Mari + Joseph

Guest Transportation: We're providing transportation for any interested guests (locals, too!) between our venue and Waikiki.

We have two chartered buses departing Waikiki at 2:30 pm - one from ‘Alohilani and the other from The Prince Waikiki hotel.

Return buses from Kualoa will depart just after 10pm and will drop off at ‘Alohilani and The Prince Hotel. Please see the bus roster here for pick up location information and bus captain/contact point information. Please let your captain know if your plans change on the day of the wedding, as they will be waiting for everyone before departing.

If you are interested in transportation to and from our venue and do not see your name on the roster, please reach out to us as we still have space on both buses.

For those flying in from out of town, the nearest airport is the Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

~ 20-30 minute drive to Waikiki, ~45 minute drive to Kualoa Ranch.

Rental Cars: For maximum flexibility and convenience, we recommend renting a car.  All major rental car companies operate out of Honolulu International Airport.

Rideshare Apps:  Uber and Lyft operate on Oahu and are better for traveling short distances in Honolulu.  For longer trips out to the Windward side, North Shore, or West Side, we recommend renting a car or booking a tour.

Airbnb or VRBO can be more budget-friendly than hotels, especially if traveling in a group. We suggest staying in Honolulu, Kailua, Kaneohe, or the North Shore.

When booking, we highly recommend choosing a "licensed" rental.

Waikiki:  The hub of tourism on Oahu and is the location to most hotels on Oahu. It has infinite restaurants, shops, nightlife, and shows - so you'll never be bored there.  It is close to Diamond Head and drinks watching a Waikiki sunset is one of our favorite Oahu activities.  See our Waikiki hotel recs below:

Not Waikiki: While most hotels on Oahu are in Waikiki, a few others are not and are in more secluded locations.  They are all gorgeous, extra luxurious, and offer a quieter experience. However, they tend to be more expensive.

If you are willing to splurge, all the ones listed will give you an incredible experience and are Conde Naste Traveler Top 20 Hawaii Resort Winners: 

- The Four Seasons at Ko'olina (Westside)


- Disney's Aulani (Westside)


- Turtle Bay Resort (North Shore)

About: The Prince Waikiki Hotel has incredible ocean views from ALL of its rooms.  This is where we will be staying around our wedding and would love for you to join us!  The Prince is a Tanaka family favorite.  It has a newly-renovated infinity pool overlooking the ocean, which is considered one of the best in Waikiki. The Prince's ocean views give it a very relaxing and chill vibe.  It also has a sushi restaurant, Katsumidori, that has achieved the rare approval of Mari, her mom, and her grandmother Fumiko - a tough group to please all at once!

Booking: We have a hotel block reserved at The Prince. Rates are $289/night.  This includes a discounted resort fee, free parking, discounted rates/advanced tee times at The Prince Golf Club, plus more. 

Please use the hotel block link below to receive this discount.

***NOTE: If you are having trouble booking when using the link, please let us know and email the hotel directly [groups@princehawaii.com].***

About: Previously The Pacific Beach Hotel, the hotel got a complete makeover in 2018 to become the 'Alohilani.  Thankfully, they kept the iconic Oceanarium, a two-story tropical fish tank, which is now a sleek bar.  

Booking: We have a room block reserved here, which offers 25% off the best rate available and a discounted resort fee of $20/night (usually $45).  Use the following link for booking or code: MJEWED.

About:  A cool retro-Hawaii boutique hotel with a "Wish You Were Here" pool people love to float around in and take pictures of.   

Booking:  We do not have room block reserved here.  Rates ~$175/night.

About: Everyone seems to love The Laylow! It’s hip with its mid-century meets modern decor. “Waikiki’s most Instagrammable hotel”, but before you roll your eyes it has excellent service and goes above and beyond to make guests feel welcome.

Booking: We do not have a room block reserved here. Rates ~ $265/night.

About: The Sheraton Waikiki has some incredible views of Diamond Head and an iconic infinity pool overlooking Waikiki Beach.  It is very close to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and has a very convenient central location.

Booking: We do not have a room block reserved at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Room rates ~$350/night.

About: The Moana Surfrider is a historic Waikiki landmark and has the nickname of “Waikiki’s First Lady”.  She is an elegant lady and feels like a place to stay for royalty.  

Booking: We do not have a room block reserved here. Rates are ~$350/night. 

This is a mostly outdoor restaurant and bar at the Halekulani Hotel. We absolutely love grabbing a drink and watching the sunset. As the sun goes down the live Hawaiian music starts. It’s all very romantic.

This is a Japanese sushi restaurant located in The Prince Hotel. Not only is the sushi and other food delicious, but the service is great. Mari’s grandma gives it two thumbs up - see pic!

Tip: Make a reservation as early as possible, it’s a favorite of locals and tourists.

This is our favorite restaurant in Kaneohe! It not only has great food and drinks but a wonderful ambiance overlooking Haiku gardens and Mari’s beloved Ko’olau mountains. Please note they do not take reservations and are very popular so either get there early (4:30 PM) or put your name down and take a walk around the gardens while you wait for your table.

This is delicious authentic local Hawaiian food. Everything is good so pace yourself through the Laulau, Kalua pig, and lomi salmon because you MUST save room for dessert and get a “Sweet Lady of Waiahole”.

Classic place to grab a local “plate lunch” to sit and enjoy or even better take to the beach and eat. There are 40+ locations across the island. We suggest you try the chicken katsu plate or get a loco moco.

- Tamura’s - get some wine + beer while there!

- Kozo Sushi - great spicy ahi bowl.

- Fresh Catch - favorite amongst locals

- Ahi Assasins - very popular, favorite amongst locals

- Safeway or Foodland - + have all your grocery needs.

Many Tanaka memories were made at our favorite local diner. With multiple locations throughout Oahu, this is a must try. Ashley's favorite is a chili frank plate. 

This is the beach our wedding venue overlooks.  It is great for a picnic or kayak.  The waves are fairly flat so its a beautiful calm place to relax.

This is a beautiful beach with fun, small waves that are perfect for bodyboarding.  It is located on an air force base and is open to military members 7-days a week and to the general public on weekends.

This is a gorgeous place to snorkel.  Please note it is closed Monday and Tuesday.  Make reservations far in advance as they limit the number of visitors to protect the sea life.

It is not only described as "most beautiful" of all Oahu beaches, but Lanikai Beach ranks as one of the best beaches in the world. Surrounded by endless miles of calm tranquil aqua blue waters, it’s hard to look at it these special windward ocean waters without getting an urge to jump right in. 

Diamond Head is iconic and the hike up it is paved with a few flights of stairs.  The top shows great views of Waikiki and the Kahala area.  Diamond Head has a special place in our hearts because it is the first hike we did together in Hawaii. This is a popular one so watch for crowds.

Located in Kailua on the windward side with beautiful views of the Ko'olau mountains.  Word on the street is this is quite a challenging course!

This is a short hike up to a few pillboxes overlooking the entire Windward side.  If you are a morning person, it is a great spot for a sunrise hike.

A relatively easy paved walk along the south shore of Oahu with amazing views of Waimanalo.

Considered one of the best golf courses on Oahu!

Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay offers 27 dramatic holes, the only golf course of its kind in Hawaii. Situated on Oahu’s sunny Ewa Plain, the course boasts 270 acres of sheer beauty and offers stunning views of the rain-carved Waianae Mountains.  Please note our guests who stay at The Prince Hotel through our wedding block get 20% off  at the course. 

Besides being the location of our wedding, Kualoa Ranch is also the filming site of many movies (Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates, and Jumanji).  It is a great place to take an ATV tour or go ziplining.  Since we are getting married here, they have offered a 20% discount on tours and activities to our guests.  Use code: TASSAROTTI20
*Valid for tours from 5/14/22-5/28/22 *

The PCC is a very fun place where you not only get to learn about the cultures from the various islands of Polynesia, but you can also enjoy a great luau (+show) at the end of your visit.

Very scenic views of the North Shore.  Also a popular site for adventurous cliff divers.  This is where they shot the diving scene from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall".  A great spot to take some pics and is located just across the street from the Polynesian Cultural Center.

If you need a visual, feel free to use this map which includes important locations (our venue, airport, etc) and all of the places listed above. We hope it helps you plan your visit!

We also included a few more recommendations- just so many things we love on Oahu! If you have any other questions or rec requests, shoot us an email.