How to Have a Hawaiian Wedding

Add Magic to a Wedding Ceremony with Hawaiian Marriage Customs

May 28, 2009 Norman Kolpas

From the first conch-shell fanfare to the final fireworks, these Hawaiian wedding customs will cast a tropical spell over the blessed day for both bride and groom.

With its idyllic weather, ravishing scenery, impeccable beaches, luxury hotels, and delicious food, Hawaii justly deserves its reputation and rating as one of the most beloved honeymoon destinations of all. Not surprisingly, it also ranks very high on the list of settings for destination weddings, those at which bride, groom, and weddings guests alike jet off to hold the ceremony itself in an exotic locale.

Whether the wedding being planned will be on the bride’s home turf or at an island dream wedding destination, it’s easy to add a touch of Hawaiian magic to any wedding ceremony. Just incorporate one or more of the following Hawaiian wedding customs in plans for the blessed day.

Traditional Hawaiian Wedding Customs

Conch-Shell Fanfare. To begin the ceremony, someone—presumably a hired performer or guest with wind-instrument experience—blows a conch shell three times to summon the divine presence.
Leis. The groom wears a lei, the traditional Hawaiian floral necklace, made of fragrant, spear-shaped green maile leaves, interwoven with blossoms of pikake (white jasmine) and delicate orange petals of ilima flowers. The bride wears pure white pikake leis. In the most traditional of ceremonies, the bride’s and groom’s hands are bound together with leis. Leis may also be presented to the mothers of the bride and groom and to other honored guests as a sign of aloha, love, and welcome.
Money Dance (Pandango). In this Filipino custom now popular at Hawaiian weddings regardless of ethnic origin, guests tuck money into or tape money to the bridal couple’s clothing during their first dance.
Origami Cranes (Tsurus). A Japanese custom, a crane folded from origami paper is considered good luck in marriage, as cranes were believed to live for 1,000 years. The auspicious number of origami cranes for the couple is 1,001, with the bride and her bridesmaids traditionally folding 1,000 of them and the groom folding and adding the final crane. Wedding planners can arrange to have the cranes professionally folded and mounted for the bridal couple.
Luau Foods. Of course, the wedding banquet will more likely than not feature foods common to the traditional Hawaiian feast, including whole pit-roasted pig, poi (fermented mashed taro root), and an abundance of tropical fruit.
Hawaiian Wedding Song. Popularized by Elvis Presley, this traditional tune will more often than not be sung at a Hawaiian wedding, most likely accompanied by such traditional instruments as ukulele or slack-key guitar.
Fireworks and Lion Dance. Adopted from the Chinese immigrants to the islands, these two customs are also frequently incorporated into Hawaiian weddings to chase away evil spirits from the proceedings.

Whatever Hawaiian wedding customs are followed, may married life be filled with island magic! (Looking for other traditional wedding ideas? Check out How to Have a Traditional Greek Wedding or How to Have a Traditional Italian Wedding. Want guidance on the ring? See How to Judge a Diamond’s Quality and Shape.)

The copyright of the article How to Have a Hawaiian Wedding in Wedding Planning is owned by Norman Kolpas. Permission to republish How to Have a Hawaiian Wedding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A romantic island setting.	A conch shell for the wedding fanfare.	Have leis ready for the wedding guests.
Origami cranes bring bride and groom good fortune.