Papa Kona Events Reviews
Reviews
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![Jhonnelyn]()
Jhonnelyn Sent on 03/03/2024100% YES! Choose Papa Kona!
Recently had my destination wedding here and I would definitely recommend this venue if you have less than 100 guests. This is a beautiful venue and the staff was absolutely amazing every step of the way. We had constant communication with our coordinators and they were very accommodating when it came to taking tours and having questions. They also provide a walk through rehearsal, which was perfect as we didn't have a rehearsal dinner. We did a few walk throughs with Kisa, our day of coordinator, the day before the wedding and it was super helpful as none of us knew what we were doing. Again, the staff here is absolutely WONDERFUL and the food was delicious! I have no complaints whatsoever. They helped make it a night to remember. Highly recommend Papa Kona for your wedding! -
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Matthew Sent on 06/24/2024
Papa Kona Wedding
Papa Kona is an amazing venue with fantastic staff. Our wedding day was perfect and the planning leading up to the day was seamless, with little to no stress. The venue was beautiful, our dinner was so great, we still get compliments on the food, our friends actually went back to Papa Kona the next day for dinner. Korie was our day of coordinator, she was easy going and relaxing and knew exactly what needed to get done to keep the day going smoothly. I highly recommend Papa Kona to any couple looking for a beautiful wedding venue! -
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Arthur Sent on 03/22/2024
The perfect wedding
The team at Papa Kona's was incredibly helpful and responsive throughout the entire process. They listened to all of our dreams for our wedding and DELIVERED in the end. They handled almost all of the setup and cleanup of the event.
The food was excellent (we got so many compliments about it!) and the drink service was lovely. The venue itself is stunning, with gorgeous views of the ocean and the Kona hillside. We even got a rainbow right after the ceremony!
Chey (coordinator) and Korie (day of coordinator) were incredibly responsive and accommodating. Korie was very hands on the entire time and took a huge burden off of us. They both worked hard to ensure that we got exactly what we wanted and worked with us every step of the way to make our dream wedding come true.
Our only notes would be related to the DJ and the "uplighting", both of which were part of the larger event package that Papa Kona's offers.
We provided the DJ with a 60 song playlist that had enough music for the entire dance portion of the event. She didn't play much of the music on the playlist. She also wore a short, skin-tight red dress which wasn't very appropriate for the event. Most people had difficultly hearing the toasts and any other speaking portions throughout the event.
The uplighting was a part of the package we purchased that was supposed to light up the palm trees at night, but we didn't notice it ever being turned on. It may have been more subtle than we were expecting.
We don't necessarily fault Papa Kona's for either of these issues. In hindsight we would have chosen the smaller package and done our own research to find a suitable DJ.
Again, I cannot recommend Papa Kona's enough. They really created a beautiful and magical experience for us.
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Julianne Sent on 01/01/2024
A magical wedding venue
If you are looking for an affordable wedding venue offering an inclusive package with magnificent food, service, recommendations, wonderful staff, and unparalleled beauty, look no further than Papa Kona!!
My husband and I are exceedingly pleased our choice with this wedding venue. As two busy Californians, we wanted a destination wedding that included many services for us. The planning involved was minimal, though for those who are hoping for more customizations to their special day, this is certainly doable as well!! We chose the more inclusive packages and recommended vendors which we were very pleased with. It was also easy to include personal touches by adding decorations the night before the wedding.
It was a pleasure working with Kisa and Chey throughout the process! These lovely women answered our questions about the venue from over a year out and made sure that everything was to our expectations. The day went seamlessly, and guests raved about the food!! I am a vegetarian and had plenty to choose from.
Overall, we could not have chosen a better wedding venue for our 38 person wedding! We highly recommend looking into Papa Kona if you are looking for a wedding on the Big Island! -
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Nikki Sent on 05/09/2023
February Wedding 2023
Excellent venue, amazing and dedicated staff - no detail is too small to assist with. Phenomenal food - can't express that enough. -
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![Ashley]()
Ashley Sent on 02/20/2023Everything I dreamed of!
Wow! Where do I begin?? I was over the moon with how everything turned out with Papa Kona! They host a lot of weddings here and it's because they know exactly what they are doing! Alycia and Cheyenne were so easy to work with and made wedding planning so easy! As a very organized person I was so grateful to work with an amazing team who made all of my tiny details come to life. I shipped all of my décor to Cheyenne about 2 weeks prior to the wedding to ensure that everything made it. They set up everything exactly how I wanted and worked with me in making my dreams come true. Our guests could not stop raving about the food!! It's been almost two months since we got married, and they still compliment how excellent the food was and how nice the staff was. Do not walk, RUN to book your wedding here, you won't regret it! -
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Sarah Sent on 12/17/2022
Amazing Value
Papa Kona is an exceptional venue. The staff, food, evening, was amazing. It was SO nice to be able to drop off what we needed during the rehearsal, and have it perfectly set up the day of the wedding. There wasn't a single thing I had to worry about the day of because Teira handled it all! If there was anything that needed to be brought to our attention she would. Even when the rain came pouring down at 9pm the staff was on top of it to move everything under cover. We highly recommend the mochiko chicken and dessert table!!! Those were highly raved about by our guests. I would definitely recommend Papa Kona to anyone looking for a venue in Kona! -
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Haley Sent on 11/22/2022
The Wedding of my Dreams
I can’t recommend Papa Kona Enough! Planning a wedding from Texas is stressful but Alycia and Teira made my experience so amazing. They were so responsive and eased my anxiety being a type A bride. The Papa kona staff set up all my DIY touches without hesitation so I was able to enjoy the day with close family and friends. I would choose them all over in a heart beat. Thank each of you so much for making our day everything we could have dreamed of and more. Book Papa Kona for your upcoming wedding you won’t regret it. -
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Heather Sent on 11/01/2022
The Perfect Wedding Venue!
Alycia, Korie, Clementine were amazing to work with. They took their time and explained everything to us and did an amazing job planning our wedding! They went above and beyond with the set up as well as making sure everything ran smoothly and in a timely matter. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of people and venue to work with. They were very accommodating to our guests and groom’s dietary needs (vegan). All of the food was absolutely delicious! The venue and views are beautiful it is also the best location for picture perfect sunsets! If you are looking for the perfect wedding venue right along the beach Papa Kona is the place to book you won’t be disappointed! -
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![Cayli]()
Cayli Sent on 10/23/2022Everything we could have asked for in a venue!
When we decided we wanted to have a destination wedding we kind of knew we wanted somewhere with the whole package. I didn’t want to have to worry about a bunch of outside vendors, with Papa Kona almost everything was taken care of and the options were spectacular. They made planning so easy, with the exception of COVID which postponed our wedding a year and even with that the team was wonderful and understanding. We were able to reschedule and pick a date close to our original date. The venue itself is stunning and you really cannot beat the view (especially the sunset!!) We had 25 guests and that was a great number, I felt the space could accommodate much more but even with our 25 it felt like we fit very well. The food options were great, food was our number one priority and they did not disappoint. We are so happy with how our wedding went and we will always recommend Papa Kona! If you do choose this venue make sure you get there a few days in advance to have dinner and try their Moco Loco! -
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![MC E.]()
Mc E. Sent on 10/10/2022Best Wedding Ever
First of all, Korrie our wedding coordinator was absolutely the best. She was calm, organized and understood our "vibe" and vision. We were nervous because we hate being the center of attention and she just made it so easy-going. Any issue or whatever concern I had, she had solution and just remained so calm. She gave us tips for everything.
She always kept me update throughout the night and told me a solution if needed right away.
It's so nice to have one stop shop for everything; food, dj and equipment rentals. I had some communication issues without our wedding designer and first. And Korrie nudged her to get the hiccups smoothed out.
I was more the type, you tell me what to do and I'll do it. So, I just followed her lead and anything she suggested. The staff was amazing. And the FOOD is just to die for. Everyone is still raving how good our food was. Do not skip out on the lechon (roasted pic) or poke! Or braised beef!!!
Would love to throw any kind of party there again! -
Callie Sent on 08/31/2022
I cannot recommend them any more
I can’t say enough good things about Papa Kona, and their entire staff. We are from Texas, and they made planning our destination wedding an absolute breeze. From the planning to the rehearsal to the ceremony to the reception, everything was beyond my wildest dreams. They thought of everything we didn’t, and we’re always one step ahead of my questions.
Don’t even get me started on the food and cake. Just WOW. My husband had a dream of having roasted pig, and they took it in stride and did not disappoint. They worked with us to personalize the whole dinner menu and cake, and everything was absolutely delicious. I am still getting compliments from my guests months later.
Whether you’re from the Hawaiian islands or from somewhere else planning a destination wedding, I cannot recommend anything more than Papa Kona. I’ll forever be so grateful for how they treated us, and how easy they made the entire wedding process. -
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Alexis Sent on 08/30/2022
A Dream Wedding Experience for a low maintenance couple
I have literally nothing negative to say about my experience getting married with Papa Kona Events. I can't even remember how we found the venue, but when we did find it it ticked off all our wedding boxes, it almost seemed too good to be true. Alycia, our initial contact was kind, and incredibly informative throughout the covid crisis, which we couldn't believe was still a crisis but it was. Alycia really took the time to understand what we were looking for and was constantly reassuring that we could have everything on our wishlist (and baby, we got it.) The big thing for me as a bride was, I just want the best vendors to do what they do best. I didn't want to make any decisions other than the food (Thank you Korie for taking us through that and thank you for letting me change in your office) (Absolutely do the taco bar, it's exceptional). ALL OF my vendors were incredible women owned businesses (except for the DJ but Glenn you're the real hero), and I basically gave them full agency to do what they do best and they did not disappoint! It was truly a wedding surrounded by support, and for a bride who never dreamt about her wedding day...I can honestly say it was the best day of my life, of our life, and we couldn't have done it without our amazing team. I also just want to give a special special shout out to our end event manager and day of coordinator and bridal attendant Teira Ila, who is a STAR! She absolutely rocked it the night of our wedding. There was a pipe burst (what are the odds) the night of our wedding and my guests had no idea until we left. She is a problem solver to the max and an incredibly attentive day of person. She also radiates this light and love you can't find in stores. She's really special. Anywho, you'd be a fool not to get married here. It's worth every penny. We can't wait to come back. -
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![Kathy]()
Kathy Sent on 08/17/2022Amazing Evening
We shared our special evening with family and friends in November 2021. This was a last minute situation whereby our previous plans fell through. Thankfully we were recommended to Papa Kona, and their events staff did absolute amazing things with less than 2 weeks notice. I've always been a believer that everything happens for a reason.....I just couldn't have imagined the amazing reception that it turned out to be. Thank you Korie and Papa Kona for everything you did.......Mahalo Nui Loa -
![Katherine]()
Katherine Sent on 08/16/2022Perfect rehearsal brunch
My wife and I had our rehearsal brunch here for approximately 35 people. The staff was amazing while preparing for it all via emails back and for and phone calls but it all came together so beautifully. Everything was beautiful and we couldn’t have asked for a better view! Food and drinks were perfect! -
Natalie Sent on 06/27/2022
Amazing all around
We had the absolute best experience planning and celebrating our wedding with the entire Papa Kona team, especially Korie! We felt well supported and were guided through planning our entire wedding from back home in Canada. We had to reschedule our original date due to the pandemic and the Papa Kona team was so flexible and easy to communicate with. Our guests raved about the food and venue, and we still think about how delicious our wedding cake was. The location was perfect, and made for dreamy sunset pictures. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. -
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Emily Sent on 11/30/2021
You will not regret choosing this venue for your next event – wedding or otherwise!
My husband and I had our intimate destination wedding at Papa Kona, back in June of 2021. It was our first time in Hawaii, and certainly won’t be our last! We come from almost 4,000 miles away, and a time difference of 5 hours. Planning our wedding from afar was definitely nerve wracking, but everything turned out so wonderfully and even better than expected. Korie was seriously incredible, and amazing to work with. She had such good rapport with our other vendors as well, and they collectively welcomed us and our family to big island.
You will not regret choosing this venue for your next event – wedding or otherwise! Please check out their social media, and PLEASE do not miss your opportunity to enjoy their incredible cake! -
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![Megan]()
Megan Sent on 11/28/2021Most amazing day ever!
My husband and I planned our destination wedding at Papa Kona on 8/12/21. We had the most amazing wedding day there. The view for the ceremony and reception were so beautiful. The venue wedding planner was easy to work with and was available to answer any questions we had along the way. They even made a custom cake flavor for my husband and I that wasn’t on their normal menu. The food and staff were amazing as well. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. -
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Tabatha Sent on 11/16/2021
6 months ago
It has been almost 6 months ago since my wedding at Papa Kona and I am still dreaming about the day. Korie and team did a fantastic job of helping me plan my day all the way from Florida and were able to answer all my questions and help me plan the day exactly how I dreaming it to be. The food there was delicious and I have guests still talking about how good the food and cake was. We and several guests returned to eat at the restaurant after the wedding day because the food was so yummy. Korie and team make you feel like family and I am so thankful I had them to help me. -
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![Leah]()
Leah Sent on 10/24/2021Pre Wedding Welcome Drinks Venue
We chose Papa Kona as a pre-wedding welcome drinks event the Thursday before our Saturday wedding at a different venue in the area. The venue views cannot be beat, you're right on the water overlooking town! We reserved the whole upstairs for our event, it rained and our coordinator Teira made sure all the tables stayed dry and covered. She was a big help with set up, they provide tables/chairs/utensils and we brought our own flowers and candles which she laid out in a beautiful way - i was impressed! We were there during a rise in COVID so Teira had a call with me days in advance to review their rules and graciously made sure our guests kept in order with COVID policies. For our menu we did a dessert bar and open consumption bar, we asked that our guests have dinner beforehand, the event was 7pm-11pm. The amount of food was perfect for our guests. I did feel slightly pressured by the Papa Kona Corporate team who tried to up sell me and said i needed to provide more food to our guests, but the amount we had was perfect, no food went to waste, and everyone said how delicious and unique the desserts were. Overall i hightly recommend for welcome drinks or for a small private wedding right on the water. -
![Tam]()
Tam Sent on 09/29/2021Alycia was so amazing to work with
My wedding wouldn't have gone smoothly without Alycia. From start to finish she helped coordinate communications and was able to be our day of coordinator. We had rain, and she kept in contact with my maid of honor and husband all while I was getting ready. When the rain stopped, she was even willing to move the venue back outside upon my request, but ultimately we kept it inside and I am glad we did. I loved the 'alternative' ceremony upstairs. It was intimate and beautiful. Overall, planning and execution were wonderful. We couldn't be happier. Thanks Alycia! -
![Jennifer]()
Jennifer Sent on 08/03/2021Best day ever!!
The best decision I made was going with Papa Kona for our wedding! We had the perfect wedding day at Papa Kona in June. Every person we came in contact with was so extremely helpful and kind. Korie and Alycia were amazing!! Korie made the day run so smoothly even when we had to move the timeline around last minute for the rain. The food and the cake were delicious and well. Our guests raved about how beautiful the venue was and how awesome our wedding was. Definitely don’t skip on the late night snacks! -
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![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 07/22/2021Our Dream wedding!
First, I would like to say I had been planning my wedding for 2 years now! Covid made us postpone last year since we couldn’t get into Hawaii! Postponing was super easy and fast forward to this summer! Kori is absolutely amazing!!! My husband and I loved her to death! She made my whole day go as smooth as possible! I hands down think Kori went above and beyond. I will say it was somewhat hard planning a wedding during covid with the different rules. But Kori made sure it all ran great! The food was to die for along with the views. The cake was the best cake we have ever had. We definitely recommend the raspberry guava cake! Papa Kona exceeded our expectations 100%! I would recommend them everyday for the rest of our life! -
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Madison Sent on 07/09/2021
June Wedding
Papa Kona was the dreamiest place we could have ever imagined our wedding to take place! We cancelled our originally planned wedding in September 2020 and decided to have an intimate wedding in Kona with our closest friends and family. We had a small guest list of 30 people and it was PERFECT. Teira was the most amazing coordinator. She allowed me the comfort to call/email/text whenever I had questions. She steered me in the right direction when I couldn't decide on something. She offered suggestions but supported my overall choices, and she coordinated the flow of the day perfectly. Our guests all raved about her as well. Thank you, Teira!! The food was also outstanding. We selected the luau buffet and our guests said it was the most delicious wedding food they've ever had -- seriously! I just couldn't get over how easy and FUN it was to plan this wedding with Papa Kona compared to the wedding we were planning in Texas. Papa Kona goes above and beyond and if you want a stress-free wedding, this is the place to do it at. One thing to note as well, the location is perfect! Being right in the heart of Ali'i Dr made it super convenient for everyone to walk over to a bar after the wedding and keep the party going. Thank you for everything, Papa Kona! -
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![Jason]()
Jason Sent on 07/07/2021Intimate Hawaiian Wedding
Getting married in the middle of a pandemic was tough and hopefully if you are reading this isnt your problem. We were married in November of 2020 and Hawaii was just reopening so our planning felt like it was a challenge. The team at Papa Kona stepped up in a big way! Not only did they take off all the pressure but Alycia and Korie were absolute stars. We were married at the Holualoa Inn and used Papa Kona only for catering but the service, food, and attention to detail was amazing. We like you will probably will had last minute guest changes and they took it in stride. We are planning a return trip and will definitely have a dinner at their amazing location. -
![Kayla]()
Kayla Sent on 03/01/2021Wonderful reception experience at Papa Kona! Completely customizable event to fit your needs!!
My husband and I had our wedding reception at Papa Kona on February 13, 2021, and what a wonderful experience!!! I can't say enough nice things about the staff!
We originally had a wedding planned at another location in May of 2020, but due to COVID (of course), we had to reschedule. Papa Kona was so accommodating for a last minute booking change! We were able to snag our date about 2 months prior to the date of the event.
Korie (the event planner / manager) was so helpful, and I cannot recommend her enough! She was able to accommodate all of requests, and make the absolute BEST out of a "covid-era" event.
We were able to customize our buffet menu options to fit exactly what we wanted, and we even chose the Poke Bar as a pre-reception appetizer / cocktail hour....EVERYONE LOVED THAT! Definitely reccommend adding that to your menu.
Another option that is so great, is that you can bring in your own cake, which I had someone that I knew make my cake, so I was happy we were able to do that!
Night of the actual event, the staff that were working our reception, we SO NICE & FRIENDLY, and that added to overall atmosphere!
Ocean-front dining....what more can you ask for!!!
Would recommend Papa Kona to anyone, and hope to host another event with them in the future!!! -
![Briana]()
Briana Sent on 07/26/2020Incredible Sunset Views & Amazing Food
Papa Kona was our first choice for venues and it did not disappoint!
So many of our guests kept telling us that it was their "favourite wedding they'd ever been to" which was so nice to hear, and we think this was mostly thanks to the amazing food and lovely setting (the mai tais probably helped too).
We live in Canada, and planned our wedding from afar. So, we booked the venue before seeing it in person. Alycia and her team were super organized, communicative, flexible, patient and friendly. They worked seamlessly with our photographer and florist to keep the process low stress.
FOOD: We had the luau buffet for 30 guests and it was incredible (especially the kalua pork and taro au gratin)! The vegan and gluten free options also got great reviews from guests. We had plenty of leftovers, which we happily feasted on the next day.
For the cake, we opted for one with coconut icing and lilikoi curd filling - which was phenomenal and got demolished very, very quickly.
We also had a rehearsal brunch at the restaurant the morning before the wedding, which we'd also highly recommend.
ATMOSPHERE & VIBE: Papa Kona was a great fit for us since we really wanted a venue with a waterfront/sunset view, character and charm, and that fit our budget.
While it's a lively restaurant on the busy Kona strip, the wedding space felt super private and intimate. We had the whole floor (including a bar, restrooms, and balcony) to ourselves. The view from the lanai is amazing. The decor feels fresh, classic and timeless with nice wood accents. It's also a pretty flexible space which is a bonus. We kept it very simple decor wise (we brought some candles and scattered loose, white orchids on the tables) and it still felt very atmospheric.
CEREMONY & LOGISTICS: It ended up raining on our wedding day (how Alanis Morissette of us), so we had our ceremony indoors. But, it was beautiful! In retrospect, we think we should've been our original plan; since the lanai is open, we still left like we were right on the water, and the view was an amazing backdrop. It also made it easier for our guests to mingle before and after the ceremony.
My advice would be to talk through a rain plan thoroughly just in case (same goes for any venue). Luckily, Alycia and the rest of the Papa Kona team were able to keep everything moving smoothly on our day and didn't skip a beat.
If you're looking for a place with charm, amazing food, and aloha - this is the spot! -
Carina Sent on 03/25/2020
An incredible experience!
Our wedding at Papa Kona was the best, most fun day of our lives! This place is a gem with an attractive space that has the most breathtaking sunset views. It was exactly the vibe we wanted with our 100 guests. We felt connected to every person and enjoyed the dynamic layout. Everyone loved the food and cake. (Our family has not stopped talking about that buttercream!) We danced and partied the night away and the staff could not have been more awesome and accommodating! Planning a wedding is no small feat at a distance, but once we found Papa Kona everything seemed to be a breeze. The vendor list they provided was excellent and they have inclusive yet customizable wedding packages; Alycia will do her best to accommodate your special requests. We are so thankful to have worked with Alycia throughout this entire process. She is a rockstar at wedding planner and made sure the day went smoothly so we could just have fun and enjoy our wedding together. Thank you Papa Kona and Alycia for doing what y'all do! 11 out of 10, I recommend! -
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Natasha Sent on 03/06/2020
Experience of a lifetime
From day one of choosing this venue to the day of our wedding, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Alycia was there to answer any questions and was more helpful than I would have ever imagined. A destination wedding seemed daunting at first but she made the entire experience one that we will never forget. I can’t wait to come back and visit!!! -
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![Mary]()
Mary Sent on 03/04/2020Our Kona Wedding was the most amazing wedding ever!
My husband and I were married January 2nd in a beautiful and amazing waterfront ceremony at Papa Kona Events in Kona on the Big Island. Our guests said it was the “best wedding ever” and that “we nailed it”. The food was fantastic (I highly recommend the Kona coffee rubbed brisket), the cake was beautiful and you just can’t find a more stunning location. Anywhere. We ended up with exquisite sunset pictures.
Alycia, our coordinator, was extremely helpful and professional. She really pulled it all together for us and made our wedding successful.
All of our guests said they had a great time. If we had it to do all over again, there is nothing we would change. Our wedding was perfect! -
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Rey J. Sent on 01/29/2020
Picture perfect venue with a professional planner and posse!
When we first started googling wedding venues in Kona, all we saw were the hotels in the area. We are so grateful that our officiant shared a list of venues that included Papa Kona (formerly Daylight Mind Coffee Company). The 5 star rating does not do this place justice. From our first contact with Alycia until our last song played, we experienced extreme professionalism and the Aloha spirit from everyone involved. Alycia was super attentive, flexible, and was diligent in ensuring our itinerary stayed on track. The set up was superb, the food was truly fantastic, and the bartenders did their best to keep the party going. If you are looking for a venue that offers a breath taking view for your wedding and want to hear your guests say, “this is the best wedding I’ve been to”, then I would highly recommend Papa Kona Events! -
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![Jeannelle]()
Jeannelle Sent on 01/06/2020Perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony!
We had our small wedding ceremony at Papa Kona Events and I would recommend it to ANYONE who is planning a wedding. Alycia and her team was always quick to reply, they were very professional, and easy to work with. Thank you Papa Kona Events!!! -
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![Dionne]()
Dionne Sent on 12/06/2019The perfect venue
Our wedding goal was to find a great location with excellent service while not paying excessive resort pricing. Papa Kona's delivered in all ways! The venue is incredible with amazing views of the pacific ocean, nearby surf spots, and charming Kona town. Alycia helped ensure the wedding was stress-free and went off without a hitch. She was kind, detail-oriented, and was genuinely excited to be involved in our special day. We had family and friends from all over the world, and they were all blown away by the location, service, and people. The food was fresh and delicious, and there were even leftovers! Overall, I would highly recommend Papa Kona and its staff.
If you're looking for a memorable and genuine wedding venue and staff, Papa Kona's is the perfect option. -
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![Maggie]()
Maggie Sent on 11/07/2019Easiest Wedding Planning Ever!
I was responsible for planning my son's wedding because he and his bride live in Japan which made it difficult for them to manage the details. I live on the mainland but had no problem with communication. Alycia could not have been more accommodating when it came to planning all of the details of the wedding. She managed everything from the menu to the cake to the vendors. She did not miss a detail despite my being pretty clueless on how to plan a wedding. On the day of the wedding, she was right there, making sure that everything happened when it was supposed to. The setting was beautiful. The tables were set just right, the sunset was a perfect backdrop. The food was great! Everything cooked perfectly and it was all kept hot throughout the meal. The staff were friendly and efficient. I would not hesitate to recommend Papa Kona as the perfect place for a Hawaiian wedding. All of the guests agreed that it was the best wedding that they had ever been to. -
![Briona]()
Briona Sent on 10/31/2019You won't regret getting married here
I can't say enough good things about the staff and our experience at Papa Kona (Daylight Mind at the time we got married). Julia was an absolute dream to work with and we couldn’t have asked for a better venue coordinator. We were fortunate enough to meet her for a tasting before our wedding. The food was amazing, and after seeing the location (and visiting about 5 more times that trip) we knew that this venue was the one for us. Julia was the most attentive, organized, thoughtful, helpful, and insightful coordinator. She was always easily available for questions or recommendations. Daylight Mind made our day everything we could have imagined it to be. Everything the day of was seamless and we didn’t have to worry about a thing at the venue. Our guest couldn’t compliment the food, the view, the service, Julia, or the sunset more. I couldn’t recommend Papa Kona (Daylight Mind) enough. They are so accommodating and will make sure you have the most special day. We can’t wait until the next time we can come back to visit. -
Taylor Sent on 10/31/2019
The best wedding venue!
We got married at Daylight Mind (Papa Kona) on September 1st of 2019, and could not be more pleased with our experience. We planned the wedding from the Midwest and had never visited the Big Island previously, so we were very anxious about the entire experience. Julia was AMAZING and assured us every step of the way that everything would be perfect. Her team was responsive, helpful, friendly, and professional. We had the most perfect day and we credit this to Julia and team. The facility is beautiful, the food / dessert provided in house is fabulous, and the local vendors (recommended by Papa Kona) provided exactly what we were looking for. I would recommend Papa Kona to anyone that is interested in a destination / Hawaiian wedding. We will be back to visit and reminisce on a regular basis! -
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Lauren Sent on 10/27/2019
Wedding Goals
Daylight Mind (now Papa Kona) was exactly what my husband and I were searching for! We got married in Sept 2019 and had just over 30 people. We looked at venues on all of the Hawaii islands and are so happy we chose Daylight Mind. Everything turned out perfectly. Julia and her team helped with everything from vendors, food selection, to day-of setup and timeline. They were a big of the part of the reason we chose Daylight Mind. It's so important to have a team who is willing to answer any questions you might have throughout the process. In terms of the space itself, we loved that you could get married by the water (without getting sandy) and have both cocktail hour and reception overlooking the water. The sunset views from the lanai are amazing. All of our guests enjoyed the venue and the food. The cake and ice cream sandwiches were a big hit! Daylight Mind/Papa Kona is definitely a special place and we would recommend it to anyone considering a wedding in Hawaii. -
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Lauren Sent on 10/27/2019
Wedding Goals
Daylight Mind (now Papa Kona) was exactly what my husband and I were searching for! We got married in Sept 2019 and had just over 30 people. We looked at venues on all of the Hawaii islands and are so happy we chose Daylight Mind. Everything turned out perfectly. Julia and her team helped with everything from vendors, food selection, to day-of setup and timeline. They were a big of the part of the reason we chose Daylight Mind. It's so important to have a team who is willing to answer any questions you might have throughout the process. In terms of the space itself, we loved that you could get married by the water (without getting sandy) and have both cocktail hour and reception overlooking the water. The sunset views from the lanai are amazing. All of our guests enjoyed the venue and the food. The cake and ice cream sandwiches were a big hit! Daylight Mind/Papa Kona is definitely a special place and we would recommend it to anyone considering a wedding in Hawaii. -
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Nikki Sent on 10/10/2019
Was this a dream?
Holy Moly....Never did I imagine such a beautiful evening. It was absolutely perfect. The weather held out, which was great considering it was October. The food, as always here, was superb. People are STILL talking about my cake. I opted for coconut cake with lilikoi mousse filling and a coconut frosting. Man alive, was it delicious. Corey did an AMAZING job with the flowers on my cake. Literally my dream cake. The staff was so friendly and accommodating. We opted for a full open bar and it was very reasonable for the amount of people we had. The location is amazing. We walked from our hotel in Kailua. It's right on the water with a perfect view of everything in Kailua and, of course, the sunset.
Alycia was an absolute dream to work with. Very easy to correspond with, got back to me quickly and eased my nerves when I started to worry about rain. She even DISCREETLY handled an unruly guest that had too much to drink and took care of it without causing a scene, so it didn't ruin our evening.
That was the icing on the cake (so to speak) for me.
We opted to have a fire dancer at the end of the evening. A nice touch that everyone enjoyed and totally reasonable as far as price. One other thing we did outside their standard package was get monstera leaves for the table. It didn't need it, as their simple table decor was wonderful, but I happen to be obsessed with them, so that's why. Otherwise, simple is better and they do a phenomenal job.
I really couldn't imagine this day turning out better. If I could get married again, there is nowhere else I would do it. Daylight was perfect to the last detail.
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Natalie Sent on 09/29/2019Flawless - Daylightmind Exceeded Our High Expectations!
Our wedding coordinator, Alycia, and all the staff at Daylight Mind Events helped our wedding day the most enjoyable and heartfelt experience. With their assistance and vendor recommendations, destination wedding planning was effortless and our big day was absolutely beautiful. We are so pleased with how everything turned out. The venue views were stunning, the food was delicious, and the staff graciously welcomed every member of our party. Outside of the heatwave, the day was flawless. -
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Sarah Sent on 08/25/2019The perfect view.
Julia and her crew are amazing. I planned my wedding from 2,600 miles away and I don't know if I could've did that if I didn't use them. Our guest (and ourselves!) loved the food, loved the cake, and the drinks. The venue has such a breathtaking view and Julia is so easy to work with. If you want to get married in Hawaii, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend getting married there. You will not regret it. -
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Sarah Sent on 08/25/2019
Wonderful Venue and Event Coordination
We planned our destination wedding in Kona, Hawaii from our home in Chicago, which was definitely a challenge, but Daylight Mind and their Director of Events, Julia, were absolutely AMAZING!!! From our first meeting with Julia, she was so kind, patient and responsive with all my questions, and gave great advice and ideas. She made the planning process so easy with providing sample timelines and recommending vendors that we needed. We wanted to add on a hula dancing lesson during cocktail hour and a fire dancer at the end of the reception as a surprise for our guests, and she gave great recommendations for both and helped coordinate everything!
THE FOOD!!! We chose the Luau Feast Buffet, and it was delicious! Julia made sure that we had a glass of wine at our sweetheart table and made time for us to get food and have time to eat. Our cake was beautifully decorated and so scrumptious! We chose the almond dacquoise with lilikoi filling and a coconut buttercream.
The venue and space was also the perfect size for our guest count of 50. It felt very warm and intimate, but everyone had plenty of space. The spaces between the bar/guest book signing, tables and eating area, and dance floor were sectioned off nicely, but also felt connected so no one ever felt isolated or like you were missing anything during the night. Julia and her team also did a fantastic job with the decor. We did not bring too much with us since we needed to fit it in a suitcase, but it was all arranged nicely and made the space more personalized.
Overall, we had the perfect wedding, and I can't thank Julia and Daylight Mind enough! We definitely have a special place in our heart for Daylight Mind and plan to continue visiting it each time we're in Kona in the future! -
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Candace Sent on 08/11/2019Wonderful venue/caterer
We used Daylight Mind to cater our wedding at a different venue, and also hosted our farewell brunch onsite. Their customer service is AMAZING. In fact, they went above in beyond by assisting me with some issues that arose during our planning process. People have raved about how amazing the food was, and the girls from DM who were bartending/serving food were so sweet. We have cravings for their delicious poke everyday! Highly recommend! -
Elizabeth Sent on 08/11/2019
Amazing and stress free
We just got married on August 4th, 2019 at daylight mind. From the beginning everything was amazing. We started off planning with Julia and she was so great and accommodating. We ended up working with Alycia as our coordinator and I can not express my appreciation for her. She went above and beyond for us. I had never been to the venue before and she was so patient with my daily text, calls and emails. When I’m saying I talked to her daily, I did. She was so welcoming and made our day so special. At one point I needed to switch into sandals but forgot mine and Alycia went and bought me a pair!!! I was sooo blown away with her. She was so much fun and so caring. The food at the venue was sooo fantastic, everyone has been raving about it. I was nervous for the food because we didn’t get a chance to try it but it exceeded our expectations. I even got to meet the chef, he came out to check on the food!! They care sooo much and it genuinely shows. Thank you so much to everyone that made our night so amazing!! Book your wedding here, it’s so stressfree and amazing. -
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Michelle Sent on 07/26/2019Wedding on the Big Island
I recently got married in Kona, Hawaii and Julia and Michelle at Daylight Mind made everything worth it. Planning a wedding on the Big Island was definitely difficult; most vendors would not call back at all or it would be weeks later but Julia and Michelle were ALWAYS responsive that same day. To a stressed out Bride, it was priceless and a huge relief. On top of being responsive the venue and dinner were absolutely amazing. The views are breathtaking, and my guests raved about the food! We had the short ribs , catch of the day, which was Mahi Mahi and the coffee crusted chicken. I cannot say enough good things about this venue, they made everything about my wedding stress free and amazing. -
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Julie Sent on 06/27/2019
Beautiful 💗 Memorable
We were so fortunate to have found Daylight Mind in Kona Hawaii for our destination wedding. Julia Pittman and her staff are caring, courteous, and professional. They went above and beyond to make our wedding day beautiful, special and stress free. The services received and venue is a excellent value. Daylight Mind in Kona is perfect location off of Kailua Bay offering spectacular sunset views. -
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Carrie Sent on 05/08/2019Daylight Mind was the BEST decision we made!
My husband and I got married at Daylight Mind on March 28th, 2019. We had never even been to the Big Island before so we had to do everything sight unseen. Planning a wedding can be especially nerve wracking, but not even being able to see your venue or meet your vendors in person can make it even more so! However, Julia and Michelle were both so responsive in answering all of my questions and helping us to make our perfect day a reality, including recommending our incredible vendors to assist in all of our details and moving parts. We even flew in our favorite live band and that would not have been possible without the recommendation of Hawaii Sound & Vision (if you’re looking, hire them).
When we came for the rehearsal, I was so nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect or exactly how much help we would have the day of. I’m an event planner myself and was worried that I would end up “working” my own wedding since we had so many things going on (we flew in oysters, had an oyster bar, had decorations from different vendors, a band, DJ, and a detailed timeline). The second I met Julia, I knew I was in good hands and was immediately relaxed. She instantly put me at ease, understood my vision for the day, offered to place all my decorations for me prior to the wedding (it looked PERFECT), and calmly and efficiently walked us through the rehearsal.
On the day of the wedding, all I had to do was look at Julia and feel like everything was going to be ok. I knew I could relax and truly enjoy our day without worrying about anything. She is seriously amazing; I can’t even stress this enough. She was even flexible enough to help two of our best friends surprise us by coming to the wedding when we thought they couldn’t attend, by adding seats for them while we were doing our first look. The staff was also incredible and went above and beyond for us throughout our event, even bringing us appetizers down to the beach while we took our sunset photos after the ceremony, attending to anything we needed throughout the night, and helping us pack everything up at the end. On top of the people that work at and represent Daylight, it was stunning on the rooftop and the exact romantic setting that we had hoped for. Daylight Mind was seriously the best decision we made and it gave us the most beautiful and wonderful day of our lives. I only wish we could do it again, lol! If you’re still looking for a venue, stop. Book Daylight. I promise you will not regret it.
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Kelly Sent on 05/07/2019
Perfect Kona Wedding!
Everyone at Daylight Mind, and especially Julia, made our day absolutely perfect! Planning a destination wedding can be very stressful AND I am very detail oriented, so I probably sent Julia and her team over 100 emails leading up to the event. Even though they have so many weddings and probably just as many stressed out brides, they answered every one of my emails within 24 hours and most were answered immediately. Julia also set up phone calls with me to go over the day of timeline.
Once we arrived for the rehearsal I realized I had nothing to worry about; Julia and team had everything completely under control. Julia gave very good recommendations and instructions. Her patience and unflappability are second to none. No question I asked was too small, and she was an absolute pleasure to be around.
They truly made our wedding day the best day ever! The lanai is gorgeous as is, but it was truly transformed. The ceremony space looked perfect, everyone was where they were supposed to be, and Julia was such a calming presence while I waited to walk down the aisle.
Once the ceremony was over, she guided us through the reception agenda with ease. The timeline seems very daunting at first, but she made sure we (and everyone else) was where we needed to be and when. She made sure we stayed on track with the timeline, but we never felt rushed. She also took so many pictures throughout the event which I really enjoyed.
I have to mention the food and drinks. They were amazing! We had so many compliments from our guests about how great the food was! And there were so many leftovers we got to take a lot of it with us and enjoyed it throughout our stay in Hawaii afterwards. The cake was gorgeous and tasty as well! Our bartender knocked it out of the park! She was so fun and really added to the evening. We didn’t have a signature drink, but she had some fun tropical ones for us anyway that everyone enjoyed throughout the night. In addition, the bar prices were super reasonable, and their wine selection was very good for the value.
Lastly, we went with the DJ and sound company they recommended (Hawaii Sound and Vision) and they, like everything else, were awesome. I highly recommend going with them. I absolutely loved our DJ!
Daylight Mind was the perfect venue and Julia and the rest of the staff made our day everything we wanted it to be and more. -
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Cassidy Sent on 04/30/2019
Wedding Went Flawless!
Julia & her team are so amazing. You can confidently put your trust in her to get you everything you want. I feel like I owe her so much more. This venue is also sooo affordable. -
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Madison Sent on 04/09/2019
Wonderful from start to finish!
As soon as we got engaged, my husband and I knew we wanted a simple, elegant destination wedding. I searched all over the Hawaiian Islands and happened upon Daylight Mind. We initially worked with Julia, who was so helpful and patient while we worked out the details of our date and what exactly we wanted for our wedding. We ended up working with Alycia, who was just as wonderful! She made sure she knew exactly what our vision was for our big day and was patient through all of my indecisiveness and changes in menu and plan.
The price of the venue and food, etc is an incredible value for how beautiful the space is and how incredible their food is - our guests are still talking about how much they loved the food and cocktails - what I’d give for another Lilikoi Margarita! The poke and sweet potato au gratin were especially popular among our guests. We even came back twice after the wedding, for lunch and breakfast, which were also amazing. The location is perfect - Daylight Mind has the best view of any restaurant in the downtown Kona area.
We couldn't have ask for a better day or better place to have our wedding - we wish we could do it all over again! Our wedding was everything we had imagined and more - the team at Daylight Mind truly helped bring our vision to life.
Maddie & Connor
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Laura Sent on 03/31/2019THE Best Wedding Venue!
My husband and I were married at Daylight Mind in March 2019. From the very beginning of planning our destination wedding, Julia held our hands, answering any and all questions, emails, and thinking of details I never would have imagined. I booked the venue site unseen because of the incredible pictures and reviews - trust me, it's even more gorgeous than the photos. The event space and deck are literally on the water - the ceremony site is gorgeous and the sunset at the reception was breathtaking. Our guests have not stopped talking about how perfect our wedding was - from the incredible venue, the AMAZING food (get the short ribs!), and super helpful staff and bar tenders. Don't hesitate to make this choice for your special day - we will be reminiscing about it forever! Thank you, Julia, and all the staff at DLM! -
Alli Sent on 03/19/2019
Dream Wedding at Daylight Mind
Our wedding day could not have been more amazing thanks to Julia and the staff at Daylight Mind. I did most planning via email and Julia was so responsive which helped keep my mind at ease. She also recommended vendors which was so helpful in narrowing down my search. Julia was so attentive and made sure the day went smoothly. Anytime I needed her, she was right there. The staff took care of setting up all our decor and it looked flawless. Our guests raved about how amazing the food was! Probably the best food we had our entire stay on the island. I was so appreciative as they easily accommodated my requests for dairy free and vegetarian. Having our wedding at Daylight Mind was the best decision we made and we would highly recommend to anyone looking to get married in Hawaii. You will get the wedding of your dreams! -
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Colette Sent on 03/14/201910/10 would get married here again
My wedding could not have been more perfect! From the food to the planning, Julia handled everything like the badass professional she is. Even though it rained, their rainy day plan was STUNNING! My husband actually liked the Rain set up better than the ceremony set up for a sunny day! Every single detail was taken care of, and the day of went seamlessly. And leading up to the day of- I was a total stress case and she always got back to me in a timely manner and always had an answer! Again, everything food and drink wise was amazing (I am a unicorn bride who actually ate and drank at her own wedding)! The bartender was great, and they didn’t even yell at my mom that much when she super illegally jumped behind the counter 🙄 I highly recommend getting married here! -
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Lancelot Sent on 03/07/2019The absolutely must have wedding venue!
By far, the BEST decision we made for our special day, was selecting Daylight Mind as our venue for both ceremony and reception! During the months leading to our wedding day, Julia and Michelle were the most patient and accommodating coordinators we could have hoped for. Since we were having a destination wedding, there was a natural level of anxiety trying to determine the how’s and where’s without stepping foot in and around the venue itself. Communication was key, and these two kept us up to speed, informed, and always made sure our questions were answered quickly, with recommended solutions to any perceived hiccups we envisioned or feared. They handled all our last minute requests flawlessly. We love the fact they provided a recommended vendor list – it saved us so much time and energy in trying to determine who could support an event at Daylight Mind. For us, Hawaii Sound & Vision, Grace Flowers, Beauty Lux Salon, and Rev Libby were so friendly, helpful and went above and beyond. We have to admit, all the 5-star reviews and beautiful social media posts don’t even come close to describing just how AMAZING this venue and staff truly are – YOU MADE OUR DAY UNFORGETTABLE! Forever thankful – Lancelot & Britni Elarionoff -
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Meike Sent on 01/14/2019Best decision - gorgeous views, great team!
We can't say enough amazing things about our wedding at Daylight Mind and Julia! In addition to being an incredible value, the location is spectacular, even better in person than in the photos you see online! Communication and organization with Julia was great! Julia made us confident that our wedding was going to be amazing even though we were planning from a distance! Gorgeous views!! Delicious food!! We had the fish & coconut curry tofu. Our guests (we had 72) continue to talk about how wonderful and fun our wedding was and the delicious food! The fact that we could do almost everything through Daylight Mind (ceremony and reception, food, cake, lighting, favors...), made everything so much easier! Thank you Julia and Daylight MInd for all that you did to make our day amazing!!!Papa Kona Events's reply:
Mahalo for your review, Meike! I just shared my first of your wedding photos on the Daylight Mind Events instagram, and I can't wait to share more. You and Mark were lovely to work with and the alpacas visiting Daylight Mind were icing on the cake! - Julia Pittman and the Daylight Mind Team -
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Rachele Sent on 12/25/2018So beautiful, so easy
Planning a wedding is difficult, big or small. However, Daylight mind with Julia and her team, made it as easy as possible. We love the big island, we live here, so it was a no brainier to pick Daylight mind. The setting is stunning and the location perfect. Julia and her team were always quick to respond and help, and she was do so supportive along the way.
Something important to me was food and my family LOVED IT (and they can be critics). We took out own pictures at the venue to save money and the wonderful thing about the backdrop is that it is so beautiful anyone can take a stunning picture.
The icing on the cake is that it's so affordable. Where else in Hawaii can you find an oceanfront venue that is priced so well?
Thank you, Julia and your team for helping make my wedding perfectPapa Kona Events's reply:
Aloha Rachele,
Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo!! We are so grateful for you and Anthony. I am so happy to know that we'll be running into you two around town and can follow your love story!
Warmest aloha,
Julia and the Daylight Mind team -
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Julia Sent on 11/01/2018
Best decision ever
My husband and I got married in August when Hurricane Lane hit the island. Nobody expected this would happen right on the week that we're getting married, and of course, we were not sure whether we could do our reception as we planned. However, Julia and her team were so prepared and went out of their way to make our night so special. Everybody loved food and drinks, and beautiful space with fantastic ocean view. They also made THE BEST wedding cake ever, which my guests are still talking about. Finally, we have them to prepare wedding favours for our guests, which were a pack of Kona coffee that were roasted on our wedding day and cookies. We were so impressed by the quality of the coffee and cute packaging. Overall, we couldn't be happier about our decision to have our reception at Daylight Mind Coffee Company. -
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Ashleigh Sent on 10/30/2018Our Dream Wedding
We are SO glad we had our wedding and reception at Daylight Mind. The location is AMAZING with the sun setting and the waves crashing behind you. The food was delicious and our cake tasted as great as it looked. The drinks were great as well and I love that Daylight worked with us to create a food and drink menu that fit into our budget. The BEST part of booking our wedding at Daylight however is the staff. They alone are worth the venue fee. Julia and her team are professional, friendly, reliable, and with you every step of the way to answer questions and give recommendations. It truly felt like they were celebrating right along with us on our wedding day. It’s a big decision on where to have your wedding, especially if you’re a destination bride, so let me put your mind at ease and tell you book at Daylight Mind! It will be the BEST decision you make!Papa Kona Events's reply:
Aloha Ashleigh,
You two were amaaaazing! We loved getting to know your families and being a part of your wedding. We wish you two lots of happiness and new adventures in Germany!
Warmest aloha,
Julia and the Daylight Mind Team -
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Mimi Sent on 10/26/2018Amazing wedding experience
The venue, it’s staff, food and drinks are amazing! There are not enough words to express how great Daylight Mind really is. We reserved our space and date with Julia. As it got closer to the actual date we worked more closely with Alycia. Both of the ladies were patient, lovely, and caring.
Alycia, Julia, and their team were amazing! I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. It was easy to communicate and coordinate with Alycia. They decorated and set everything up beautifully. We did a walk through the week before and she went over everything with us. Everyone loved the food, drinks and cake.
Alycia was also our coordinator the day of and was on it! She was able to keep me calm and keep it fun all at the same time. She handled my insanely high maintenance family so well and we just cannot thank her enough. We had an amazing wedding and she truly understood what we wanted and had envisioned for our special day.
We wanted everyone to feel like family and they really delivered. I felt like everyone working our wedding was enjoying it just as much as we were. Everyone was highly impressed with the food and omg the dessert was the best wedding cake I have ever had in my entire life. I hate frosting and our wedding cake frosting was to die for. -
Shirley Sent on 10/02/2018If you're looking to get married in Hawaii, particularly the Big Island, look no further than Daylight Mind Coffee Company. This venue and their incredible staff will exceed your every expectation.
Well-situated in central Kona, Daylight Mind is perched in a building that overlooks the water. We got married by a pair of coconut trees on a grassy lawn with nothing but a lava rock retaining wall between us and the ocean on the side of the building. Our reception was held on the top/second floor of the building and views from that level are simply breathtaking. The lanai was able to comfortably host banquet style seating for 28 of us with room to spare. This included space for dancing (under the sails), a DJ booth, plus a photo booth on the far side of the lanai. The interior space was spacious enough for the buffet and we had full run of the gorgeous bar area with its vaulted ceilings and wood beams.
The food was amazing! From the bacon-wrapped scallops and avocado fries to the grass-fed beef short ribs, Daylight Mind offers a menu that will please the most discriminating palette. In fact, they'll work with you to accommodate a number of food allergies and meal requirements.
None of the above would have been at all possible without Julia and her team of stars. Together, they made the entire process seamless. From the planning stages to the execution, Julia was responsive, quick to suggest additional vendors and ideas for things we may have missed, and an unexpected ear and sounding board. The supporting staff was equally wonderful in ensuring a worry-free wedding. Note, we got married in early August and even impending hurricanes do not phase them! Rain or shine (we lucked out with the shine and an incredible sunset), Daylight Mind will deliver!
Location, view, ambiance, food, service, staff – simply the perfect venue for our intimate, laid-back and budget-conscious island wedding. Thanks for all the great memories!
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Ariana Sent on 09/03/2018If you're reading this because you're looking for the perfect wedding reception venue, stop searching immediately and book Daylight Mind!
You may have read multiple reviews about how awesome Julia is--let me tell you that every word is true. Julia is our new best friend. She was easygoing, patient, responsive, and flexible. She bent over backwards to make sure everything was perfect (literally, when one of our Amazon shipments accidentally got thrown away, she dug through the dumpster herself to get it).
We're from California and decided to take a chance on this venue without having visited the Big Island before because it checked all the boxes: significantly cheaper than every other venue we came across in Hawaii (everything is catered in-house since it's a restaurant/coffee shop/bakery); overlooking the water; outdoors; and near a Catholic church. We visited the island 6 months before our wedding to do a tasting, and when we saw the venue for the first time in-person, we knew immediately that we made the right choice--the pictures simply don't do it justice. The food is amazing (our guests raved about the bacon-wrapped scallops, avocado fries, and taro au gratin). For dessert, Julia let us do cake and two types of ice cream sandwiches because we are indecisive children.
The view is incredible as it is, so Julia's team added simple decor to the tables and strung bistro lights and we were set. Our wedding was flanked by two hurricanes so it was pretty rainy during the reception, but our guests still had an amazing time as we were all herded to take cover in the dance floor/buffet area. Julia even handed us appetizer plates, dinner plates, and drinks--again, going above and beyond your typical wedding coordinator.
Overall, Daylight Mind was perfect for our simple, laid-back, intimate, budget-conscious, beachside destination wedding. We couldn't imagine having it anywhere else. Thanks again to Julia and the entire team--can't wait to come back and visit! -
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Natasha Sent on 08/28/2018I cannot say enough about this place! Daylight Mind in Kona has the most beautiful view, delicious food, and an OUTSTANDING wedding planner in Alycia. Alycia helped us with scheduling every tiny detail and was both accommodating and thoughtful. I love the fact that everything was online, organized, and completed in a timely fashion. I didn’t have to rifle through strings of email messages to see where we were at.
For those of you with celiac / gluten-allergies – this is THE place to go. Everything on the menu for our event, including the cake and pupus, was gluten-free! Daylight Mind even made gluten-free white chocolate macadamia nut ice cream sandwiches for the kids. The food was over-the-top delicious. No one could tell that it was all gluten-free. Alycia pre-ordered in scotch for our picky scotch drinkers. The wait staff and bartenders at Daylight Mind were attentive and friendly.
Our guests said that this was the best wedding they had ever attended. I have to thank all of the staff at Daylight Mind for making August 14, 2018 perfect – especially Alycia!
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Kelly Sent on 07/03/2018My husband and I got married in June 2018 at Daylight Mind, and everything was beautiful and perfect. Julia was incredible throughout the planning process, had excellent recommendations for every vendor (DJ, florist, hair and make-up, etc.) and listened to all of my questions and ideas. She helped me with the timeline, and even helped us with the processional. She is simply the best. On top of that, the food was delicious (mmm…the yakitori chicken…), the cake was both beautiful and delicious, and the whole venue was gorgeous, with breathtaking views of the ocean. The Daylight Mind team made planning so easy, even though it was all via email (I live in GA), and I cannot say enough about how wonderful Julia and her team were. Everyone had a wonderful time, and I wouldn’t change a thing about our big day. We can’t wait to go back and visit!
Thank you so much, Julia!!Papa Kona Events's reply:
Aloha Kelly,
It's about time we responded to this amazing review! It was our pleasure to be a part of your wedding and we wish the two of you many happy years. Come back and visit us soon!
Warmest aloha,
Julia and the Daylight Mind Team -
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Amy Sent on 06/19/2018Wow! Everything about our experience with Daylight Mind was above and beyond. We were planning a 40-person from Los Angeles without ever seeing the venue, and Alycia took excellent care of us. From deciding on the menu, quickly responding to emails, staying within our budget, recommending vendors, and handling the wedding day, we never had to break a sweat because Alycia had us covered. Everything was so easy and stress-free, it was almost hard to believe! I was super super impressed and am grateful for everyone we worked with for our wedding in Kailua-Kona.
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Kimberly Sent on 06/02/2018WOW! Where to begin!
My mom & I actually emailed Julia & asked if we could visit the venue, I was in the area & had recently gotten engaged. The venue seemed so dreamy on the pictures, I just had to see it for myself if it was true. & boy was it EVEN BETTER! It’s so quaint & intimate, a coffee shop on the beach. The pictures can only do so much, because once you see it in person, it’ll take your breath away.
Over the course of a year, Julia & I emailed back & forth. She is one of the most patient, helpful, & understanding people you will meet! & if anyone has ever tried to do anything over email, you know there are challenges; Julia executed email communication flawlessly! This definitely helped me stay at ease since I was planning my destination wedding. Since we didn’t know the area very well, we took a trip to Big Island to do some hotel searches, but Julia still helped us find all sorts of wedding services;m.
When the time came to choose our menu; Julia sent over the tasting menu, & while we were on our trip to Big Island, we were able to try the AMAZING food. I have a gluten sensitivity, which they absolutely catered to (we ended up doing a GF shoyu salmon)! We also ended up doing macarons for our desert, which were the best macarons I have ever had & am so glad we had them as an option!
The weekend of the wedding we held our rehearsal where Julia seriously made me feel so at ease & comfortable; I didn’t know a few of the traditions, such as walking orders & she swooped in to save the day. I remember my husband telling me he was glad she was able to help us.
On the day of the wedding, Julia was there to ensure that everything went smoothly & anchored us during our magical whirlwind of a night.
There is so much more that I could say, but the biggest thing; Julia & Daylight Mind made our wedding our DREAM wedding, they made us feel comfortable & at ease, & worked with us with so much ALOHA spirit. -
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Kylie Sent on 05/02/2018For my wedding, I dreamed of a low stress environment with beautiful scenery. I dreamed of soft colors, the sound of the ocean, and breathtaking views of the ocean during dinner. I dreamed of good music, and an intimate environment to marry my best friend, with all of our closest friends and family as our witnesses. Julia and Daylight Mind provided all of those things for me, and more!
I planned our wedding from Oregon, and from the moment I first reached out to Julia I knew that the Daylight Mind was the perfect place for our destination wedding! We did not think that we would be able to make it out to Kona prior to the wedding, so we booked the Daylight Mind after only talking to Julia a few times, and did so with confidence. When I finished nursing school a few months later, my hubby surprised me with a last minute trip over to see the venue and do some planning. I quickly contacted Julia, and with a weeks notice she was able to set up food, drink, and cake tastings with us. She sat with us for hours and got to know our vision, and made me feel so at ease! Each email I sent, Julia either had an answer for me, or knew someone to get into touch with. There were many instances where I wondered if I was asking too much, and Julia assured me that she was more than happy to help! She constantly put me at ease, and I knew I was in the best possible hands.
Our food menu:
Strawberry spinach
Vegetable risotto, Green beans with mac nuts
Beef Teriyaki, Furikake crusted fresh catch w/wasabi cream sauce
Coconut cake w/ pastry cream filling and cream cheese frosting, and Coconut cake w/ lilikoi mouse filling (lighter creamy lilikoi flavor), and cream cheese frosting
Beer/wine + Lilikoi Margarita and hibiscus mule
Guests truly ranted and raved about the food, drinks, and cake! As I am sitting here writing this review I am salivating and wishing I could have it again!
I 100% recommend Julia and Daylight Mind for the PERFECT wedding! -
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Merrell Sent on 02/23/2018Our experience at Daylight Mind was amazing! Julia, the wedding coordinator, and her team did nothing less than make our special day perfect, from accommodating our booking three weeks out from our wedding date to providing amazing food and service to wowing our guests with super fun bartenders and delicious drinks. They left absolutely nothing to be desired!
We originally booked with a different venue that canceled on us one month before our wedding date. I called Julia with my venue crisis and she quickly contacted me back and happily offered me availability, stating her team would do everything in their power to save our wedding. And save our wedding they did!! Looking back, we should have booked Daylight Mind in the first place as the venue was absolutely gorgeous with stunning views and dark Hawaiian wood interior, it was the perfect place for us.
Julia and her staff worked tirelessly to ensure that every need was met, asking us how we were doing and if everything was to our liking. Our guests loved the cocktail hour complete with cucumber poke shooters, bacon wrapped scallops, and avocado fries, and couldn't stop talking about the buffet dinner afterwards. It was all so delicious!
Daylight Mind is a wonderful, gorgeous, low key, and affordable wedding venue and I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone!! Thank you Julia and Daylight Mind for making our day perfect. -
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