Had a holiday party here. The food was great, service was fast. Loved the scenery.the space was clean and well taken of. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Great parking for hikes. Attendants are always nice and friendly. They have a bathroom, if you ask the attendant they'll direct you but it's behind the building read more

Saturday July 19, 2025. I came here to celebrate my friend Larry his son Lawrence's Class of 2025 Graduation Party! I have been here before for my friends wedding and a DLS company party way back when. I forget when though. lol. Anyway, came here for dinner, dessert and celebrate his accomplishment of being Valedictorian of his graduating class of 2025 at Pearl City High School. I knew him from birth till present day. From the main highway I don't remember having to drive on a very long and winding to get there. But, it's worth it. Plenty parking. Food and dessert was good. Service was friendly and fast. Ambiance is really nice the views, dress up more than casual and very comfortable inside here. If someone else has something here in the future. I will definitely come here again. I live Kahala and I will definitely drive to here again. read more

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September 3, 2025 Koolau Ballrooms hosted a wedding expo. The venue itself is beautiful and all the staff that worked the event were very professional and nice. There was a lot of walking space despite the large crowd. Many tables of vendors set up. The catered food was very tasty and the workers were prompt with refilling the food stations. This is definitely a beautiful venue to book for any special occasion. Not to mention the stunning views of the koolau's and beautiful greenery surrounding the ballroom. read more

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Probably one of the best venues I did for a wedding. Location views is breathtaking. Definitely recommended for couples who are planning to get married in Hawaii. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - wedding ceremony - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Monday, Nov 10, 2025 11:30am security guard is terrible. Ran a delivery for Uber to this location and was cursed at multiple times by the security guard in the golf cart at the front. Awful experience. Would've expected more from such a venue. read more

I highly recommend Ko'olau Ballrooms as a wedding venue. The wedding venue coordinators are Ko'olau are amazing to work with. Very responsive and professional! I loved my wedding at Ko'olau. Thank you Kylie and the entire Ko'olau staff for making my wedding so perfect and memorable. read more

Tucked below the Ko'olau Range, off of Hawaii Route 61 that straddles the Nu'uanu Pali, there sits the Ko'olau Ballrooms. These hallowed grounds, where soldiers for lesser O'ahu chiefs fought Kamehameha the Great's large armies until their demise now hosts parties that evoke joy and camaraderie. I've attended weddings, conferences and expos here over the years and the facilities are near top notch. Although a little out of the way (on the Windward side of O'ahu and in the woods), the staff go out of their way with every little detail to make any event a memorable one. The food is wonderful (get their legendary bread pudding if you have an event to please your guest!) and the scenery is untouchable. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Their famous bread pudding. The red stuff is from a guava cheesecake I had prior. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

The very first time I came here was for a friend's hula performance a couple of years ago. There was no lunch or dinner involved, just a show. A few weekends ago, it was for another High School graduation party. First of all, the grounds is absolutely stunning with the Ko'olau Mountains as the backdrop, a golf course surrounding the Ballrooms, and if the weather is in your favor, the parking lot wasn't damp and wet making it easy to enter and exit the venue. Very large ballroom to accommodate large size parties, ample room for reception table, photo booth, pupu island, dinner buffet, beverage bar, a stage with dance floor. Staff provides friendly service, very clean restrooms, and a comfortable and clean venue. I can't guess what dinner cost per person, but the bartender was impressed that this popular local band was hired for the party! read more

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June 8, 2025 was a special day for me and my wife. It was our wedding day and we ended up paying close to 20,000. if not more than 20,000 for just the venue and dinner. and ill say the venue and food was good. the downside was that, they did not announce to us nor the guests that they were going to start taking away dinner and desert. and probably 75% of the guests didn't even have desert, because the staff did not let anyone know that there was a timeline on the desert. Also, concerning the wedding cake that was a part of the package. they did not cut it at all for any of the guests to eat. so it was just left there and none of the guests took any because it wasn't cut nor did anyone tell us or make an announcement. there was a lack of communication on their end on the day of that would've been very helpful. also, when it came to our champagne toast, they made no announcement nor communicated anything to us for a toast to be made. so they just randomly poured it on all the tables and the tables had no idea what was going on. and neither did we. TO BE HONEST, IT FELT LIKE THEY ONLY TRIED TO SERVE THEMSELVES TO MAKE THEIR JOB EASIER AND WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT US. (only in all caps as a emphasis, not yelling or complaining, but just think it's an important detail). now for all the time before the actual wedding. I would describe my experience as unsure and uncared for. two things that you wouldn't hope for in planning a wedding. 1. the contract they had us sign, was that if "they" felt like we were being hard, then they could terminate the contract and cancel our event at their venue. and at first, they seemed really nice and understanding and gave us the impression that they were okay with everything we were planning to do. we were very upfront about everything and they said it was okay. so we thought it was a no problem. but as the weeks went by, they told us "no" to a lot of the things we already talked about having and they gave us a verbal "yes" to. and so when trying to gain understanding, we didn't want to seem like "hard" clients or else they would take all the money we gave already and cancel our event at their venue. they always said "we have to talk to upper management". WE DID NOT FEEL CARED FOR AND FELT LIKE IT WAS THEIR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. 2. they were giving our sound engineer and vendor a really hard time throughout the entire process. they would only allow a 30 minute breakdown and a 1 hour set up (if that). when in general it is at least a 45 minute - 1 hour breakdown and usually a 2 hour set up. really whenever the venue opens it doors for any vendor. they had to set up outdoor sounds and board and inside sounds and lights. they also, surprised our vendor with requiring more lights inside, just because they can't provide dimmable lightings. so imagine having a night cap of dancing and music and all the lights are as bright as 3pm. IT SEEMED VERY PERSONAL, AND THAT'S NOT A WAY A BUSINESS SHOULD CONDUCT ITSELF. and our sound vendor, is the nicest guy who was truly on our side and just wanting to throw a great party. he only has good reviews. and for koolau ballrooms to treat a local vendor, a local business man like this, i thought was unacceptable and very cold. it's sad that their conduct affects how first presbyterian church is looked at. on the day of, they allowed our coordinators and our florist to enter the premises and set up everything, as well as other vendors. but they did not allow our sound vendor in. who was setting up everything for the ceremony and reception. our cocktail hour singer just had to wait in her car because nothing could be set up and no sound check. 3. they did not tell us at all about food tasting, if anything, they told us they don't offer it. and 1 month to our wedding day, we were asking about the food and finally they tell us, they do it once a month and it's not what we pick, but whatever they pick to let us try. and so i couldn't go because i had appointments to tend to. and my wife ended up going with my sister because of such a late notice. and if was not that 1 day then, we were stuck not knowing anything. 4. they also told us a part of the package was any colored napkins was on the house, but when we were choosing the color, they said that it is an extra cost. something small. but again, just another moment of their fickleness and not keeping their word. 5. And for the bar, we got a premium option, and when people asked for shots, the bartender told them no. but when other people asked the bartender said yes and poured it for them. and also, their signage was very deceptive because we covered the whole bar tab, but they left their signage with all the prices. so there was confusion with people thinking they had to pay, when they didn't. we paid. and i really don't like that our guests who we wanted to treat, felt like their enjoyment was coming at a cost. there is more,but length fails me.if it wasn't for venue, not worth it read more

My husband and I had our wedding reception here earlier this month. Beautiful venue (We had the reception in the Glass Ballroom.) The green lush setting was amazing and we were able to get great photos taken outside with the mountains in the background. The ballroom was spacious and looked great! The setup of the tables and the wedding party table being elevated was nice too. We got comments from guests about the good food; we had quite a selection as well as drinks and desserts aside from the cake. The wedding cake also came from Ko'olau and was great! We had the two-tier white cake with lilikoi filling. Pricing overall was decent. The ladies helping during the reception with the food and cake were great! (I didn't get any names.) The only downside to our experience with Ko'olau and the reason we would not give it 5 stars was the communication with our contact, Jamie Lospoc. More often than not, she was hard to get ahold of or took up to a week+ to reply to emails. To put our deposit down I had to call and email multiple times to get a response. When we arrived at the reception, we had never met her in person but she didn't introduce herself or even acknowledge us for awhile. read more

Beautiful wedding venue! I knew I wanted to get married on the windward side because of the beautiful natural scenery and cooler, breezy weather. I had another venue in mind but after a horrible experience with our scheduled venue tour (we got ghosted), we decided to go with Koʻolau Ballrooms. The main reason they weren't our first choice is because we were concerned about the accessibility for some of our guests but it ended up working out well. Food was alright--typical banquet food. Everyone said that they loved the cake! (we went with guava) If you are prone to overheating like me, I would plan to have a decorative fan with you at your reception table. Though the AC was on, my partner and I were definitely sweating in our wedding day attire. Suits and wedding dresses aren't the most breathable and we were walking around quite a bit (greeting guests, doing table touches, etc.). At one point, it felt more comfortable to be outside on the lanai because of the breeze. I also thought it was odd that they couldn't confirm our wedding rehearsal date or reserve the getting ready room for us until a couple weeks before our wedding day, despite us having our wedding date confirmed and paying our deposit in full almost a year in advance. Though I'm glad I got ready in a hotel room (AC was much cooler which helped with the heat of hair styling tools), not having confirmation that close to our wedding day made me feel a bit concerned. Lots of parking, though it does share a lot with hikers and the church next door. read more

Did not have beverages when I parked there, I paid for parking and asked for water and they said "we are not a restaurant, we do not give out water" read more

We recently shot a wedding at Ko'olau Ballrooms. In our experience as wedding photographers, this was a gorgeous place to have a wedding. There are indoor and outdoor options for ceremonies and the Glass ballroom is gorgeous! We also enjoyed capturing portraits around the golf course. This venue is highly recommended! read more

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Went to a wedding here, reception was at the Grand Ballroom which is on the left side when you walk toward the buildings. I think this is the best venue. Lots of parking, very spacious area to check in, bathrooms located to the right when you enter. Then ballroom toward the left has big picture windows. Pupus and food were great. Coffee, fruit punch, etc was set up for self serve. The most outstanding thing was the wait staff. They were awesome and superior to all the other places I have been. They were very friendly and sincere and kept our table clear of all the empty plates, bottles etc and kept our glasses full. They paid attention to detail and they all seemed to work well together. Koolau Ballrooms is a beautiful venue. It was a memorable evening. I texted some friends about my evening and one commented "Koolau first class in my book". Thank you Koolau Ballrooms! read more

I've only been here twice. Once for my college's Commencement Ball (aka College Prom) and my best friend's wedding to her high school sweetheart. But it's one of the most beautiful venues on the island with a wonderful view of the Koolau Mountains on the Windward side. The road to this location is a little scary especially when it was pouring rain and dark out during my best friend's wedding. It's a small uphill two lane road where there can be rocks and potholes on the road. I told the staff at the golf pro shop about it and he notified someone to clear the road once the rain subsided. But once you get up to the location, it is truly beautiful and breathtaking even in the pouring rainstorm weather. I love the view on the glass ballroom their main ballroom where the reception for the wedding was held and where my college had the Commencement Ball as well. Their bathrooms are always clean and well stocked. The waterfall in the middle of the venue is so pretty but it can get loud. But the music from the surrounding events can drown it out. It can get pretty wet on the lower level ballrooms by the waterfall. There's a smaller bathroom, golf pro shop and a bar restaurant downstairs. They even have a small restaurant with a bar to pregame before the event in case there's a large time between the ceremony and reception. They have smaller ballrooms that can be used for graduation parties, kid's parties and prom too. I liked that they were ready for rain because my best friend was supposed to have her ceremony outside but they moved it indoors due to the torrential rainstorm. It would've costed the same either way for what she had for her wedding location there. But hey, rain is good luck in a wedding. So lots of blessings to them! The glass ballrooms are so much fun! Lots of space, good for potluck/buffet style serving which was available both at my college's Commencement ball and the wedding I attended. The food is delicious, filling and I always make a plate for dessert. The dance floor is small but fun. It is a beautiful venue and place to hold events. This place would be amazing but getting invited to do any events here is wonderful on its own. It showcases Hawaii's natural beauty in such a marvelous venue. read more

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Annual massage envy event at this beautiful location! Scenery gorgeous cannot beat this backdrop. Great customer service with food and drinks. We had buffet style meal. Tables setup in open area and spaced apart well. Lots of parking. Great security that made sure parking lot safe for everyone. read more

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Just attended a wedding here over the weekend. I have been here before, but it was many years ago and I didn't remember much about it. It is really a beautiful venue! After driving off the main highway, you drive through a winding road and see this beautiful venue ensconced in the gorgeous Ko'olau mountains hidden away, tucked in and surrounded by lush, green vegetation. When you enter, the sliding glass doors open and the first thing you see is the gorgeous waterfall with the natural sunlight shining in from above, felt like entering a resort hotel. The area we had the reception in was spacious and had a beautiful view. With my girlfriends vision on how she wanted her wedding to be, the venue did a magnificent job in bringing that vision to fruition. It looked classy and elegant. When we first got there there was a pupu area set up with a long table of yummy bites and a gorgeous ice sculpture and a bar. The pupus were delicious, various hot bites of dim sum, poke and soybeans. Dinner was buffet style and all the food was good as well as the desserts. They are known for their bread pudding and it didn't disappoint, it really was good! The newlyweds also had another small like conference room set up like a casino where guests could go and spend their monopoly money. We really enjoyed celebrating with our friends at this venue! Made me feel like I wanted to have my own wedding here...even if I've been married for almost 25 years....vow renewal??? Hmmmmm.... read more

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HGEA (Hawaii Government Employees' Association) Holiday Party 2018 on 12-14-18 I wasn't able to attend the HGEA Holiday Party last year, so I'm glad that Jules Y. invited me this year! Thank you! In past years, the annual party was held in Waikiki, so I didn't go because of the traffic, distance, and parking situation. Located in Kaneohe, The Ko'olau Ballrooms has FREE parking, is closer to me and there's less traffic! Besides being more convenient, the Ko'olau Ballrooms is also a beautiful venue because of the natural majestic backdrop of the Ko'olau Mountain Range. Inside, the man-made waterfall is amazing as another picturesque background for photo taking! The service was wonderful! Our used dishes were promptly removed and our water glasses were filled without our asking! The Grand Ballroom had a stage where live music was performed. There was a bar at the back of the room, and the food (buffet style) was situated in a side room. The prime rib was tender and moist! The mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and fresh fruits were also my favorites. I passed on many of the desserts, but HAD to get some of the Bread Pudding that they are known for... YUM!!! The only suggestion that I would have would be to have some lighting on the road between the venue and the Highway. There's a long, curvy street that is pitch black at night and is kind of spooky if you're not familiar with it. Overall, I like this venue as I have been here a few times in the past. For example, my high school friend's father's service was here many years ago (I remember the suckling Pig and the ono Hawaiian food). At another time, I came here for my friend's daughter's wedding! Can you see why it's such a great place? It can accommodate almost any function! It's so flexible! There's something for everyone! read more

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Would have given this place five stars. I had my quincenera here 15 years ago and I came back for my cousin's quincenera and I was sweating the entire time. How uncomfortable. I couldn't even enjoy myself because I was so hot. I asked the server of they could somehow turn on the ac and she stated, "Don't you think we complain about that?" I rest my case. I am shopping around for a wedding venue and would love to have it here. BUT not if I'll be sweating my entire wedding. No thank you. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

My client wanted a small wedding and it was to be held about a month from them announcing it. We worked with Kylie, the Event Coordinator there. From the beginning to the end of the event, Kylie was on point. She was always able to answer any questions me or my client had immediately. If there was something she was unsure of or needed further confirmation, she responded right away and got answers. On the day of the event, she was there checking on us and made sure everything was running smoothly. The staff was wonderful and professional. The food was delicious. There were many compliments about the food. The scenery is perfect for photo ops, and they had a back-up location incase of unexpected/bad weather. At the end of the day, my client was very happy. I highly recommend holding your special event at Koolau Ballroom. read more

I recently attended a wedding here and it was really lovely. It's tucked away in the hills/mountains and everywhere is really lush. It felt like Jurassic Park or something. Everything felt very regal outside. There is a pretty cool waterfall inside the building. It looks like it would make for good photography shots. There is plenty of space for dinner parties here. You get really nice views of the mountains in the back when it's daylight. The dance floor (?) seemed a bit small but it's possible that they had different floors elsewhere. Staff was nice. I am guessing they are making the food on site and thought the food was tasting. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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I was here recently for a huge Christmas party that took up the whole ballroom. The place, as well as the scenery, is beautiful. No wonder so many couples get married here. It's also big enough for conferences. It's located by the mountains, right when you get into Kaneohe. The food was alright. I wasn't impressed. The chicken was tough and the fish wasn't seasoned enough. The best item on my plate was the mashed potatoes. It was smooth and creamy. I'm not sure if the desserts were made in house or store bought, but it was fabulous. They had this puffed pastry with whipped cream and strawberries. OMG, one of the best desserts that I've had. The whipped cream had a haupia flavor to it. I should have just filled up on dessert. It was fun hanging out with you, Jules! I had a blast. read more

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My wife and I were looking for a wedding venue that really celebrated our love for the islands. Ko'olau provided everything we were looking for with their fantastic wedding packages. We chose the Ilima package which covered the ceremony and reception site, menu tasting, colored napkins, votives, mirrors, registration tables, easels, cake, ice sculpture, ono food, dance floor, open bar option, and not to mention the gorgeous, spectacular views of the Ko'olau mountains. Vanessa was also extremely responsive via email and phone (we were on the mainland and couldn't meet up in person), so that helped with the wedding planning stress. Vanessa also acted as a wedding rehearsal coordinator because our coordinator was unavailable last minute. On the day of the wedding, she graciously drove us around with our photography/videography crew (shout out to Isle Media) for pictures and videos. The only thing with the Ko'olau Ballrooms is that it is located on the rainy side of the island. We were blessed to have a sunshine during our wedding day but you may have to risk getting wet. They do make a rain call at 8:00 am on the morning of the wedding and offer a back-up indoor option which is fantastic. All-in-all, a great wedding venue!! read more

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We had our wedding ceremony and reception at Ko'olau and it was absolutely perfect! Our guests loved the views and the food and everything went perfectly! We wanted to give a shot out to our venue coordinator Ben Tran for being an absolute rockstar. He made the whole wedding process seamless and was so much fun to work with! Thank you Ben and Ko'olau! read more

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One of my favorite places to come. The scenery is beautiful and I always have a great time when I come here. The service and food is also very good. Everyone knows you need to be careful coming in and out of this place because of the narrow roads. Other than that, it's all worth it. It's also very convenient and close to the freeway on/off ramp. read more

This place never disappoint with the view and the food. It's not the very best food but it's very good. Surely a perfect place to celebrate a special day. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Beautiful bride walking with her father and grandfather. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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First buffet since the pandemic and Koolau didn't disappoint. Covid vaccine check before you even reach the door. Great service at the open bar for the event. Great signage that made it very clear on what was complementary and other offerings that weren't. Going through the line to get your food - of course too must wear those mask, but what was cool was everyone needed to don food service gloves before serving yourself. Great way to ensure clean hands! Felt very secure and safe. Food was as delicious as I remember from two years ago. Salads are great, fruit was sweet, chicken breast was very moist and flavorful. Fish was awesome, maybe basa? Very moist, tender, and tasty. Nice touch was the smaller plates they had at the carving station so you could get your slice of roast beef separate from your other food. Meat was tender and flavorful with the au jus and horseradish sauce. Desserts were good. My fav is the bread pudding but the other items were good, too. Always enjoy the food here. View is awesome before it gets dark. read more

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This place is beautiful!! I attended a seminar for my volunteer work at this facility and the views are absolutely stunning! The dining area has huge bay windows and overlooks the green, surrounded by the majestic craters towering over acres of lush green of this Hawaiian island! Just beautiful!! The ballroom where the seminar took place was large and accommodated many of us attendees. They provided light continental breakfast that included pastries and fruit served with coffee, tea, or water. The theater setup in this area was easy to get around. During lunch we were opened to a buffet table filled with salmon, chicken, pork, and beef entrees with a choice of dinner rolls and rice. The dessert table was decadent!! I tried a piece of everything!!! Cobbler, custard tarts, chocolate cake, lemon meringue, and a chocolate pudding like compote...each one was delicious!! I am a sucker for sweets...but I shall return to the main entrees The salmon was perfect glazed in a garlic sauce it melted in your mouth. The beef was in a stew like sauce that was so tender and flavorful it was a filler. The steamed veggies were like any other, buttery and tender. The rice was fluffy not sticky and the chicken was served with green veggies with what tasted like peanut sauce! Was definitely a great buffet with many flavorful entrees! I would definitely come back to enjoy everything this place has to offer! read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Thank you Kylie for helping to make our dreams come true! From the beginning, we envisioned a location that was surrounded by beautiful nature, place-based (having been born and raised in the Ko'olauloa area), and family friendly. Kylie was the first smiling face we met and she helped us every step along the way. She answered questions promptly and professionally, took the time to get to know us and our families, and truly made the wedding complete. I have already recommended Ko'olau Ballrooms & Conference Center to several friends who are looking for venues (from weddings to graduation parties to baby lu'au). This location is the perfect setting for a wide range of events. One of my favorite memories from our wedding (a few days ago) was seeing the pure joy on the faces of our parents and loved ones...and of course ours! The happiness we felt was genuine and a reflection of our experience with Kylie and Ko'olau Ballrooms & Conference Center. Mahalo nui and hope to see you again soon! read more

Scenic. Last month KBCC was the venue of choice for the annual ASCLS (American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science) conference, which occurred over a span of 3 days. Those in attendance were employees of various roles in the medical community, as well as vendors or suppliers of equipment and materials to the general medical community in Hawaii. The conference consisted of different seminars and informational sessions with speakers from across the United States. All main rooms/areas at KBCC were utilized in order to ensure appropriate space was provided for all speakers/vendors/exhibits at the conference. LOCATION: Nestled in Kaneohe at the foot/near the Ko'olau mountain range. The grounds are lush and green and well kept. I felt fortunate (although I was attending a conference) to be in a peaceful and pristine surrounding. WELCOME: As soon as you step thru the doors, the inviting atmosphere in the atrium is truly noticeable: Waterfall cascading from the 2nd to 1st floor with a skylight providing a touch of warm Hawaiian sun. MEETING ROOMS/FACILITIES: Very adequate. I especially liked that there were 2 separate ballrooms for the exhibits and meals. 1) 2 sets of meetings rooms: mauka and makai; Ample chairs and tables provided for conference attendees. Both meeting rooms have spectacular views of either the Ko'olau mountain range or the lush green setting on the property. In any case, at least the rooms had scenic views and not totally enclosed. *NOTE*: The mauka meeting rooms are actually attached and open up to a lanai area. 2) 2 ballrooms: GRAND Ballroom: The larger of the 2 ballrooms. As the name indicates, this ballroom is large and spacious for the most part. Although its not totally enclosed, there's a large area just off of the ballroom where guests can converse or a reception area can be set up. There are a glass doors nearby which access the lanai as well. This ballroom was utilized for exhibits and for vendors to showcase their product lines. glass Ballroom: The smaller of the 2 ballrooms is multi-level with beautiful views of the Ko'olau mountain range. The "glass" is mainly the glass walls which form the wall/parts of the section the ballroom is located in. During the conference, this ballroom was used as the designated dining/meal area. *NOTE*: This ballroom is within an open space/area and is not enclosed at all. FOOD: Decent buffet; Selections included salad, fruits, pasta salad, rice, potatoes, fish, chicken, and various desserts. The buffet line moved at a decent pace. This was due to the staff who were quick to replace any dishes that had run out or nearly empty to help the line move efficiently. *NOTE*: A light "continental breakfast (complete with coffee and tea) as well as light snacks (during break times) were served as well. SERVICE: Polite and efficient. The staff cleared away used plates in a timely manner. PARKING: Free. Provided within their lot. I was thankful the parking is more plentiful than at HCC where the conference was held last year. Bottom Line: Scenic. Beautiful and lush surroundings. Satisfactory and adequate meeting facilities. Plentiful parking. The decision to move the conference to this location versus continuing to hold it at HCC for another year was well thought out. I wouldn't mind returning here for next year's conference. read more

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Koolau is simply gorgeous. They can host a variety of events, I've attended a couple of weddings and a work conference here. Inside is classy, clean, and comfortable. In addition to professional and friendly staff, this venue is picture perfect. Tip: there's complimentary shuttle (in a golf cart) to and from the parking lot. Especially helpful when it's raining. Although I don't live on Oahu, this area of the island is one of my favorite spots to visit whenever I'm blessed with an opportunity to fly inter island. read more

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Koolau Ballrooms is a beautiful place in Kaneohe, where the gardens are so lush, so green, that its neatly trimmed golf course provide a sanctuary for those who love the game as well. Koolau Ballroom's place in Kaneohe is of peace and tranquility. Besides its beautiful surrounding around the ballroom which is inevitable when you go there, in my opinion it beats the hustle and bustle noise of a Waikiki wedding. Whether you're into the quiet or noise, the landscape here is something to awe. Places like this may amaze some that we are indeed lucky that we live in Hawai'i. It was risky though having a wedding in January because we were told it was the rainiest month of the year. But why January out of all the months? Well, because me and my wife first met on January 14... and we figured what better way to have a wedding than the same day we met. We took a risk, but it was such a great decision. We were very lucky on the wedding day because it never rained, there was some overcast and some sunshine, but it wasn't hot or muggy and I was worried about sweating so much. All in all, it worked out well. There was no parking fee, the views were free, if you're hot outside just go inside for the AC lol. I would recommend Koolau Ballrooms to anybody who wants to have a wedding in a natural setting and likes the peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. read more

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This is based off my 12.08.18 experience when I attended a smallish (150 people, maybe) company Christmas party. There were two other large events so while there are a lot of parking stalls, by the time I arrived, I'd guess there were only 20 vacant. I felt the lighting in the parking lot was inadequate, especially with the beautiful, shade providing trees. It made for an unpleasant walk due to poor lighting, foliage on the ground, mossy and wet asphalt (yes, I know, it likely rains here daily). The security near the entrance was friendly and provided rough directions on how to get to our party which was held in the Mauka room. We entered the doors and followed the signs and more signs but didnt find our party. We passed the check-in table for one of the other parties, clearly lost but thankfully someone asked if we needed help. We were instructed we needed to go outside, around the corner, past the other party and go through the back to get to our party. When we walked outside, we were greeted by the same security guard so I asked if the only way to get to Mauka was through the grassy area, he confirmed since there were other private parties, that was the only way. We joked how silly this was. But in all honesty, this is completely unacceptable. There is no pathway, it's a grassy area that dips and rises. It lacks even a bare minimum brick walkway. It rains so often here so the ground was a little mush. Had I been wearing heels vs platforms, we may have had a problem. The lighting for this type of environment was not suitable. To have to walk this way through the back, where you're clearly visible to the other party was rather uncomfortable and made us feel subpar. Food was ok, like another review I read, fish was hard and not adequately seasoned. Chicken was decent. Prime rib not too shabby. Mashed potatoes yummy! The desserts were definitely worthwhile!! Restrooms are plentiful and clean. Yay! So many times you go to places and the restroom is way out in the boonies or dirty and sometimes both. The grounds are beautiful. I completely understand why people choose to hold functions here. Please provide better lighting to the parking lot, especially considering the conditions. Also, a pathway, at the very least, if not an actual sidewalk should be evaluated for entry to Mauka. read more

Ko’olau Ballroom - The only way to get to the Mauka room was through this grassy area. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Wow! 2 volunteering events today! I guess is the Time of the year when my schedule gets the craziest ever not just with work but with plenty volunteering or charity events. Tonight was an event for Kids hurt too that is an organization that assists children who have been traumatized over the loss of parents to death or separations. The Koolau Ballrooms & conference center was the perfect spot for this event! People were super attentive, food was good and plenty parking! Everything was pretty organized too like having someone greeting you, showing you were to sit and they had a great area for the auction items! Overall, this event was a great way to finish my day and its always a great feeling when you give back to community! read more

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I had my wedding here and I would say the service I received the day of my wedding, and the weeks leading up to it both have A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. To start, I'll say working with the previous Sales Manager, Steven, was a great experience with zero problems. The issues didn't start until Steven received a well-deserved promotion and the new guy came in. There were a lot of misunderstandings between what was communicated to us previously vs. when the new guy took over. After 95% of the planning/prep work was finished, I was told (for the first time), TWO WEEKS before my wedding that several of the things I had planned/paid for would be "impossible" to carry out. It would be great if the venue's limited operations and restrictions on what they deem possible could be communicated far in advance, instead of forcing me, THE BRIDE, to do-over and DOUBLE the work two weeks before my wedding. I'm the one who came up with several solutions for the "issues" and had to prove that they were never "impossible" to do in the first place lol. Not sure why the paying customer is the only one trying to get things accomplished and find solutions. I've worked in customer service/events before, and am shocked at the poor service we received. We were also promised things in our CONTRACT that was given to us in Dec. 2020 (a year into the pandemic) and we were told weeks before our 2022 wedding (upon my own asking) that they decided at some point to no longer offer those services due to the pandemic! How are you going to give me a contract to sign WELL INTO the pandemic, and then not inform us that you don't even offer those services anymore? -- Ultimately, the new guy worked with us and we were able to resolve most of the issues (after much headache and stress). My last and BIGGEST complaint is the catering service. My wedding guests informed me the food itself was great but unfortunately I wouldn't know since I never got to eat my food! 1) I was served an appetizer plate by the bald white staff member (this guy is THE WORST), who I asked if the tomatoes had fish in them. I know we ordered Lomi Salmon as one of the food options for guests, but I had a special plate arranged for myself (paid extra) since I AM ALLERGIC TO SEAFOOD, and am also Vegan. The staff should be aware of which seats/tables had special meals, ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS THE BRIDE. Confused, I asked the server what was in the tomatoes on my plate... if there was any fish... and he said "No, this is the vegan/vegetarian plate" and walked away. I didn't believe him so I asked my MoH to taste my food and she confirmed as soon as she put it in her mouth that it was in fact, fish. Why are they trying to POISON the bride?! WTF. Stunned and speechless. 2) When my entree came I started eating but kept getting pulled away to take photos, dance, etc. I returned to my seat several times to put a bite in my mouth here and there. The last time I got called away from my seat to take a photo I was pretty frustrated and hungry and told my family I'm trying to eat. As soon as the photo was taken and I returned to my seat, my plate full of food was gone!! I chased down the same server (saw him running to the back with my plate) who said it was too late and there was nothing he could do! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? It's now been a week since my wedding and I'm still pissed off. I paid $10,000+ for this catering and I don't even know how it tasted. The venue doesn't even offer tastings of the menu or cake in advance! So, unfortunately, that exciting part of the wedding planning process was not experienced. And I left my wedding HANGRY. read more

We had our wedding reception here at Koolau Glass Ballroom. The planning aspect of it was pretty simple, although there were some hiccups in the planning process. As wedding planning is new to most couples, there are a lot of details that may be overlooked before you book your event. Being that we now live on the mainland and aren't used to the alcohol fees in Hawaii, I was surprised that the bar tab was just the total cost at the end of the night charged per drink. I also did not consider the linens and the chairs that the venue came with before I booked. Other than "beginners learning curves" the actual day of event was really great. Guests were wow'd with the views (esp the out of towners) and food and service was great. We didn't eat much at our wedding, but the guests raved about the prime rib, suckling pig, and the desert bar that was part of the buffet. I would recommend working with them for your wedding or event. read more

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We got married at Koolau on June 2, 2018. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue and day! Our wedding was planned via email (we live on the East coast in NJ) and our contact was Merri F. She was always very responsive to our emails, calls and questions. I basically planned this wedding only by looking at the website and talking with Merri. When I arrived there the week before, it was more beautiful than I could have imagined. The garden was more intimate than the photos show. It was perfect. Merri helped us put on an amazing, gorgeous wedding. The staff was wonderful and attentive the entire morning/afternoon. Everyone noted how calm I was that day and I think it's because I felt sure that Koolau had everything under control. Our guests kept commenting how delicious the food was...and that really was something that was important to us...that our guests were well fed! The venue is breathtaking and we were blessed with a gorgeous, sunny morning after a week full of rain. We got married in the garden and had our reception in the glass ballroom which had a spectacular view of the Koolau mountains. Our guests were blown away! The glass ballroom holds about 100 people..it was perfect for us. Thank you Merri and the the staff at Koolau. Mahalo!!! read more

We attended a wedding there, the banquet staff was very pleasant and accommodating. The room setting was great and the food was delicious. The only downfall we experienced was the parking attendant, who seemed to lack the Aloha spirit. read more

I attended a friend's wedding last month which was held in the Glass Ballroom. I was struck by the beautiful the scenery, it's absolutely gorgeous! You really don't have to spend much on florals , the view is overwhelming! The wait staff was great and very attentive. But the food lacked any flavor...the roast beef w. gravy had no taste at all. And the medley of steamed broccoli and pumpkin was off. The broccoli was overcooked and the pumpkin was hard and under cooked. It could have been an off day, but they definitely need help in the kitchen. read more