A Traditional Wedding in Hawaii

Ever since Elvis Presley sang the ‘The ‘Hawaiian Wedding Song’ in the movie Blue Hawaii, many couples have wanted traditional weddings in Hawaii. In the ancient Hawaiian language, the word for marriage is Ho’ao, and the earliest traditions of Hawaii wedding services are as diverse as pouring sand into a bowl and touching noses before the nuptial kiss

A Variety of Traditional Hawaii Wedding Services

We’ve done some research and listed some of the best Hawaii wedding traditions that are relatively easy and fun to include in your tropical nuptials.

The Hawaiian style sand ceremony represents the joining of the bride and groom. Usually performed on a Hawaii beach, the ritual requires two small vials of sand that symbolizes the bride and groom’s separate lives. The couple pours the vials into one small bowl to symbolize that they’re now becoming one. The combined sand makes a wonderful wedding keepsake for the couple.

At many Hawaiian weddings, flower garlands known as leis are placed around the necks of the bride and groom. Leis, which symbolize love and respect, are made from some of the island’s most beautiful flowers – each lei is made up of some 40 or 50 flowers, and tied with ribbon. These garlands symbolize Hawaiian culture and are an crucial part of every island celebration.

Hawaiians used the Pu or conch shell to announce a special event like a wedding. It makes a dramatic hollow sound that can be heard half way around the island; the resonance is especially fitting for Hawaii beach weddings. At the start of the ceremony the conch blower walks in front of the bride blowing the shell into four directions – north, south, east, and west in order to bring the new couple energy and love.

Whether the ceremony occurs on a Maui beach or by a Hawaii waterfall on Kauai, hula dancers are an essential part of every traditional Hawaiian wedding. Hawaiian Hula is an ancient and sacred form of movement that’s meant to connect the dancer with the divine. The Hula shows how ancient Hawaiians lived, and how they thought before missionaries arrived and tried to ban the dance. It is performed in traditional costumes like the green ti leaf skirt.

An ancient form of chanting is the way Hawaiians tell stories, and every ceremony begins with a welcoming chant the Oli Aloha. Sometimes the Hawaiian chanter will also walk the Bride down the aisle, chanting a story of love and devotion. He will also do a special lei chant while you are exchanging your Maui wedding leis.

Though Polynesian settlers of Oahu, Maui, Kauai or Honolulu never sang The Hawaiian Wedding Song, rock legend Elvis Presley did. And ever since, singers at Hawaii waterfall, beach, and chapel weddings have sung these lyrics:

This is the moment
Of sweet Aloha
I will love you longer than forever
Promise me that you will leave me never

Photo credit via Flickr