Kona Kai San Diego Resort Reviews
Reviews
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![Angie]()
Angie Sent on 11/08/2023I highly recommend Kona Kai!
I am beyond pleased with the service I received from the catering manager, Brenna, and the team at Kona Kai for my wedding. Brenna immediately responded to my inquiry, was waiting for us 10 minutes before the start of our tour, and was very flexible and patient with us as we made our decision to book a venue. All these reasons plus her genuine kindness lead us to choose Kona Kai, and we are SO happy we did. Throughout the whole planning process, Brenna was there to answer every email and phone call in a timely manner, support me during my low-key meltdowns about non-venue related matters, and coordinated so well with my wedding planner. When the City of San Diego denied our permit, Brenna and her manager went above and beyond to refute it, ultimately leading the city to approve our permit. On the day of the wedding, the team at Kona Kai moved everything along effortlessly. The set up of the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception were absolutely stunning. The accommodations made for my vendors' parking were appreciated, and the discounted valet for my guests were very reasonable. I continuously had to add more rooms to my room block, which Brenna, Sal, and Osae were SO patient and accommodating with. I could go on and on with how satisfied I am, but no amount of words will capture how grateful and happy I am. I absolutely recommend working with Brenna and her team at Kona Kai for your wedding! -
![Adam]()
Adam Sent on 04/12/2026Kona Kai San Diego Wedding
We had the most incredible wedding experience at Kona Kai San Diego Resort. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, right on the water with beautiful views that made our day feel so special and unique. Everything from the ceremony setup to the reception flowed seamlessly, and our guests are still talking about how amazing the entire experience was.
What truly made the difference, though, was our wedding planner, Brenna. She was exceptional from start to finish, organized, responsive, and incredibly detail-oriented. She made the entire planning process feel easy and stress-free, always staying one step ahead and making sure nothing was overlooked. On the day of the wedding, she handled everything behind the scenes so we could fully enjoy every moment without worrying about a thing.
Brenna’s professionalism and calm presence were invaluable, and you can tell she genuinely cares about making each couple’s day perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better team or a more beautiful place to celebrate. Highly recommend Kona Kai and Brenna to anyone planning their wedding! -
![Rachel]()
Rachel Sent on 10/25/2025Kona Kai is the Best Venue for a Wedding
Where do I even begin? Stephanie is, without question, the most incredible event coordinator anyone could ask for. Over the 2.5 years we worked together, she became so much more than a planner—she truly felt like a best friend who cared about every detail as much as I did.
From day one, she went above and beyond to make sure our planning experience was smooth, joyful, and completely stress-free. Every suggestion, every tiny comment we made—she listened, understood, and somehow always managed to make things even better than I imagined. Her ability to improve and elevate every idea was nothing short of magic.
She guided us through every stage of the process with such grace and professionalism, all while keeping everything lighthearted and fun. Additionally, she was extremely flexible, working with us on budget concerns, she was responsive, and always reliable. She worked with all of my vendors seamlessly, and without her I don’t think the day would have been as perfect as it was.
And the thoughtfulness! Stephanie and Peter (our hotel block coordinator) have such beautiful hearts—they even surprised us with the most meaningful little gifts along the way during our weekend. Those gestures meant the world to me and reminded me just how lucky we were to have them by our side.
If you’re looking for someone who will not only plan your wedding flawlessly but also care about you, your story, and your happiness, look no further than Stephanie. She’s pure magic. 💕
For Kona Kai as a hotel, they are updating the rooms and various areas so there were some issues with the properties that our guests experienced. However, the staff was always kind in working with us and did everything they could to provide the best experience. -
![Lindsay]()
Lindsay Sent on 10/16/2025The Best Venue!
Kona Kai San Diego Resort was an absolute dream venue for our wedding! From the moment we started working with Stephanie and her team, their communication was prompt, and they were always excited and warm. They were so helpful in bringing our vision to life, and everything turned out even more stunning, magical and unique than we could have imagined. Stephanie was a godsend - she was so easy to work with, and helped mitigate every fear I had, talking me off the ledge several times with her warmth and friendliness. My family loved staying at the beautiful hotel, and it was the perfect setting for our out-of-town guests. Thanks to Stephanie and her amazing team, our wedding day was truly magical. -
![Eli]()
Eli Sent on 06/20/2025Kona Kai is THE Wedding Venue of Your Dreams
We fell in love with Kona Kai the moment we stepped foot at the resort. What was supposed to be us inquiring about the possibility of getting married there quickly turned into inquiring about the process to move forward. Stephanie the catering manager gave us a tour and answered all our questions as well as guided us through the process from start to finish. We had some different and difficult requests at times and Kona Kai was very flexible and willing to work with us, especially considering we were planning the wedding from out of town. We were even allowed to visit the resort for a different event to get inspiration and see the resort in full wedding mode. We were supported the whole process and we absolute loved our wedding week. Everyone was amazing, from Angie and Enrique at the front desk to Mialani with hotel booking, to the banquet manager ensuring everything was running smoothly on the day of. We can’t say enough how much we loved our wedding and will definitely be visiting Kona Kai again. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a spot to get married. We picked a beach ceremony and courtyard reception and everything was stunning. -
![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 11/21/2024Highly recommend this venue!
We got married at the Kona Kai a month ago today and I couldn’t be happier with how the day went! The resort is beautiful and everything turned out so great.. Brenna was so great to work with, very communicative through the whole process leading up to the big day.. the hotel rooms are very nice which was a plus.. I was able to use one of their getting ready rooms with my gals before the ceremony which was so helpful since I had a huge wedding party.. so much easier than getting ready in a hotel room! The grounds are kept up very nice and they have their own private beach.. just beautiful with all the fancy boats and mansions on the hillside.. great service from everyone we encountered there too.. I will definitely be back for a staycation and be highly recommending it as a wedding venue :) -
![Valerie]()
Valerie Sent on 08/10/2023Wedding Coordinating with Kona Kai
It was a pleasure working with Stephanie at Kona Kai as we pulled off a Big Fat Greek Wedding together. Everything was absolutely WONDERFUL and I must say, that was one of the smoothest receptions I have ever coordinated, even with all of the intricate details. The Kona Kai banquet team overall is AMAZING. Erol handled everything so beautifully and all of the servers were polite, welcoming, and diligent as they worked around everyone in the room.
Stephanie and Erol, thank you for the opportunity to serve along side you and your remarkable team.
KoKo McDowell 7/22/23
C/O Beatific Events
https://www.beatificevents.com -
Marilyn Sent on 09/27/2022
Gorgeous, Delicious, Beautiful! Best Venue EVER!
Words cannot express our appreciation for the level of excellence and beauty provided by everyone at the Kona Kai Resort. Every single person who worked to put together our wedding was kind, hardworking, and dedicated, and we have never had as delicious and perfectly cooked (even the wild salmon!) dinner at a venue. Our guests were full of compliments for the chef as well as for the aesthetic beauty of the event. Catering Director, Brenna Guerchon, is as professional as 100% caring and effective. Aline Bichara Events created exquisite, elegant ceremony, lounge and dining areas, Willmus Weddings’ Heather kept us on task and on time while her husband, Christophe, took fabulous photos and video… and West Coast Music’s JB Project is absolutely THE BEST! Overall we could not have hoped for a more heartwarming event. -
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![Kathryn]()
Kathryn Sent on 08/09/2022the PERFECT wedding venue
Kona Kai was the PERFECT wedding venue for us. From the beginning of the wedding planning process, the staff at Kona Kai was amazing. They understood how much all the small wedding details mattered to me, and that meant so much. They went above and beyond to make sure that everything was perfect. On the wedding day, everything went off without a hitch! It was more than anything that I had ever imagined. There were great rooms for both the girls and guys to get ready. The ceremony space was stunning, with the most beautiful aisle-way I have ever seen (we got married on the circle patio). The photo areas were perfect, and the reception in Cabo Courtyard was amazing! An amazing dinner, twinkly lights, and dancing under the stars with my new husband and all of our family and friends. PERFECT doesn't even begin to cover it. I can't thank Kona Kai enough for making our wedding dreams come to life. :) -
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![Sharon]()
Sharon Sent on 06/17/2022Billion dollar views & Pets too - Perfect wedding venue!
The Kona Kai team brings the true spirit of Aloha to San Diego. Before you walk in the front door the Team has greeted you like family, and it just gets better every step of the way. Our gentle giant furbaby, Keenan, knows everyone on staff, exactly where all the treat stations are and was totally loved on and spoiled! The entire hotel is beautiful and our room had a see through fireplace to the stunning marina view. During our 30-person wedding party's four night stay, the entire team at Kona Kai could not have been nicer or more helpful! They even jumped in to save the day when we realized the zipper on my dress was 100% defective 30-minutes before the start of wedding. The front desk team came through with multiple safety pins and needle/thread packets while Jeffrey and his catering team effortlessly switched up the timeline and our guests never knew there was a problem (until they saw the back of my dress).
They treated us as if we were the only people there even though they had their annual Luau event that evening and other private events happening. The food was amazing, our family & guests are still talking about it!
The wedding location was breathtaking and we reserved cabanas at the main pool for a fun reception party! Yes, since the dress was already ruined - we Took The Plunge fully dressed into the pool! Only wish we would've stayed longer to enjoy the paddleboards and bikes to cruise Shelter Island, the spa and more but we plan on going back often.
We both have been very blessed to travel the world, and we highly recommend the Kona Kai for a perfect wedding venue, fantastic pet family destination, weekend visit or even stop in for a great meal at Vessel's. -
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Aeriel Sent on 04/22/2022
The Best Experience I Could Ask For!
I was able to have the wedding of my dreams thanks to Kona Kai! When my original venue dropped out 6 months before my wedding I was in a state of panic. After my first meeting with Senior Catering Manager Stephanny Phenny, all my worries went away. She worked closely with me and my Day Of Coordinator, Iman Lee, to provide me with whatever I needed. It was so nice knowing that everything was taken care of; I could actually enjoy my day. From the ceremony/reception setup, food at dinner, our wonderful bartender Cristobal, the beautiful check-in experience provided by the front desk, and the overall professionalism of the entire staff, Kona Kai is simply unmatched. I couldn't ask for a more perfect day and it’s all thanks to them! -
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Chelsey Sent on 09/30/2021
Dream Wedding Venue!
We got married at the Kona Kai on September 18th, 2021 and it was everything we imagined and more! The venue itself is so beautiful and the whole staff was accommodating and friendly. We worked closely with Jeffrey Hornick and he was extremely helpful and professional. He really went above and beyond to make sure our wedding weekend was perfect. We had about 60-70 people staying at the Kona Kai for our room block and every single person only had positive things to say about their experience. The food, drinks, and customer service were top-notch! From the moment we booked the Kona Kai we had great experiences and no complaints. It was a perfect wedding and we are SO happy we did it at the beautiful Kona Kai! -
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Sara Sent on 07/08/2021
Great wedding
We just got married at Kona Kai on the beach and it was amazing. Would definitely recommend. The reception was in the courtyard and it couldn’t have been a more amazing day and the staff was awesome. Loved our wedding day. -
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Ann S. Sent on 05/25/2021
Absolutely first rate start to finish. The quality of service was unmatched in today’s world. It’s now my go to venue in Dan Diego!
We held our son’s wedding at the Kona Kai Resort out on the Marina overlooking the harbor. It was magical, joyful and magnificent. The service was impeccable, the food exquisite and the only problem was that no one wanted to leave!! Our hearts were full and we will never forget this experience! -
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![Amelie]()
Amelie Sent on 05/21/2021Kona Kai surpassed all my wedding dreams!!
The Kona Kai Resort is a hidden gem in San Diego for weddings! My husband and I knew we wanted our wedding in San Diego, but weren't sure where so we toured practically every single venue. Kona Kai was the second one we visited and no other venue could top it. It was everything we dreamed of for our wedding day. It had the most beautiful ceremony locations and outdoor reception areas. Plus having the hotel on site was perfect for getting ready on site, the restaurant is delicious for all meals, and the location is a perfect vacation get away for our out of town guests (and ourselves!!)
Our 200 guest wedding date was originally scheduled for Spring 2020, however due to COVID we had to post pone to the later than summer. During this time, the catering services team was on leave due to COVID, so we were put in touch with the director Jeff Hornick. He was so understanding of the situation and helped us pick a new date. However, by summertime 2020, restrictions were still in place and my husband and I knew we wouldn't be able to host the wedding of our dreams, so we postponed again to Spring 2021. Once again Jeff and the Kona Kai were so understanding and graciously moved our contract again. Then by Spring 2021 there was still so much uncertainty that we made the decision to drastically cut our guest list to 25 people and make many modifications to event to meet all CDC guidelines. By the time our wedding date finally came, it was so nice staying at the hotel, our ceremony location was breathtaking, and we got to enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner, cake, champagne toasts, and dancing with our family and close friends. The wedding was a lot different than planned, but it was everything and more than we could ever have dreamt of. -
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![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 05/10/2019Magical & Memorable
Kona kai made our special day just magical! We had guests from chicago and florida all staying at the hotel and everyone had an absolute blast! Our event coordinator Valerie who is the catering sales manager there was with us from the beginning. She showed us the venue and we fell in love. She was an absolute blessing and couldnt of done it with out her. Weddings are chaos and she kept me calm and made everything go so smoothly. Thank you so much Valerie and Kona kai for making our day perfect! -
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Kristine Sent on 01/27/2019
Destination Wedding
Kona Kai resort was the best location for our destination wedding. It truly is a “hidden gem” and is located near the marina in San Diego and downtown area but away from traffic. The airport was about 15-20 minutes away. The views are amazing and had the perfect scenery for all our wedding photography. My husband and I are from the Bay Area and decided to choose this beautiful resort because of their amazing staff. We were greeted by really nice and professional bellmen, every time we entered the resort. From our coordinator Lisa Fleming, banquet staff, restaurant chefs, and to Vania and Sean at the front desk- EVERYONE was super friendly, very helpful in accommodating whatever we requested and made sure we all had the perfect stay. The majority of our family members and guests at our wedding stayed here for convenience also for our wedding reception and could not stop raving about the Kona Kai team and cleanliness of the resort. There were so many things to do, like hitting up the pools and gym, the spa, eating at their amazing restaurant with an awesome view and live music, the s’mores at their private beach and the walk to the marina- everyone felt like they were truly “on vacation”. The setup of the room buildings all had different but amazing hotel views of the boats on the marina. The hotel rooms were a good size for our guests and also loved that they had hardwood floors instead of carpet. They were very generous in upgrading our rooms since we got married there. It was absolutely perfect and we couldn’t have asked for more! We noticed some pets also so I believe they are a pet friendly resort. If you are planning to choose a location for your wedding, we highly recommend Kona Kai! They have so many options and are open to work with your budget. Thank you Kona Kai team!!! We cannot wait to visit again soon! -
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Kimberly Sent on 11/01/2017Kona Kai proved to be a gorgeous venue for our daughter's wedding. From the first meeting, they were helpful and welcoming - and let us personalize the event with exceptions to their rules, like letting us bring a special family wine and decanter... and letting our daughter's dog be a part of the wedding! Chef Damon was superb (serving 150 guests) and we had many compliments on the food (my only criticism is that some of the portions were a bit too big!) We were able to get into the ballroom early in the morning, which helped with the special market lighting we brought in (and I would recommend, as the ballroom is like most large rooms - quite plain... San Diego Events Lighting Co. with Maria is who we used) and the tables, chairs, and choice of linens provided in the wedding package were fine. It was a 3-day event for us and we had more than 100 people staying at the hotel... To my knowledge there were no room hiccups, though the internet on the West side of the property was slower than in the main building. The front desk and wait staff were exceptionally friendly - and though the Kona Kai wedding planner left her job the week before our wedding (ouch!) her replacement was quickly up to speed and even nicer (which is saying a lot!) A special shout out to Chris, the man who makes all the set up indoors (reception) and out (ceremony) happen - He and his staff were wonderful!
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![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 08/27/2016We stayed at Kona Kai for our wedding weekend and although we had our wedding off site, we had many different events there! The majority of our guests were from out of town so we had a large block of rooms at Kona Kai and it was an amazing experience! Cassie Donovan was our room contact and was absolutely incredible! She was extremely accommodating and helpful on so many levels. We were so grateful for her throughout the entire process! All of our guests had an incredible weekend thanks to their stay! We also did our welcoming party, the night before our wedding, in the Vessel Restaurant and Bar, as well as an after party after our wedding reception. Kelly Meade and Sean Tiarks were very helpful in setting everything up and were extremely flexible and customer service oriented. We also did a non-hosted brunch in the restaurant the day after our wedding and once again everything was perfect! We are so happy with our experience at Kona Kai and would recommend it for all lodging and event needs! Our guests are still talking about how seamless and fun all of the events were! Thank you Kona Kai! We will definitely be back soon! Here are some pictures that we took at Kona Kai during getting ready and all other photos before the wedding: http://cloveandkin.com/blog/tag/kristen-patrick/
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