Favourite Maui Locations
Olowalu Plantation House
The Olowalu Plantation House is exactly what one might picture when imagining a wedding on Maui.
The large estate centers around a Hawaiian plantation-style house which serves for getting ready, plumbing and kitchen facilities and a bit of AC. The house has a large lanai and cobblestone area between it and the majestic trees, right next to the Pacific Ocean. The Olowalu Plantation House is ideally situated in the center of the south shore between South Maui and West, in a quiet and private area which enjoys reliably-sunny skies and gentle surf and sunset views.
The property is also adjacent to a jetty (once used for loading sugar onto boats) which brides and grooms who have booked the property for their wedding may use for photos with a unique view of the West Maui Mountains, with ocean on all other sides.
Wedding Preparation
The Olowalu Plantation House is easy to access and has all required amenities for most weddings. It is easy to get to from either the West or South side of Maui with a rental car though many brides and grooms hire a shuttle service to bring guests from and back to their hotels.
There are two rooms which may be used for bridal party prep with some AC. It's most common for wedding parties to have hair and makeup done at their hotel and then transfer to Olowalu for getting dressed before the ceremony, which is the most picturesque part of getting ready.
As guests arrive, they can lounge on the large shaded lanai or enjoy wandering about the grounds.
Ceremonies
Ceremonies can be set up a few ways at the Olowalu Plantation House, either on the large lawn or on the cobblestones centered on a very large tree. Wherever it is, your ceremony backdrop will include a good view of the ocean. It is possible to strategically set up for most of your guests and ceremony to be in the shade if you pay attention to time of day and year. Since Olowalu Plantation House is on the leeward side of the island it's fair to assume that the weather will be sunny and to plan for that with lighting and positioning of décor.
Receptions
Wedding receptions at Olowalu Plantation House are on the edge of the ocean with full sunset views, flanked by massive trees. Often the dinner tables are set up on the cobblestone patio or off to the side on the lawn to make for a larger dance floor on the patio area.
Lighting and even florals can be strung up above the tables between the large trees and the house. Olowalu plantation House is also one of the best places at sea level to stargaze and I have done star portraits for a few couples here, taking a break from the dance floor.
Portraits
The Olowalu Plantation House is one of the few venues which offers both ocean and mountain backdrops for portraits. Around the immediate grounds of the venue there is some excellent vegetation which makes a great backdrop for group shots. A short stroll takes one to the jetty extending into the ocean which provides views of the West Maui Mountains. The rest is ocean and sky. Olowalu Plantation house is one of the best Maui wedding venues for on-site portrait potential. The photos you see here are either just before or just after sunset. It's ideal to have 30 mins before and 10 mins after sunset for portraits out on the jetty. After their photo session brides and grooms often rejoin the reception or get it started (depending on the time of year and sunset time of course) and perhaps cut their cake and have their first dance while the sky is turning blue and twilight settles.
