HAWAIIAN WEDDINGS IN SAN DIEGO & TEMECULA 

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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 & 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 lives-on in California, as well as in Hawaii.

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 palm tree, 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 for a Wedding. 

CHALLENGES OF HAWAIIAN WEDDINGS

I was fortunate to have recently
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.
The majority of them were from the Mainland,
With the majority of those being from Southern California.

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 Wedding,
But circumstances refuse to cooperate,
Why not remain in California & have it both ways?

Your Wedding & reception can be held at:

• One of the lushly landscaped local resorts

• A beautiful private Wedding venue

• Or even at the beach

INGREDIENTS OF THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING

Borrowing elements from the Weddings
I performed on Lana'i & Maui,
Your Ceremony will include the following:

(in the Hawaiian language)

• Traditional Hawaiian Wedding Blessing

• Lei Exchange

HAWAIIAN WEDDING BLESSING

The Minister reads:

"NA HAWAI'I 'OLUA E HO'OLU MAI"

MAY HAWAI'I BRING YOU COMFORT

"NA HAWAI'I E LOKOMAIKA'I MAI IA 'OLUA"

MAY HAWAI'I BE KIND TO YOU

"NA HAWAI'I E MALIU MAI IA 'OLUA,
A E HA'AWI MAI I ALOHA"

MAY HAWAI'I LOOK UPON YOU WITH FAVOR,
AND GRANT YOU ALOHA

(In this Blessing, there is the option for the name "Hawai'i,"
To be replaced by a name of your choice:

• "California"

• "San Diego

• "Temecula"

LEI EXCHANGE

In Hawaiian Weddings, the Bride & Groom
traditionally give leis to each other.

Leis are readily available locally from florists & markets.
They can also be shipped-in 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 BRIDE & GROOM.

LEI ALOHA - NECKLACES OF LOVE -
ARE OFFERED & ACCEPTED ASHEARTEDLY
AS THEY GIVE OF THEIR BEAUTY.

AND, AS YOUR ALOHA FOR ONE ANOTHER,
THESE LEIS EMBRACE YOUR THOUGHTS,
YOUR SENSES & YOUR HEARTS."

The Minister then continues,
Giving the Bride & Groom the opportunity
To speak a few simple Hawaiian-language phrases themselves:

"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, & then the Bride:

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

Please e-mail or call to begin planning
Your Hawaiian Wedding in California

Rev. Michael Cartwright