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Ka Mo`omeheu o
Hawai`i Traditional Hawaiian Weddings
Awaiāulu ke aloha
By
Again, ceremonies varied according to locale and family, and could be as simple as the royal couple being escorted to their new sleeping hale and wrapped together in a sheet of pure white kapa with their family priests and chanters offering prayer and song for the union and offspring, to elaborate ceremonies of several days length involving hundreds of the courts' priests and chanters, relatives, and interested parties. These ceremonies are sometimes called ho`ao. After the
introduction of Christianity in 1819, the Christian style
wedding was adopted by many families and eventually became the
legal form. Feeding each other cake, poi, or anything else, symbolizes that the couple will nurture each other through life, and HOW they do so on the wedding day is considered a symbol of how they will do so in the future. Mashing cake into each other's faces is considered in very poor taste, and taken as a symbol of serious future problems in the marriage! While there was no such thing as cake in ancient Hawai`i, haupia, a coconut pudding, has been a popular treat here for over 1,000 years. Today, haupia cake is an island favorite, and very appropriate for weddings. In the most simple recipe, a coconut-flavored white cake is made, and coated with the haupia pudding, and often decorated with fresh island flowers and ferns.
Among other festivities, the bride will often dance a special hula for the groom. With the blending of so many cultures in the islands, most weddings today combine traditions from the various branches of the bride's and groom's families
Are you planning a Wedding on Hawai`i Island? For wedding advice, tips on planning, a variety of vendors, etiquette, what to serve, honeymoon advice, and just to "talk story" about wedding plans, please visit the Ka`ahele Hawai`i forum.
Wedding Officiant Kumu Leilehua Yuen is licensed to officiate weddings in the state of Hawai`i. She is honored to help couples create a personal ceremony which is a true expression of their unique love for each other. Leilehua's husband, Manu Josiah, is often requested to perform for weddings, providing guitar accompaniment, as well as traditional Hawaiian and Native American flute music. Kumu Leilehua can officiate ceremony in both English and Hawaiian. She may be contacted at Yuen@KaaheleHawaii.com, or by telephone at 1-808-895-0850. Click here for Hawai`i State Government information on Marriages Click here to read about Kumu Leilehua's first Wedding Ceremony
Talk Story about Your Wedding at the
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