Traditions at Hawaiian Weddings

Hawaiian traditions honor nature.

Polynesians landed on the big island of Hawaii over 1,500 years ago and developed a strong heritage of culture and traditions over the next several centuries. Many of these customs have a place in the Hawaiian wedding ceremony and honor the beauty in nature, pay tribute to ancestors, and celebrate the native arts.


Flowers

Natural Hawaiian flowers, such as plumeria and orchids, as well as native plants are fashioned together into a garland to create a lei. Lei are traditionally worn by the bride and groom during a Hawaiian wedding ceremony. The unbroken circle of the flowers or leaves represents eternity, and the lei itself stands for love and respect. The bride may also wear a flower garland in her hair. 


Attire

In Hawaii, the bride and groom both wear white. The bridal gown is typically loose fitting and made of a light fabric to blow in the breeze. The groom's outfit consists of a white shirt, white slacks and a brightly colored sash around his waist. The Knot reports that, "Thanks to a heavy Asian cultural influence in the Hawaiian Islands, kimonos are also worn at weddings here."


The Arts

The slack key guitar and the ukulele create the unique sounds of music born in the Hawaiian Islands. The native wedding song, Ke Kali Nei Au, was written in 1926, but gained fame when Elvis Presley sang it in the movie, Blue Hawaii. This tune is typically played during the ceremony or for the first dance. Hula dancers may also perform at a Hawaiian wedding by storytelling to the rhythm of music with their movements. 


Ceremonial

My Wedding describes the ti leaf and lava rock ceremony as a significant Hawaiian tradition, "The lava rock is symbolic of the moment you made a lifetime commitment to one another. It is wrapped in a ti leaf and left at the ceremony site as an offering, prayer and blessing, which remains steadfast at the place of your marriage, marking the birth of your union, while your rings are a symbol of that commitment that travel with you wherever you go."


Ring Blessing

During this rite, an officiant fills a bowl made of koa wood, a symbol of integrity and strength, with water. A ti leaf, representing prosperity, health and blessings, is dipped into the bowl and shaken over the rings three times. While the leaf is shaken, a chant is repeated in Hawaiian that translates to, "May peace from above rest upon you and remain with you now and forever."


References

• Go Hawaii: Hawaii History

• The Knot: Hawaiian Wedding Traditions
• My Wedding: Aloha Spirit 101