Jade & Josh’s Sunrise Elopement: A Black-Lava Morning on the Big Island

Jade and Josh’s October 14, 2026 wedding was a true Big Island elopement: just the two of them, an early start, and a sunrise ceremony on the black lava rocks of Puako. Their original plan was Punaluʻu, but a hurricane changed that, and the detour led them somewhere that matched their wish for “more beach and openness” even better.

Jade, who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, booked their wedding in January 2026. She jokes that she gets extreme car sickness and is “not a morning person” — and still chose a sunrise elopement. Their vision was simple: “a black sand beach or black lava rock on the ocean… we just want more beach and openness.”

The morning unfolded the way a two-person elopement should. Tia from Indigo Grace Artistry had Jade ready at their resort before the sun came up. Lisa Salazar of Mauka Floral Co. built Jade’s bouquet around her love of trailing flowers. Kahu Tom pronounced them married on the rocks as the light spilled over the coast, and Kris of Couple Cups Photography captured it all while Sandra of Big Island Elopement kept the morning flowing quietly in the background.

When a hurricane changes your wedding location

Jade and Josh initially planned to marry at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach. In mid-September, a hurricane upended that plan — storm-related closures and permit uncertainty made the area one we couldn’t count on for their wedding morning. So we pivoted: I sent the couple Kona-side alternatives.

The lesson we took from it, for any couple planning a Hawaii beach elopement: have a backup location, and check both access and permit requirements before your wedding week — conditions can change with the season, and Hawaii’s hurricane season runs roughly June through November.

By 6:15 AM they were married, and by 8:10 the light had done its work. If you’re considering a sunrise elopement in Hawaii, build your getting-ready time, travel, and a little breathing room into the plan — a sunrise schedule asks more of the early hours than you’d think.

The bouquet

Jade’s floral wish was simple: “I really like the flowers that droop.” Lisa Salazar of Mauka Floral Co. turned that into a bouquet of orchids and trailing greenery that suited Jade perfectly — delivered the day before, ready and waiting for the morning.

Golden hour portraits

After the license signing, the morning belonged to photographs. Kris of Couple Cups Photography led Jade and Josh to the second location, a lava-rock staircase, which gave him a mix of black rock, white sand, palms, and open coastline, while the rising sun gave it all a soft golden wash.

The people behind the day

• Planning and coordination: Sandra Cesniene, Big Island Elopement
• Photography: Kris, Couple Cups
• Hair and makeup: Grace Malendres, Indigo Grace Artistry
• Florals: Lisa Salazar, Mauka Floral Co.
• Officiant: Kahu Tom (Thomas Fernandez)
• Behind-the-scenes content: Ruchi Khandelwal, The BTS Dulhan

Two people, a ceremony in first light, a license signing, and a morning of photographs on the coast. If you’re dreaming of a sunrise elopement of your own, get in touch with Big Island Elopement — we’d love to plan it with you.