Hawaiian ~ Japanese Wedding Ceremony
(Approx. 20 minutes)
Rev. Dard Aller
Music
Blowing of the Pu (Conch shell)
Processional with Hawaiian Chant
Greeting and Give Away of the Bride
Dearly beloved family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness and to
celebrate the union of (Bride and Groom) in marriage.
Who gives this woman to this man?
Father: “I do.”
Dard: Congratulations, (Bride and Groom), on your marriage. You have chosen one of the most beautiful places in the world. But we are here today to celebrate a different kind of beauty, your love for each other.
Lei Exchange
A Hawaiian wedding often begins as it does today with the exchange of leis. We
do this for several reasons. One is that the lei is an unbroken circle, like
the rings that soon will be blessed and exchanged, representing the eternal
commitment of your hearts together. Also, as each flower is brought into the
circle, it loses none of its individual beauty, reminding us that in the unity
of your love, you have lost none of your unique individuality. In fact, the
loving care and nurturing support of your relationship helps you grow even more
fully into that special person with whom your partner fell in love.
Dard hands a Lei to Groom.
(Groom), please place this Lei around the neck of your bride.
And likewise, (Bride), place this Lei around (Goom’s) neck.
Penei: "Lei Pikake" sung A Capella as the couple exchanges leis.
Hawaiian Marriage
The Hawaiians have always have had a sensitivity to the sacredness of special
times and places. This is true of you as well. When you think of all the places
you could have chosen, I believe you were guided to be right here today, and
this becomes a sacred place because of your love and the vows that you will soon
share. I selected a lava rock from this place to perform a short blessing at the
end of this ceremony to honor this special time and place.
There is an additional significance. We see only the surface of the land. Below, unseen, is the power and depth of A’ina. So too, many others will see the outer expression of your love for each other, but only the two of you know the true and unseen depth of you inner union, that profound place in the heart where you have been strengthened and enriched by love.
This can be compared to the beauty of the Pacific Ocean
surrounding us here on the Big Island, which you have chosen as the backdrop to
your ceremony. We see constant changes on the surface of the sea, but below,
unseen, is an almost infinite depth, abundant, teaming life. Life requires
constant attention to the surface details of career, family and daily life. For
all of this you are drawing from an inner depth, what the Hawaiians call Mana,
guidance and direction for the decisions of life. I am confident that the best
Mana you have ever followed is demonstrated today in your choice of life
partners.
I want to speak of one final element to conclude this portion of the ceremony.
If we mention A’ina and Sea, let’s include as well a reference to the beautiful
mountains that surround us; the Kohalas to the North of us, with Mauna Loa and
Mauna Kea to the east and Hualalai to the South. Even Haleakala of Maui is often
visible to the West. Telescopes are looking outward and upward, making new
discoveries there every day. I have been talking about your inner love. These
mountains suggests the importance of looking outward to the circle of family and
friends that surround you. The Hawaiians call this your Ohana, and one tradition
says that at a wedding the stirring of the wind represents those absent loved
ones who join you now in this joyous celebration. We are the ones blessed to be
present, but we give thanks and express appreciation for those others who have
been such an important part of bringing you to this moment of your joy in
marriage.
Continue to celebrate your love. Occasionally step aside from the busy-ness of
your lives to enhance the intimacy of your relationship. May these Leis remind
you of the dynamics of a healthy relationship, a giving and receiving of a gift
from the heart. Sometimes the simple gift of a flower says how much you mean to
each other, that you want your relationship to continue to blossom, to be
fragrant, to grow.
Vows
Watakushi (Groom)
wa ima
(Bride) anata no
Otto to narimasu
Yutaka na toki mo
Mazushii toki mo
Kenkoh na toki mo
Yamai no toki mo
Watakushitachi ga
Ikiru kagiri
Anata no Otto de
Arukoto o
Chichaimasu
Watakushi (Bride) wa ima
(Groom) anata no
Tsuma to narimasu
Yutaka na toki mo
Mazushii toki mo
Kenkoh na toki mo
Yamai no toki mo
Watakushitachi ga
Ikiru kagiri
Anata no Tsuma de
Arukoto o
Chichaimasu
If in English:
I (Groom), take you, (Bride), to be my wife , and I do promise to be your
loving and faithful husband, for richer or poorer, in joy and in sorrow, in
sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.
I (Bride), take you, (Goom) as my husband, and I do promise to be your loving and faithful wife, for richer or poorer, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.
Hawaiian Love Song
Koa Bowl
and Ti Leaf Blessing of Rings.
Dard hands a Koa bowl to (Groom).
A few moments before this service I dipped this Koa wood bowl into the Pacific Ocean in order to perform a Hawaiian blessing over these rings. Koa is one of the most valuable Hawaiian hardwoods and has been used over the centuries to build the outrigger canoes and utensils. It has come to represent integrity and strength, foundational qualities of your relationship. Marriage is more than just the beautiful passion and tender emotion of love. It is a covenant enduring all of life's changes, based on faith, hope and love.
The Ti leaf represents prosperity, purification, and blessing of
body, mind and spirit.
Dard dips a Ti leaf in the bowl, sprinkles the rings three times and chants:
“Eia iha no ka maluhia o na lani me kakou a pau”
"May blessings from above rest upon you and remain with you now and forever."
The water has a double
significance. One is a washing back into the Pacific of any hindrance to
relationship, disappointment or hurt from the past. In Hawaiian this is called
Ho’oponopono or reconciliation, a healing by grace and aloha so that the second
aspect of the water may be profoundly true for the two of you today: it
represents a brand new beginning as husband and wife.
(Groom), as you take this ring and place it upon your wife’s finger, please
repeat after me:
”(Bride), with this ring I marry you.”
And likewise (handing the ring to Bride)
If in Japanese:
Kono Yubiwa wa
Anata o eien ni
Aisuru shirushi desu
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Ti leaf and Lava Rock
As I mentioned at the beginning of the service, I now take this lava rock and Ti leaf to perform the final blessing. The rock represents this moment and place of your marriage - made sacred by your love. Wrapped in the leaf it is a traditional Hawaiian offering, prayer and blessing. You are to place it anywhere you choose on the island before you leave. It remains here. Your rings are with you everywhere you go, a reminder of your marriage and love. The rock marks your entrance into a promised land, that of marriage, full of rich promise and unlimited potential. May the joy of your many years together far exceed even your greatest expectation.
Pronunciation
We have had a very special honor here today to witness your love and aloha expressed through your exchange of leis, vows, and rings. And now by the authority that has been entrusted to me by the State of Hawaii, I pronounce that you are Husband and Wife. Would you like to seal your vows with a kiss?
Kiss
Presentation
Dard: It is now an honor for me to present to you, (Groom and Bride), Husband and Wife!
Recessional
Signing of the certificate
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