HAWAIIAN WEDDING CEREMONY AND
LEIS
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Created by: Noli Bravo,
Hawaiian Wedding Style in Japan
http://www.nolibravo.com
- A "traditional wedding" in Hawaii
has a different meaning for every island couple. More and more brides
and grooms see a wedding as a personal statement, a reflection of
their tastes, interests and respect for their heritage. They have
the option of borrowing from the many customs introduced to the islands
by the immigrants who came to Hawaii from all over the world.
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LEIS
- The lei is the Hawaiian symbol of
love and aloha. The custom of giving and receiving leis at weddings
began in the days of old Hawaii. During the ceremony the kahuna pule
(religious man) bound the hands of the bride and groom with maile
leis as a symbol of the couple's commitment to each other.
Today, the fragrant maile lei
entwined with pikake (white jasmine) and ilima is usually worn by
the groom. The bride sometimes wears a haku headband instead of a
traditional headpiece. Triple strands of delicate pikake are also
appropriate for the mother of the bride and groom.
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MAILE LEI
- Fragrant and green maile leaves
are traditionally worn by the groom. Other flowers such as pikake
or ilima are often woven with maile leaves. Available all year. Plain
maile leis start at JY5,000.
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PIKAKE LEI (White Jasmine)
- Pikake flowers resemble pearls and
have a heavenly fragrance. Pikake leis are traditional for the bride.
Pikake flowers can be entwined with other flowers such as ilima, orchids
or rosebuds. Temperamental flower abundantly available in summer months.
Single strand is JY5,000. (Minimum 3 strands)
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OHAI ALI'I LEI
- The Ohai Ali'i is vibrant orange
or yellow in color. The Ohai Ali'i lei has a feathery appearance.
Available all year. JY5,000. Single, JY8,000. Double
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TUBEROSE LEI
- The tuberose is white and has a
sweet lovely fragrance. The delicate flowers can be doubled so that
only the petals show. Available all year. From JY6,000. per strand.
JY9,000. Double
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CARNATION LEI
- The popular carnation lei is very
thick and showy. The flowers are naturally white, pink, red or striped,
but can be dyed any color to match the occasion. Available all year.
From JY4,000. per lei.
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CROWN FLOWER LEI
- Crown flowers come in lavender or
white and can be worn with or without petals. This lei has no fragrance.
Temperamental flower. Availability is subject to weather. From JY4,000.
per strand.
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LEI PUA KENIKENI
- The Pua Kenikeni is golden in color
and has a spicy fragrance. Its unusual color and fragrance make it
a popular lei when in season. Available around the warm summer months.
From JY6,000. per lei.
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HAKU LEI
- The haku lei can be made with any
types of flowers, vines, leaves or seeds, arranged and woven together.
The haku is most often worn as a head lei. Available all year. From
JY5,000. per lei.
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DENDROBIUM ORCHID LEI
- The dainty dendrobium orchid comes
in white, yellow, purple lavender and is often made double thick.
Available all year. From JY5,000. Single, JY8,000. Double
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MAUNALOA ORCHID LEI
- White or purple vanda orchids are
stacked with their petals lined up to create this beautiful lei. Available
all year. From JY5,000. per lei.
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ILIMA LEI
- Thousands of paper-thin ilima flower
petals of yellow-orange are carefully strung together to create this
spectacular lei. Ilima leis were once only worn by the Ali'i. Available
during the summer months. From JY6,000. per strand.
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CIGAR FLOWER LEI
- Cigar flower leis are made with
hundreds of tiny orange-red flowers strung in a rope-like style. These
leis are usually worn by men. Available during the summer months.
From JY6,000. per lei.
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MICRONESIAN GINGER LEI
- The fragrant ginger flower is woven
with stems forming a delicate lace-like pattern on the inside with
the blossoms on the outside. (Various styles) Available all year.
From JY5,000. Single, JY8,000. Double
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ETHNIC WEDDINGS
- The immigrants who came to Hawaii
from throughout the world brought hope, dreams, beliefs and customs.
With the closeness of plantation life in the islands and inter-ethnic
marriages, the modification and simplification of various wedding
customs became commonplace. Today, couples may choose traditions best
suited to their personal tastes and budget. Certain traditions are
still observed to show respect for family, ancestors and culture -
ensuring luck, prosperity and happiness. The following are some of
Hawaii's many ethnic wedding customs:
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- Hawaiian Weddings:
The Hawaiian wedding ceremony is combined with variations of Christian-Protestant
traditions. Portions of the double-ring ceremony are conducted in
Hawaiian and English. The bride wears a white holoku and the groom
wears a white shirt and trousers with a color sash around his waist.
Both the bride and groom wear leis.
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- Filipino Weddings:
Today, the ceremony is usually Catholic, with a full mass followed
by an elaborate reception. Friends and relatives usually help with
the wedding expenses. A combined ceremony and reception, (daya) the
tradition of lighting candles and praying at the groom's home is observed.
A relatively new custom is for the bride to have her gown and bouquet
photographed on her bed prior to the ceremony. The money dance (the
Pandango) was a custom brought to the islands from the Philippines
and has become an island wedding tradition, regardless of ethnic backgrounds.
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- Japanese Weddings:
Long ago, Japanese weddings were arranged by the couple's parents
and two matchmakers (baikainins). Today, the bride and groom make
their own choice. The bride wears a traditional gown and the groom
wears a tuxedo. A local Japanese-American custom is for the bride
folds 1001 origami cranes prior to her wedding for good luck, good
fortune, longevity, happiness fidelity and peace. During the reception,
which is usually a formal dinner with a set program, friends and relatives
make "banzai" toasts to the bride and groom.
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- Chinese Weddings:
Chinese marriages were once arranged, but today couples in the islands
make their own choice. A seven to nine course feast is served at the
reception. Fireworks and a lion dance are two Chinese traditions performed
at weddings to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
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MONEY DANCE
- The Filipino money dance has become
a tradition in Hawaii no matter what the ethnic background of the
bride and groom. This festive custom, usually begins with the bride
and groom's first dance. Sometimes the money is taped together and
wrapped around the bride and groom .The dance continues until all
the guests have had an opportunity to express their best wishes to
the newlyweds with a monetary gift.
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ORIGAMI -TSURUS
- A wedding in Hawaii would not be
complete without 1001 cranes. Folding metallic origami paper into
one thousand and one (for good luck) cranes is a tradition that began
here in Hawaii sometime during the 1960's.
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- In Asia, the crane (or tsuru, as
they are called by the Japanese) has long symbolized fortune, longevity,
happiness, fidelity, and peace. The trend today is to have your 1001
cranes professionally mounted and framed for display at your wedding
reception and in your new home. 1001 cranes at the start of married
life is a golden tradition - Tsuru wa sennen - the crane lives for
1,000 years.
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CAKE CUTTING
- In Hawaii, the cake cutting ritual
has a beautiful tradition filled with Aloha. The wedding cake which
is made of flour, formed from wheat, the staff of life, symbolizes
a new life. Cutting the first slice of cake represents a commitment
to share whatever path life takes. Giving each other a small piece
of cake is a symbol of the vow of love, honor and respect. According
to one of Hawaii's wedding consultants, with this beautiful tradition
behind the cake cutting ceremony, it is in very poor taste to mash
a piece of wedding cake into your spouse's face. Your entire wedding
day from the exchange of rings to throwing your bouquet is filled
with tradition. Each part of your wedding day should be symbolic of
your devotion to each other.
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