Hawaiian Wedding Ceremony
Pu (conch shell)
Oli Aloha Chant
The oli aloha is a chant offering words of greetings. Simply in part, it says “for this is the place for which you have longed for… now that you have come, love has come with you and love is here to greet you!”
Aloha (groom) and (bride)! Welcome to (location of wedding) located on the beautiful Mokupuni O Maui Nui, within the moku of (ancient district of the island), resting upon the ahupuaʻa of (ancient land division of island). We are here today: (month, day, year) in recognition of your love and commitment for each other. For on this day you both have chosen to recognize your love for each other with spoken words, with prayer, and with the sharing of symbols. Iʻd like to begin our ceremony with an ancient Hawaiian custom of honoring all our Kumu, Kupuna, and ʻOhana … our ELDERS, MENTORS, and FAMILY who helped create who we are today. We are grateful for all the rich and wonderful experiences that have brought the both of you to this high point in your lives. We are equally thankful for all the love and aloha you were blessed with along lifeʻs way. May it continue to foster in you, the vision of a relationship filled with love, empathy, compassion, and grace! May this foundation provide you with the resources to create a home that shall endure in peace and harmony.
E ho mai Oli (an Ancient Hawaiian Chant) in this chant we call upon all our ancestors, yours and mine, to bring forth all their blessings upon the two of you! We call upon their presence to grant us all with great knowledge. Hawaiians believed that there is much to learn from those who have walked the Earth before us. We humbly ask them to reveal their secrets & mysteries… and to grant you wisdom to recognize the commitment that the person standing at your side today is making! Itʻs forever…
This chant also asks permission for you to enter a new place… it is a sign of respect and humility! It was common practice to ask before entering someoneʻs homeland and being that I am a kamaʻaina (child of this land) I welcome you both… everything is pono! Everything is right!… right time… right place… right woman (wahine)… right man (kane)!!!
The blowing of the conch shell or “PU” is said to invoke the breath of life… Ha. {BLOW CONCH}
“Ha” is the breath of life. The pure breathe. The first breath. The babyʻs breath or the first babyʻs cry at birth. It is the breath through our nostril. My kupuna say “da breath thru da mouth is tainted by da tings that we say. Cuz we lie… we swear… we can hurt people. But dis one (pointing at his nose) no can! Dis is da pure breath. Da one dat can increase da otta personʻs mana (spiritual power) wen dey share em together. Cause HA is da breath of life!” You hear this in the word aloHA – means LOVE. oHAna – means FAMILY. maHAlo – means THANK YOU. So please let us take a moment for the two of you to look one another into each otherʻs eyes, nose to nose, and share one breath. This is called the HONI. By sharing this “ola” – essence of life… you acknowledge the changes of your existence and celebrate your commitment to a strong, healthy, and positive relationship. Of loving ones self first and then spreading this love to others.
Here in the islands we are surrounded by water or “WAI.” WAI is the Hawaiian word for water or “source of life.” Our water comes from the heavens, touches the mountains, and flows into the sea. Everything the water touches brings “life.” “Waiwai” in Hawaiian means VALUES. Like the boundless waters of Moana Pakipika (Pacific Ocean), may the love you share with each other be limitless, flowing, and ever changing with goodness from within.
ʻI – is the Hawaiian word for ancestor. For the bones of our ancestors are buried in the land. We do not walk alone. We walk with our ancestors. They are your companions, BUT they will either SMILE or FROWN… depending how you behave. So ʻI can also mean SPIRITUALITY. Spirituality is what makes you do the right thing when nobody is looking! Thatʻs spirituality! For you are a descendant of your ancestor, ancestor of your descendant. Remember to walk with each other physically, intellectually, and spiritually and your love will last
So now, will you both please repeat after me;
“Ha – is the breath of life”
“Wai – is the source of life”
“ ʻI – ancestor “
HA WAI ʻI – Hawaiʻi
When you are asked “what was your wedding day like?” you will remember the word Hawaiʻi … sharing of your purest breath, committing as a source of great love, and honoring your promise to walk not only on a physical level, but also on a spirtitual level
Presentation of Leis
For those of us who call Hawaii home, the lei is a symbol of love. It is also a symbol of things fragile and temporal. For a ti-leaf or flower lei will last for a day or two and then it is gone. Our lives are like the lei, within the span of eternity, therefore live with tender love and consideration for one another. Continue to nourish and inspire each other … and your love will last. May the leis you offer each other be recognized for the earnestness of your love for one another… itʻs forever.
Ke lei mai la OLI… LEI CHANT
“He lei kau, he lei ho’oilo ke aloha” which means “I will wear your love as a lei forever.”
VOWS
I ask you each to now agree to the marriage vows. WILL YOU PLEASE FACE EACH OTHER AND JOIN HANDS.
Please repeat after me:
I, GROOM , receive you, BRIDE, as my wife, partner, and love. Beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in sickness and in health, in conflict and serenity, asking that you be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not know. In all the ways that life may bring.
I, BRIDE, receive you, GROOM, as my husband, partner, and love. Beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in sickness and in health, in conflict and serenity, asking that you be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not know. In all the ways that life may bring.
You have vowed your love to each other. Are you now ready to confirm that love in the responsibilities of marriage? If so answer, “WE ARE!”
RING EXCHANGE
At this time, I ask that you place the marriage rings in my hand.
The wedding rings are signs of longevity within the marriage covenant. The circle of the rings symbolizes a never ending circle of love and commitment that you’re making today. Always see the best in each other and each day that you look at the beauty of these rings… remember the love that you have for each other. IT’S FOREVER!
GROOM places ring on BRIDE.
BRIDE places ring on GROOM.
GROOMʻS NAME, looking into the eyes of your bride, BRIDEʻS NAME, before your family and friends, please repeat after me:
BRIDEʻS NAME, I give this ring to you as a sign of my love. I give myself to you to be your husband. From this day forward, you will never walk alone. I feel so honored to have you as my wife. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. All that I have, and all that I have said, I seal it with this ring.
BRIDEʻS NAME, looking into the eyes of your groom, GROOMʻS NAME, before your family and friends, please repeat after me:
GROOMʻS NAME, I give this ring to you as a sign of my love. I give myself to you to be your wife. From this day forward, you will never walk alone. I feel so honored to have you as my husband. My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. All that I have, and all that I have said, I seal it with this ring.
Personal Vows (optional)
Ukulele & Song – Hawaiian Wedding Song (optional)
Since your love has sanctified this ground as making it HOLY… IT is customary that you do your first dance on this sacred ground. (ukulele & song)
This is my HAWAIIAN BLESSING for you…
ALOHA MAI … May love always surround you.
EA EA … May there be sweetness in every breath.
‘IKE PONO … May there always be righteousness.
‘OLA MAU LOA … May your lives be long.
UWEHE E … And be free from harm.
HA’AWI LOKO MAIKA’I … May wishes be given from goodness within.
LA’A MAI LOKO MAIKA’I … Be received by goodness within.
I HO’OKAHI KAHI KE ALOHA UA MAU … Be united as one in love forever!
And so, by the power vested in me by the great State of Hawaii, I hereby pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE! GROOM you may kiss your beautiful bride BRIDE!
CONCH
PRESENTATION: it is my special honor to present to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. (MARRIED NAME), Husband and Wife!
