Traditional Hawaiian Wedding Ceremony

A conch shell is present at traditional Hawaiian ceremonies.

Each culture has its own special way of celebrating and uniting a couple in marriage. In Hawaii, musical instruments such as the ukulele are played and the conch shell signals the arrival of the bride before she walks down the aisle. Hawaii has a unique culture that is expressed in many ways during a traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremony.

Attire

Wedding dresses are worn by women in Hawaiian ceremonies. The only accessories that really set Hawaiian weddings apart are the leis and headdresses. Crowns of flowers and vines sit on top of both the bride's and groom's head. Leis are necklaces made of plumeria, orchids, tuberose, pikake, crown flowers, rosebuds, ilima, ginger, Ti and Maile leaves, according to Ancient Hawaiian Weddings.

Entrance of Brides and Grooms

According to Ancient Hawaiian Weddings, a canoe is a traditional entrance for a bride and groom. The groom waits on a secluded island for his bride to arrive in a canoe. When she arrives, the groom escorts her to the ceremony, and at its conclusion, the couple ride off in the canoe. It is also tradition that someone blow a conch shell to signal that the bride is about to walk down the aisle, according to Aloha Island Weddings.

Special Symbols

Traditional Hawaiian ceremonies use a lot of symbolic objects. According to T.J. Hawaii, a couple will hold hands and a white cloth is draped over their hands. The white cloth represents the sharing of a blanket by husband and wife. Another symbol used in Hawaiian wedding ceremonies is a coconut-fibered three-stranded cord. The man is handed the cord, and the woman is signaled to start braiding the three strands. The cord represents the first time the husband and wife work together. For many couples, the cord becomes a keepsake that is displayed in their home.

Songs and Chants

According to T.J. Hawaii, the nose flute is an instrument played at traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremonies. It is said that these nose flutes were played by lovers in ancient Hawaii. Each flute has a distinct sound, so lovers were able to find each other by the special sound their lover's flute made. The flute is played in traditional ceremonies to remind the couple about this story. It is also traditional for the minister, also known as Kahu or priest, to chant as he walks down the aisle with the groom, according to Aloha Island Weddings. The chant announces that he is bringing with him the man that is getting married.

Language

One of the characteristics that sets traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremonies apart from other is the language used. According to T.J. Hawaii, the entire ceremony is performed in the mother tongue of Hawaii. Couples can also choose to have another minister present who can translate everything being said.

References

• Aloha Island Weddings: Traditional Hawaiian Wedding
• T.J. Hawaii: Traditional Hawaiian Wedding
• Ancient Hawaiian Weddings: Ancient Hawaiian Wedding Traditions