HAWAIIAN-STYLE WEDDINGS

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THE CALIFORNIA / HAWAI'I BOND

There has long existed a bond between the states of California & Hawai'i.

The bond is partly due to the similarities in climate: the Golden State and the Aloha State
both enjoy warmth, sunshine & weather-tempering trade winds.

The bond is partly due to the ocean, the surf & the beaches.

And the bond is partly due to the friendliness of the people:
the spirit of Aloha is alive in California, as well as in the Islands.

 

HAWAIIAN WEDDINGS

For decades our friends, our Parents, our Grandparents have been traveling to the Islands.

For some, the goal was simply to find the closest coconut palm,
throw down a beach towel, breakout the mai-tai's & work on the tan.

However for many Californians, the purpose of the journey to Hawai'i has always been a Wedding.

 

CHALLENGES OF HAWAIIAN WEDDINGS

I was fortunate to have lived in the Islands for 5 years: 1 year on Lana'i & 4 years on Maui.

Each year I lived on Maui, some 5,000 couples were married on the island. Although couples
came from all over the world - Asia, Australia, Europe - the vast majority were from the Mainland,
with the majority of those being from Southern California.

And yet, for a variety of reasons, not all California couples
wishing to be married in Hawai'i are able to do so.

For one, its expensive to fly to the Islands, book hotel rooms, rent a car & provide meals.

For another, arranging for family & friends to attend an Island Wedding can be a monumental task.

 

BRINGING HOME THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING

 

So, if the desire is there for a Hawaiian-style Wedding, but circumstances refuse to cooperate,
why not remain in California & have it both ways? Your ceremony & reception can be held
at a local venue or winery. Florists in the Fallbrook area / Temecula Valley wine country famously
turn regional Wedding sites into a tropical paradises, dripping with fragrant florals.

 

INGREDIENTS OF THE HAWAIIAN-STYLE WEDDING

Borrowing Hawaiian elements from the Weddings I officiated on Lana'i & Maui,
your Ceremony can include:

 

HAWAIIAN WEDDING BLESSING

The Minister recites:

"Na Hawai'i 'olua e ho'olu mai."

May Hawai'i bring you comfort.

"Na Hawai'i lokomaika'i mai ia 'olua."

May Hawai'i be kind to you.

"Na Hawai'i maliu mai ia 'olua, a e ha'awi mai i aloha."

May Hawai'i look upon you with favor, and grant you aloha.

 

LEI EXCHANGE

In Hawaiian Weddings, the Bride & Groom traditionally give leis to one another.

(Leis are readily available throughout Southern California from florists & markets.
They can also be shipped at a reasonable rate from Hawai'i).

The Minister introduces the Lei Exchange by saying:

"In Hawai'i, in the memory of the Islands and their Wedding Ceremonies, the lei has been
a traditional makana - a gift - exchanged between the Bride & Groom.

Lei aloha - necklaces of love - are offered & accepted as open-heartedly as they give of their beauty.

And, as your aloha for one another, these leis embrace you thoughts, your senses & your hearts."

The Minister then continues, giving the Bride & Groom
the opportunity to speak a few simple, Hawaiian- language phrases:

"Groom / Bride, please repeat after me, in Hawaiian:

Lei no, au ko, aloha.
Please wear my love like a beautiful lei."

The Minister then concludes the Lei Exchange by saying to the Groom, and then the Bride:

"Place the lei around the neck of your beloved & give her / him a kiss on each cheek."

Please write to begin planning your Hawaiian-style Wedding in California.
Aloha & Mahalo Nui Loa.

Rev. Michael Cartwright
michael@michael-cartwright.com