As you get ready to make your way to your Hawaii destination wedding, thinking about your exchange of vows as super important! I love when my couples incorporate Hawaiian traditions in to their vows as I feel that Hawaii is an incredibly special place and there’s a connection between you, your spouse, your kahu (priest) and the `Aina (land).
Some of the other elements to your wedding vows are the Lei exchange and the Honi. Then there is the exchange of rings.
Koa bowl, the hardest and most precious woods in the Hawaiian Islands
the officiant gathers salt water from the ocean. Used to cleanse the rings.
The elements of the ring blessing are the Koa Bowl, Ti Leaf and Salt water collected from the Pacific Ocean.
Koa is the strongest and precious woods from the Hawaiian Islands. It signifies the strength and integrity of your marriage. The ancient Hawaiians made outrigger canoes, the original surf boards also known as alaia, weapons and utensils. The Koa tree has suffered over logging and there is a renaissance to creating reforestation throughout the Hawaiian island chain.
The Ti leaf is used to bless your rings. It represents prosperity and health and the blessing of body, mind and spirit. It’s plant with green leaves and is thought to have great spiritual power. Only the Kahuna (high priests) or Ali’i we allowed to wear the Ti leaf around their necks for certain rituals. Today, they are used in making Lei, hula skirts and we plant Ti plants on our property to bring us good luck and keep the evil sprits away.
Salt water from the Pacific Ocean is used to cleanse your rings. The salt water is a cleansing of your past relationships, both separate and together, clearing the pathway to news beginnings. In Hawaiian this is called Ho’oponopono, reconciliation, a letting-go by grace and Aloha.
The ring blessing:
The rings are placed in the Koa bowl with Salt water and your Kahu with then proceed to dip the Ti leaf into the bowl and the salt water is sprinkled three times over the rings while the chant is recited: Ei-Ah Eha-No. Ka Malohia. Oh-Na-Lani. Mea A-Ku A-Pau (May peace from above rest upon you and remain with you, now and forever).
You’ll then go ahead and exchange rings.
What ever you choose to do with your wedding ceremony, it will for sure make it more special to incorporate some Hawaiian traditions to make it even more special!
Jeannemarie is Hawaii’s Premiere Destination Wedding photographer. Based in Honolulu and , she’s available to photograph your wedding day any where! Contact her today info@jeannemariephoto.com
