you have those, then this hike offers amazing views.

Waipo'o Falls - In Koke'e State Park, this is a very popular hike out to a beautiful waterfall.

Waimea Canyon - So many hikes to fit anyone's skill and ability level!

North Shore

Hanakapii Falls - Epic hike to an even more epic waterfall! This hike includes several stream crossings, some boulder hopping, and a bit of a slog through beautiful rainforest (emphasis on the rain). Having said all that, you are rewarded with an over 300' waterfall, where you can swim in the water beneath it (though not recommended to get too close due to falling rocks). Ryan broke his wrist on this trail a couple years ago, but its still worth it if you're adventurous and up for an 8 mile RT hike. You'll need either a parking pass or a shuttle reservation for Haena State Park to get into this trail. Parking passes often sell out within minutes of going on sale, which is 30 days prior at 12AM Hawaii Time.

Powerline trail - this is a more accessible hike for most. At only 4.8 miles RT, this is a nice hike with incredible views of Hanalei and Hanalei Bay.

Scenic Flights

We've done an aerial tour of the island via helicopter once before and cannot recommend it enough! An amazing adventure for those without a fear of heights. This is how you can see Manawaiopuna Falls - also known as Jurassic Falls - the 400' waterfall that was featured in the helicopter scene at the arrival into Jurassic Park in the movie. There are several options for this tour, but we recommend:

Mauna Loa Helicopters - Our tour of choice - small groups of up to 3 people only. Once in a lifetime experience - and we highly encourage doing it with the doors off!! Absolutely EPIC but not for the faint of heart.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters - Large luxury helicopter for a more 'secure' feeling ride, but still amazing views of the island.

Botanic Gardens

South Shore

National Tropical Botanic Gardens - Allerton & McBryde - Near Poipu, these beautiful gardens have been featured in Jurassic Park and countless other movies (reservations required).

North Shore

Limahuli Garden and Preserve - Near Hanalei, a self-guided walking tour tells the story of the Hawaiian islands through plant species over the ages (reservations required).

Na Aina Kai Botanic Gardens - Near Kilauea, is a well manicured and styled garden with many sculptures (reservations required).

Drives

South Shore

Explore Koke'e State Park and Waimea Canyon - Known as “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is not to be missed along a beautiful day drive complete with good overlooks of the Na Pali Coast. Bonus: add on a hike to the Waterfall where the intro to Jurassic Park was filmed!

North Shore

Spend the day in romantic Hanalei - Nestled in the heart of the north shore, Hanalei is a beautiful town and bay with large sandy beaches and offers everything you want from a beach town. We highly recommend a day trip there to hit a few of our favorite activities, like breakfast at Hanalei Bread Co (line can get long in mid-morning). You can also enjoy the best acai bowls in the world along your drive up there at the Kalalea Juice Hale. Combine a morning of shopping in Hanalei with the afternoon at Tunnels Beach and shave ice at Wishing Well before grabbing dinner at Tiki Tacos on the way back to the south shore. Not a beach person? Learn about Hawaiian history and biodiversity at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve or enjoy a hike on the Powerline trail!

Tour the historic Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife refuge - This refuge was established in 1985 to protect the the environment for hundreds of species of migratory birds that call this point their home, including the famous the giant Albatross! Visit this historic lighthouse and enjoy some birdwatching while you do it. This is located on the north-eastern side of the island, and could be combined with a day trip to Hanalei.

Shopping

South Shore

Warehouse 3450 - Find local goods here in Lawai at this repurposed warehouse that is home to a group of small locally owned shops, complete with coffee, food trucks and a bar.

Aloha Exchange - An outdoor lifestyle and surf shop in Kalaheo (directly across from the Kalaheo Cafe, though there is one on the north shore in Kilauea too) where you can find any needs for your hiking or beach adventures, or even fun hats and t-shirts.

Shops at Kuikui'ula - This is a shopping center in Koloa with a bit of everything, including a Long's Drug (CVS) for any unexpected travel needs.

Hilo Hatties - The place for classic Hawaiian shirts and mumus. You can even find matching dresses and shirts for the entire family ... classic Hawaii.

Travel Info

We know that not everyone shares the same love of travel planning that we do. If it's not your jam, don't worry! We would love to help you plan an awesome trip to Kauai. Here are some details that will help you get started and please reach out with any questions.

Flights

You'll be flying into and out of Lihue Airport, the only airport in Kaua'i (airport code LIH), which is about a 30 minute drive from the Grand Hyatt.

Most flights back to the mainland are overnight and leave in the evening. The Grand Hyatt has a Hospitality Suite where you can change and take a shower before heading to the airport after you've checked out, allowing you to make the most of your last day.

M+R Tip: Most people will be flying from either Denver or Dallas and there multiple flights a day on United Airlines, including a daily direct from Denver to Lihue. American Airlines flies to Lihue, though flights from Dallas have to stop in either Los Angeles or Phoenix. Southwest also offers many flights from California.

M+R Tip: According to Google Flights, the best pricing is between 1-3 months before the flight. So while flights seem high today, pricing should come down and be better between February and May. United has free changes, so you can also cancel and rebook later if prices drop.

Transportation

The Island of Kaua'i is circular and is about 25 miles wide and 33 miles long. We will be staying on the south shore of the island, and while there is plenty to do on this side of the island, you'll want to rent a car to get around as there are no taxi's and very few Ubers available.

We will have a shuttle for the wedding evening to bring you to and from the Grand Hyatt so that everybody can enjoy the evening and not have to worry about driving or parking.

M+R Tip: Depending on the type of vacation you are looking for, convertibles are a lot of fun to get the island breeze in your hair. Our preference is always a Jeep when available so that we can have the convertible, but also the capability to get off-road if we want!

Accommodations

Grand Hyatt Kauai, Poipu

1571 Poipu Road

Koloa, HI 96756

The beautiful Grand Hyatt will serve as our host hotel for the week and we hope that you will be able to join us! This hotel will also host the welcome party, last day pool day and shuttles to/from the wedding.

Room Reservations

We've secured a room block which offers a substantial discount off of the market rate. To book at the Hyatt, please use the link below to ensure you get the discounted rate.

If you'd like to extend your stay beyond the wedding, the discounted rate is valid from June 1st to June 11th.

Be sure to book by May 4th to get the discount rate.

Amenities

The Hyatt includes some great amenities such as: welcome lei, reusable water bottles & water stations, beach umbrellas and chairs, arrival & departure lounge, Koi and parrot time, fitness classes, Hawaiian cultural activities, guided sunrise walks and evening entertainment. This is just a selection, you'll find a complete list on the hotel website.

Book with Hyatt

Note: There are multiple room types (standard, resort view, partial ocean, full ocean, each with 2 Queens or King options). If you're not finding the right type for you, or you receive an error like "The selected room type is not available" on the payment page, let us know and we will work with the Hyatt for you.

Other Options

If you'd prefer a condo or other accomodations, we'd recommend something near Poipu on the south shore of Kaua'i. The north shore of the island is incredibly beautiful, but there is often traffic on the east side near Wailua and Kapa'a which can be a bit of a headache if you have to deal with it every day. We highly recommend a road trip to Hanalei on a free day though!

Packing Essentials

For those of you that love a packing list (Savy, looking in your direction ;)

the vibe

Kauai is super casual in general, much like Colorado only warm and humid. You'll see people all day going most places in a swimsuit and a coverup, staying beach ready.

For nicer dinners, a long flowy dress or a simple button down and nice shorts are very common.

essentials

several swimsuits

no need to bring a beach towel, the Hyatt has you covered

cute outfit for welcome party

boat chic coverup for catamaran day

stunning getup for wedding day

M+R Tip: We always pack a swimsuit and a change of clothes in our carry-on so you can still enjoy your first day even if you bag gets delayed.

some extras

Chacos or Tevas - if you're going to do any hiking, these are much better than shoes since you'll likely get very muddy and wet on any trail on Kaua'i

Reef Safe Sunscreen

long sleeve sunshirt for those susceptible to sunburn like Ryan

Eye mask and pillow for the return flight home

M+R Tip: The State of Hawaii requires reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the coral reefs around the islands from the hard caused by "benzenes". Many sunscreens state on their packaging that they are reef safe when they are actually not. Please be sure to find non-nano mineral based sunscreens to be truly reef safe.

Other Islands

Of the 4 major Hawaiian islands, Kaua'i is our absolute favorite, followed by the Big Island (Hawaii), Maui and then Oahu (with Honolulu). If you're interested in island hopping, it is very easy to do! While all of the islands are amazing, they are quite distinct! Here are a few of our thoughts and tips on the differences between the islands.

Kaua'i is the oldest island, also called the Garden Isle and is your classic tropical island. The overall feel of the island is very relaxed (reminds us a lot of Colorado) with lots of outdoor activities and a somewhat limited food and shopping selection (compared to some islands, though it is recovering in the post-Covid era).

Hawaii (Big Island) is the youngest island and home to active volcanoes. Head up to Volcanoes National Park and if you are lucky you'll get to see an active eruption! This island is by far the biggest island, and as a result of the active volcanoes, offers wildly changing ecosystems. Mauna Kea reaches to 13,803' above sea level, while Mauna Loa gets to 13,679'. As all mountains do, these volcanoes create their own weather, and this island is almost desert like in places. Did you know it even snows on the very peaks of these volcanoes?

Maui has an excellent mix of tropical and dry climates and a great selection of places to stay, shopping and restaurants. Haleakala National Park is amazing, and we recommend leaving your lodging at 3AM to make the drive to the top for a sunrise like you will see nowhere else in the world at the top of Haleakala Volcano (dormant). Very sadly, this is the island where the very devastating wildfire destroyed the town of Lahaina last summer. Note that this is a very large island, and many Hawaiians are encouraging people to still visit Maui as the economy is largely based on tourism.

Oahu is the home to the capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu, which is also the largest city in the State. We have not explored much of this island outside of the city. Waikiki beach is absolutely beautiful, but can feel almost Vegas like with large crowds of people and high end shopping. You can also visit Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, including the Arizona Memorial.

RSVP

***CATAMARAN NOTE: Due to Coast Guard regulations, children under the age of 5 are not permitted and we are limited to 48 guests. Early RSVPs will have priority. All guests will be required to sign a waiver prior to sailing.***

Registry

You've been to our house... you know we have all the gadgets and certainly don't need a toaster or silverwear place setting. The best gift will be your presence at our wedding, enjoying one of our favorite places and celebrating with us. If you simply can't resist the urge to give a gift, here is a travel themed registry.

Contact Us

Reach out directly to us with any questions you may have about the wedding, the other events, or Kaua'i in general.