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Evan and James wanted a party. A really good one, with people they love and food they were actually excited about, somewhere that felt like its own world. They found it at Puakea Ranch in North Kohala, and I am so glad they did.

Puakea sits on 33 acres just outside Hawi, up in the green hills above the Kohala Coast. The main drive is lined with old trees and opens onto sprawling lawns with ocean views in the distance. There are four historic cottages on the property where the wedding party can stay, a pool, a party barn, and a century-old monkeypod tree that has clearly been the backdrop for a lot of important moments. We have planned a number of LGBTQ+ weddings at Sunshower over the years and this one is genuinely one of my favorites. Evan and James put SO much thought into every piece of it.

The celebration started the evening before with a welcome party on the ranch. Underground Pizza came out with two food trucks, Ann Ferguson was there capturing it all, and 60 people who had traveled from all over got to spend an evening together before the wedding day itself. I am a big believer in the welcome party, especially for destination weddings with guests coming from multiple places. By the time you get to the ceremony, everyone already knows each other. 

In a Hawaii home, two men—one in gold jewelry and mesh tank, the other in a floral shirt—share a moment amid artful decor.
Three adults chat and smile in a bright room in Hawaii, dressed casually, with water glasses on nearby tables at a destination wedding.
Hawaiian wedding rings—one plain, one engraved with a gemstone—shine on textured green fabric, perfect for a Maui ceremony detail.
Bearded man in a peach suit stands confidently by glass doors indoors at a Hawaii wedding venue, smiling warmly.
Tan woven leather loafers with pointed toes on a light wood floor, ready for a Hawaii destination wedding; Steve Madden insoles visible.
A smiling man in a green suit fastens his jacket in a cozy, light-filled Hawaii room with framed photos and cultural decor.
A bearded man in a green suit adjusts his gold watch indoors near tropical decor, preparing for a Hawaii destination wedding.
Two grooms in green and salmon suits stand back-to-back among trees at a Hawaii wedding, the natural landscape softly blurred.
Two grooms smile at each other in colorful suits amid Hawaiian trees and rocks, capturing a joyful destination wedding moment.
Two men in coral and green suits hold hands outdoors in Hawaii, sharing an affectionate moment at a destination wedding.

 

 

 

The Ceremony

Chairs were set up on the lawn at Yoshi’s House with the ocean in the distance and Scott Buchholz playing as guests arrived. Evan and James walked in together.

Elisabeth Stapleton led the ceremony. She included a Land Acknowledgement, a ring warming where the rings passed through every guest’s hands before the exchange, and a hand binding. Evan wore a Maile style ti leaf lei. James wore a custom multi-tiered asymmetrical floral lei from Lyla Mah at Lalamilo Flower Girl. Both were gorgeous. The couple asked that guests keep their phones put away, and Ann captured everything quietly from a distance. When James stomped the glass, the whole ranch went up.

Under a broad tree in Hawaii, wooden chairs face tropical flower displays on a sunny lawn, ready for an outdoor wedding ceremony.
Wooden chairs form an outdoor aisle under a leafy tree, with vibrant florals and Hawaii hills creating a rustic wedding scene.
Bamboo chairs on grass face a vibrant tropical floral display under a leafy tree at a sunny Hawaii wedding ceremony setup.
Bamboo chairs on Hawaiian grass, the nearest adorned with white flower garlands and greenery, ready for a destination wedding.
Smiling woman in a black and gold floral dress stands between tropical blooms at a bright, serene Hawaii outdoor wedding venue.
Rustic wooden table with a lei, water jar, books, sunglasses, and pen on grass in Hawaii; trees blur in the background.
White frangipani flowers with yellow centers bloom among glossy leaves in Hawaii, softly blurred trees and earth tones behind them.
Bronze mermaid sculpture on a porch in Hawaii, framed by white posts, corrugated roof, and lush greenery under cloudy skies.
Grooms in green and peach suits walk hand-in-hand down stairs of a white house surrounded by tropical plants at a Hawaii wedding.
Grooms in pastel suits smile, holding hands on lush grass amid chairs and trees at a Hawaii wedding venue under a cloudy sky.
A Hawaii wedding ceremony outdoors beneath a leafy tree, with guests on wooden chairs and tropical flowers lining the festive aisle.
An elderly woman in a white top and pink floral skirt smiles with a woven fan at an outdoor Hawaii wedding, guests watching nearby.
Grooms in peach and sage suits exchange vows with leafy garlands, tropical florals, and palms at a Hawaii outdoor wedding.
Grooms hold hands and smile at their Hawaii wedding ceremony, with an officiant nearby. Guests watch under lush tropical trees.
Guests in vibrant dresses sit on bamboo chairs beneath Hawaiian trees, holding fans and smiling in the dappled wedding sunlight.
Two grooms exchange vows in a Hawaii wedding, dressed in peach and green suits amid tropical flowers and lush island greenery.
Two grooms with leis walk hand in hand down an outdoor aisle in Hawaii, as guests celebrate amid lush greenery and tropical florals.
Two grooms, in pink and green suits, walk hand-in-hand beneath a Hawaiian tree as guests cheer at their destination wedding ceremony.
Two grooms kiss under a large Hawaiian tree as guests applaud at their outdoor destination wedding ceremony in Hawaii.
On a Hawaii porch, two men in leis—one in salmon, one in green—sign a document amid palm leaves and overcast tropical skies.
Couple in green and pink suits walk arm in arm toward a white porch house, lush Hawaii foliage and blue sky setting the wedding scene.

 

 

 

The Food Tour Reception

This was such a fun idea for a cocktail style reception. The menu, designed with Pa’ina Pantry, was organized as a food tour through cities that meant something to Evan and James. A Boston section, a Virginia section, and an E Komo Mai section with local Hawaiian bites to close it out. The Kula Shave Ice truck came later in the evening. Spirited Cocktail Co. ran the bar with great specialty cocktails.

Sushi on a wooden tray with snacks beside greenery, beautifully arranged at a Hawaii destination wedding reception.
Pink and white striped takeout boxes with chopsticks on a tray outside, surrounded by lush greenery at a Hawaii destination wedding.
Rustic wooden bar with tropical decor and bamboo lanterns on grass, set for a Hawaii wedding with trees and lights behind.
Chilled colorful canned drinks in an ice-filled metal bucket on an outdoor table at a Hawaii destination wedding reception.
At a Hawaii wedding, a green leaf menu in a woven holder lists island dishes; blurred tropical grounds show in the background.
Mini burgers on wooden trays rest on a green leaf outdoors at a Hawaii wedding, with house and trees blurred in the background.
Two grooms in suits and leaf leis smile with drinks at a Hawaii outdoor wedding under a clear tent, with tropical flowers and lights.
At a Hawaii wedding, dumplings with crispy potatoes and chives are served on greens, set against a lush tropical backdrop.
At a Hawaii destination wedding, a wooden tiered stand displays orange soup cups with herbs on a leafy table, tropical foliage behind.
Rustic bread with creamy cheese and flower petals on a white plate, styled atop greenery at a Hawaii destination wedding.
Deviled eggs with golden caviar on a wooden tiered tray at a Hawaii wedding, beautifully arranged with blurred tropical background.
Two people serve shave ice at a festive Kula Shave Ice Hawaii stand, perfect for a tropical Hawaii destination wedding.
Lobster rolls with lettuce on a wooden board, shiny buns, and lush Hawaiian greenery in the background at an outdoor wedding.

 

 

 

Paper Crane Art Installation

Shannon Nakaya of Origami Dog Hawaii installed a large-scale sculpture that was built out of all of the 1000 origami cranes folded by James and Evan. In Japanese culture, folding 1000 cranes before your marriage symbolizes a wish for 1,000 years of happiness, longevity, and prosperity. This was one of those details that sounds unusual on paper and then turns out to be the most beautiful and showstopping part of their wedding.

Light paper cranes hang from a yellow frame outdoors in Hawaii, with bamboo, green trees, and blue sky in the sunny background.
Pastel origami cranes on white rods create a whimsical outdoor display at a Hawaii wedding, lush greenery softly blurred behind.
At a Hawaii beach venue, gold frames display white paper notes on strings, surrounded by tropical leaves and ocean views.
At a Hawaii wedding, a man in a green suit and lei looks up at an origami crane arch, surrounded by festive outdoor seating.
Grooms in terracotta and olive suits, smiling with leafy garlands at a Hawaii wedding, walk past paper cranes and string lights.
Origami cranes in soft colors hang outdoors among Hawaiian greenery, captured close-up at a destination wedding.

 

 

 

The Party

After portraits with Ann at golden hour, there were eight toasts. Evan and James sat in a lounge set up just for the toasts because there were so many and so they would be front and center. Then DJ Roman opened the dance floor and kept it going until the end of the night.

 

 

 

Planning at Puakea Ranch

Puakea is a venue that takes a certain kind of couple to get the most out of. It rewards people who have a real point of view on what they want and are willing to build something from scratch. Evan and James were exactly that. If you are curious about Puakea Ranch or any other venue on the Big Island, reach out through our contact page. We would love to help.

Tropical floral tablescape with candles under palm leaves at a Hawaii wedding, gold geometric floral backdrop outdoors behind.
Close-up of two people holding hands in Hawaii, dressed in green and pink suits with gold buttons, holding tropical bouquets.
Two men in colorful suits and floral garlands smile outdoors on a dirt path, framed by Hawaiian trees and cloudy sky.

 

 

 

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