Ko'olau Ballrooms & Conference Center

Great place for large events. Beautifully surrounded by the Koolau mountains. Spacious. Lots of parking. Clean bathrooms. The food is 10/10.

I recently attended a conference at the Ko’olau Ballroom. The food was delicious and inventive! There was so much of it! The wait staff were very professional, helpful, and pleasant. The bathrooms were impeccably clean. The grounds are beyond breathtaking- the perfect backdrop for magnificent pictures. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is due to the outdated interior. There’s old carpeting, stained ceilings/corners (likely from rain or burst pipe), old unused/dusty electrical equipment attached to the ceiling, and we sat on stained and pilling chairs. The ladies room- while incredibly clean- has an old lumpy couch that leans to one side, and old sink fixtures/counter (likely from 80s or 90s). I want to reiterate that this place is immaculately clean and you can tell the staff who care for it put their hearts into it. The grounds are impeccable, and overall this venue has a warm, inviting atmosphere. I really enjoyed my conference being there- and I’d love to go back.

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!

We hosted our wedding at the Ko'olau Ballroom on 2/18/23. Our wedding was in the ballroom. We couldn't ask for a better venue! All of our out-of-town guests were so impressed by the majestic mountains and how beautiful the venue was. This was the first wedding venue we visited in 2022 and we decided this was the one! The weather was playing games with us on our big day, but the sun came out right on time. We worked with Jamie (Event services Manager) throughout the year to coordinate the details. She is easy to work with and responds quickly. On the big day, there was plenty of wait staffs for all of our guests. They were efficiency and professional. My family are big food critics, and they all were happy with the food. The cake (lilikoi) was spectacular with just the right amount of sweetness. The venue is big, private and plenty of parking! It was a nice to get away from the hustle and bustle in Waikiki. We are just so happy to host our wedding at the Ko'olau Ballroom and create these everlasting memories. The wedding was perfect, and everything went so smoothly. Thanks again!

As a local wedding photographer, I love shooting at Ko'Olau Ballroom where a wedding couple and their guests can enjoy the beautiful mountain backdrop during their ceremony and cocktail hour! The outdoor ceremony at 10th tee has a great view of Ko'Olau mountain range. After the ceremony, a staff member can take us on a golf cart to photogenic spots for newly weds photos when requested. The ballroom is large enought to host a large party with a large number of guest counts, and their food is very delicous. The high ceiling of the ballroom make great reception photos! I highly recommend this venue for any mountain lovers and those who are looking for nature and comfortable indoor party afterwards.

Most rude parking attendant - you can tell he definitely dispises visitors. We are from the island originally but visiting and he was still rude. He was very rude and must hate his job - seriously find a better job if you hate it that much. Do better

Beautiful venue! I recently came for my cousin’s wedding and with so many relatives coming from all over the world, the venue provided excellent views & photo ops

Nestled on conservation land at the foot of the Ko‘olau Mountains, Ko‘olau Ballrooms has the most spectacular view of any venue on O‘ahu

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.

We had our wedding in October of 2024 at Ko'olau Ballroom. We could not have imagined a more perfect setting for our special day. The scenery is second to none. Roxi and her staff made the day perfect. We used their in-house catering and our friends and family are STILL talking about how amazing the food was. If you have a chance, try the guava and vanilla cake. It's to die for. Mahalo for making this a perfect day. The staff truly made it a night to remember.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

Working with Koolau Ballroom as the venue for an October 2023 wedding was a remarkable experience. The site's breathtaking views and elegant setting created a perfect backdrop for the special day. Additionally, Kylie Yamanouchi, the site coordinator, was absolutely amazing in her role, contributing significantly to the smooth running and success of the event. As wedding coordinators, we are truly impressed by their professionalism and look forward to more collaborations with Koolau Ballroom and their fantastic team.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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!

I was treated so horribly by staff of this business. All I was trying to do was ask a question and the security guard swore at me several times. He was harassing others as well. Others online say they had the same experience with the security guard. How can a business keep employing someone who continues to give their business a bad name? Not one of these people that security guard harassed was trying to do any harm. For an elegant business to have such a trashy employee speaks volumes about what they care about.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

Came here for the food tasting for my wedding. The atmosphere was clean and beautiful. The food was delicious. I really enjoyed the macadamia nut chicken and the tofu salad! I loved that we got to experience the different foods so that we can narrow down our choices for the wedding!

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.

I came home for my 40th high school reunion and we had our big dinner here. It was a beautiful drive ba k to the property and we were right up against the Ko'olaus. The room was perfect for our function, not to big or small and it was a nice intimate setting. The food was amazing and so much! Many of us were disappointed that there were mo take out containers to take food with us. So much was wasted and thrown away!

Amazing wedding and reception at the Ko'olau. The view is amazing and the intimate wedding of having about 50-60 chairs and the rest can stand is a great location of a wedding. The reception was lunch and the pupu and drinks prior to the lunch was amazing. The lunch and dessert was amazing too. The staff seemed friendly and a waitress came around so many times to clear the table, fill up water and give us coffee.

My husband and I recently had our reception here on Saturday 7.7.18. Everything turned out great, there were a few minor things that could have been better on that day, but its okay. However the whole process leading up to the actual wedding day was not great! First off we booked our date more than a year out. Our coordinator that we were working with said that they would let us know when we need to turn things in and when it gets closer to do a tasting and what not. Never once did we get an email saying something is due or when to do a tasting or attend an expo. When I emailed 45 days out asking what our balance was they didn't even check our file and just gave me what they thought we owed rather than the actual amount. I then had to correct them twice and told them the amount I owed, rather than they tell me the correct balance. We never did a tasting. When I asked them why we weren't informed when the appropriate time to do this was they blamed it on me saying that they told me when I initially held the date (a year and a half ago) its every second Saturday. There was no courtesy reminder ever! When it was time to pick the menu I wasn't even told to be prepared to do this, it was just pushed on me when I went to meet with them. I asked if we were able to do a tasting and their response was "oh, umm it't too late for that." So we picked a menu blindly and thankfully the food was still good. I spoke with the manager of the banquets since I was unhappy and they basically told me "I'm sorry you feel that way. I'll talk to them for you, but don't worry. Just relax." this was about a month out. They should have done something at this point to try to turn it, but they didn't. When our final payment was due, I had to ask them to waive minor fees because I did not feel we received the service that is expected when spending tens of thousands of dollars. I told the manager again everything that happened and what we went through. Real examples of what happened they continued to tell me "I'm sorry you feel that way." I then had to get mad and say it's not a feeling it's real examples of how they failed to produce quality customer service. The wedding day came and everything was fine. We enjoyed our time. My family had mentioned to me that they took away the Hors d'oeuvres when they were pieces still left. Some of my family wanted more but because the cocktail hour was over they took it away. I do not think they should have done that especially since we paid for it. The food was really good and everything was set up nicely. We had a great time that night, which I knew we would. I just wish the process leading up to that night was superb and it wasn't. I was given excuses and told that it was my feelings that were the reason the experience was not great rather than providing great customer service from the beginning. There was no personal touch, they were not rude but never made the effort to make you feel special. I wouldn't not use them, but would be careful and set reminders for yourself especially if you cannot afford a wedding coordinator. Do not rely on them to reach out at all or give you reminders even when payments are due. No personal touch, you are just another client to them.

My husband and I picked this venue for our wedding on May 14. Ceremony was outdoor and we had our reception in the glass ballroom. The view of the mountains is hard to beat. Food was great, our server on the wedding day was very attentive, making sure that we had time to eat and that we had enough food and drinks. Wedding cake tastes great too. I would say everyone we communicated with was very nice. Leading up to the wedding day, it was a little hard to get in touch with the event person at the venue by phone. Otherwise, everything else was great.

I attended a workshop at Koolau Ballrooms this past week and was thoroughly impressed. The venue is nestled right against the koolau mountain range, next to the golf course. The drive over the Pali was misty and beautiful and then the drive along the "country road" to the ballrooms/gold course parking lot was very.... Country. I saw some chickens, lots of greenery and no one else until I got to the parking lot. There is plenty of parking and it seemed like there were many different ballrooms and conference rooms. Because I was attending a Hawaii Energy workshop, we tested some instruments with the different lights around the ballrooms. If you're really observant, the light bulbs they use in the ceiling are a combo of different kinds of lightbulbs, but it's really not a big deal hehe. Throughout our workshop, we marveled at the beauty of the windward side seen through the big windows surrounding the rooms. It was rainy the day I went, so it was crazy humid outside, but the AC was cold inside. The food was also A+! I loved all the different salads and grilled veggies and the chicken we had was delicious. The waiters were friendly and attentive, too. I need to befriend more people getting married in the near future so I can convince them to hold their wedding here. We all know where I will be getting married at least ;)

My wife and I had our wedding here and have nothing, but good things to say about the venue. We worked with Vanessa and she was very helpful with everything from securing our wedding date all the way through making sure our guests had parking on the wedding day (more of that story later) One thing to remember (and they make this pretty clear when you meet), is that they aren't really a coordinating company. They are just the venue and coordinate their own staff for your event. For your own event (in my case, a wedding), it's your responsibility to have your own coordinator (or yourself) coordinate the whole event. Fast forward about 18 months after putting down our deposit to the wedding day. We show up and come to find out there's another wedding going on in the larger room. No big deal except that it was for a Polynesian wedding and from what I've heard, it's not uncommon for uninvited guests to show up to those. So when we showed up, the parking lot was packed and the other wedding was 150 people over their guest count. The kitchen was definitely not happy. Luckily though for our guests, Koolau had set up space in the parking lot for those attending our wedding. That was SUPER nice and helpful of them to make sure that our guests would find parking. Food was excellent, but the cake was kind of meh, but, honestly, I've never really had a good wedding cake. It has to be dense enough to be multi-layered, so the bar is already set pretty low for wedding cakes. Overall, I'd highly recommend Koolau Ballrooms as a venue for your wedding or any event. There is ample FREE parking for your guests as well as privacy since it's literally in the middle of nowhere.

This is a beautiful place with great scenery of greenery. This place is great for business meetings, weddings, and parties. We come here every year for our Annual Planning for our office with the great Fortune Management Team. This place also has a golf course and a bar downstairs from the main halls. This place is beautiful inside and out. They have different menus you can choose from to cater your parties held in the ballrooms. They have a massive ball room with a stage and dance floor area. We have numerous pictures taken at this place. The backgrounds are so beautiful. They also have a glass room where you look out into the scenery while in your meeting. It's a really great place. They also have a beautiful staircase to take pictures on.

We had our wedding here this past weekend in the glass ballrooms. It was beautiful. The food here is amazing. I'm and of course the scenery is amazing! I felt so taken care of throughout the night. Ben helped us get settled through the process of our reception. He answered our questions right away and we were able to get everything that we needed done. I will definitely use this ballroom again in the future.

Our deepest thank you to all of the staff at Ko'olau Ballrooms for making our wedding an event we will never forget!!! :) Thank you so much to Stephen, Merri, Vanessa and the banquet staff for being so accommodating and patient with us from the initial planning to the day-of. We could not have asked for anything more! Our wedding day went very smooth except for some minor hiccups but it wasn't anything major. Our guests had nothing but praise for how beautiful everything was! Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts!! Joanne & Brisan

The setting is awesome! They service was great. But the best part to the meal was the coffee. They make amazing coffee. I didn't care to much for the food. I had grill Mahai and it was tough to eat. The noodles tasted like frozen dinners. Went for an appreciation dinner. The food was just Okay.

Okay, wedding day came and went, and my I still give Koolau 5 stars :] It. Was. BEAUTIFUL! I know its pretty cliche to say it was the best day of my life, but really, it was. And Koolau played a big part in it :] We were set to have our ceremony out at the 18th hole, but due to high winds, I got a call on the way there saying our tents that was at the ceremony site blew away into this little trench thats by the 18th hole :( Steven said because the wind is being not very nice, he would be able to set up the indoor waterfall for the ceremony, but it would be entirely up to me. I was a little bummed, but we couldnt have my veil flying away, or my bridesmaids undies making an appearance; so I made the call to move it inside. Steven was our "go-to" guy! He made sure my hubby-to-be was hidden away and snuck me inside; got our dressing rooms situated; played our wedding ceremony music--he was AWESOME. || CEREMONY || My besties in front of me, daddy on my right arm, butterflies everywhere, this was it. Knowing it would mess up my makeup, I did pretty good with holding back my tears. But as soon as i walked up the stairs to the ceremony area, I broke down. It was breathtaking--I couldnt have pictured a more perfect setting. We didnt have much of a break immediately after, since we had to take pictures. Steven drove our entire wedding party over to the golf course to take our pictures. We were lucky the wind died down a little so we could have some outdoor pictures! || PARTY TIME || We were a little hesitant about getting uplighting... but when we got there, it added so much to the ballroom! Highly recommend it! And we were the FIRST to test out their "flame warmers". Not sure if they figured out a different name by now, but thats what it was called when we got them :p It's these tall fire things.. ugh i cant explain it.. I'll post a picture. Ice carving was pretty, food was DELICIOUS, everything was PERFECT. It went so smooth, my husband and I were actually able to sit down to eat and ENJOY our wedding! THANK YOU KOOLAU!!!

I had my wedding here last fall in the glass ballroom. We had about 160 guests. We had an outdoor ceremony in the garden right out the glass ballroom. The coordinator Debra was extremely professional, hosting us once for a preliminary walk through and another walk through right before the wedding. She also accommodated our rehearsal ceremony and showed us around again. After the ceremony, she drove a golf cart around so we can take pictures around the golf course, that was a very nice service. She answered my emails in a timely fashion. We had an open bar and the tab was reasonable, as well as the menu prices and options. The menu is diverse, ranging from American to Asian to Hawaiian and you can pick and choose any item across the cuisines. We also had prime rib. The wedding went off without a hitch!

First of all the 5 stars are going to the staff. I was in a bridal party and get dropped off at the entrance. I saw a man sitting in a golf cart and asked him where the Mauka III room was. He got out of his cart and actually walked me to the doorway and pointed me in the correct direction. As I was walking there, another man asked me if I was lost or needed help and I told him where I was headed. He took me through the ballroom to a shortcut way and had another man actually physically walk me to the room so I wouldn't get lost! When greeted by this man he asked me "how is your day going?" When in the hospitality room, we were visited by someone who worked at the facility and she also checked that we were ok and everything met our expectations. Our water was always filled and staff was just Amazing!

My partner and I were at the Ko'olau Ballrooms to attend a wedding, and overall we felt that this is a nice event space except it had power lines running through it. The location is great, sitting in the valley of the Ko'olau Mountains, and the views are spectacular. I will say that because it's not on the Honolulu, gets more rain and clouds being on the Windward side. There was a stark change of weather even while we are there. It was relatively easy to get to, right off the H3, so that's always good. There are different event spaces located at the Ko'olau Ballrooms, some have more sweeping views than others. But I will say that the huge electric power lines running through even where the ceremony spaces is rather distracting. I noticed during the ceremony, but then afterwards once people were taking pictures, the power lines don't obscure pictures of the Valley, which is the most important aspect. The staff at the Ko'olau Ballrooms were uniformly friendly, and the event itself went off without a hitch. It's not the most luxurious or picturesque or touristy setting for a wedding you can have in Hawaii, but I'm sure it's 1/4 of the price of anything on Waikiki.