In 2019, nearly 20,000 couples tied the knot in Hawaii.
Why wouldn’t they? Isn’t it nearly every little girl’s dream to get married in a magical, romantic ceremony on a breezy, tropical beach?
Are you interested in having a Hawaiian wedding, but you want to incorporate elements of Hawaiian culture and traditions?
Let’s take a look at some Hawaiian wedding traditions that you might consider including in your ceremony and reception.
Blowing of the Pū
The Pū is a conch shell horn historically used to communicate between villages, announcing the entrance of Hawaiian nobles, and report canoes’ arrival. This ancient practice is meant to draw attention to the fact that a significant event is happening. These days, it is used to announce a marriage, call for a gathering, and bless a home.
Oli Aloha
Hawaiian wedding ceremonies traditionally begin with the Oli Aloha, a chant intended to prepare and elevate the people and space for blessing and welcoming. It is a greeting to both the guests and the couple.
Lei Exchange
When you think about Hawaii, leis are probably one of the first things that come to mind. These flower garlands are a symbol of respect, love, and Aloha spirit. One Hawaiian wedding tradition is for the couple to exchange leis, which symbolizes their love for one another.
Pili ā Nai Kealoha
This Hawaiian tradition involves the officiant of the wedding binding the couple’s hands using a maile lei, made of dark green vines twisted together. The maile lei is steeped in Hawaiian cultural significance, as it is possibly one of the oldest leis. While the officiant binds their hands together, they chant an oli that accompanies the ceremony.
Hula
Could you genuinely have a Hawaiian themed wedding without hula dancers? This traditional art and dance form harkens back to the Polynesians who settled on the islands of Hawaii.
Are you searching for help with the overwhelming task of planning your wedding? Check out our helpful guide filled with planning tips.
Hawaiian Ring Blessing
The Hawaiian ring blessing can be an excellent addition to a beach wedding. Since this Hawaiian tradition requires water, it is typically not performed unless the ceremony is near the ocean.
During this cultural tradition, the rings are both placed inside a wooden bowl. While the bride holds the bowl, the groom has a conch shell filled with water from the ocean. The officiant then dips a leaf into the ocean water and sprinkles it over the rings, blessing them.
Hawaiian Music
Is there anything as romantic as Hawaiian music? The perfect music for your wedding is Hawaiian music made up of the sweet sounds of ukulele and slack key guitar. You could consider hiring local musicians to perform and local hula dancers who can then interpret the music as they play.
The famous Hawaiian Wedding Song is also typically played either for the first dance or during the ceremony.
Hawaiian Dress
It is, of course, your choice of what you wear to your wedding. If you want to incorporate Hawaiian wedding traditions, it can be a wonderful addition to your wedding’s feel, vibe, and aesthetic.
A Hawaiian bride traditionally wears a flowy, long white dress. On her head, she wears a Haku lei, made up of a ring of wonderfully smelling flowers.
The groom in a Hawaiian wedding is also free to wear white if he pleases. Typically this consists of a flowy white shirt and slacks. They will often wear a green maile lei around their neck and a sash around their waist filled with bright colors.
Hawaiian Language
If you are traveling to Hawaii for a magical wedding and it is your first time on the islands, you might want to learn some of the languages most romantic words. Add these words into your save the date, invitations, or wedding favors. If you study up and feel confident, you can even incorporate a few of them into your toast.
Here are a few of the loveliest words to learn:
- Ho’oheno: to cherish, express affection, or love
- Ho’olaule’a: celebration
- Kāne: man
- Wahine: woman
- Hoa aloha: friend
- Hau’oli: joy
- Honi: kiss
- Hiwahiwa: darling
- Ipo: sweetheart
One of the things that make the Hawaiian language so beautiful is that it only has thirteen letters. It has eight consonants (he, ke, la, mu, nu, pi, we,) five vowels (a, e, i, o, u, each with a short and long pronunciation) glottal stop, which is known as ‘okina.
Hawaiian Feast
An excellent and delicious way to incorporate Hawaiian culture into your special day is through a Hawaiian feast. There is a fantastic selection of traditional Hawaiian foods that you can choose from, whether you’re serving meat or not.
Laulau is a method of preparing meats in ti leaves, which is often done with chicken and fish. If you want to serve fresh seafood, you could consider offering poke, which is diced raw fish that is flavored with seaweed and vegetables. You might also consider serving poi, which is made of taro root, and kulolo, a sweet coconut pudding.
You Can Have the Hawaiian Wedding of Your Dreams
Hawaii is a beautiful place with a rich and ancient history. The first human settlers of the islands are believed to have been Polynesians, who inhabited the islands as early as 300 AD. The rich cultural traditions of the Hawaiian people are the perfect addition to your ceremony and as the initiation into the world of marriage.
Are you planning out your wedding and looking for vendors? Check out our vendor directory to start finding your wedding team today!
Wedding Details is your comprehensive guide to all aspects of your wedding. From traditional ceremonies to questions regarding the guests, our website offers you one place to do all your research.