Blog written by Hawaii Vista Weddings: 7 Popular Hawaiian Wedding Traditions

Hawaiian weddings are incredibly romantic, and the ambiance is second to none. They are steeped with traditions and cultural significance to make your wedding a memorable one. Here are 7 popular ones you could expect.

  1. The Oli Aloha

  2. Leis

  3. Blowing of the Pu

  4. Hawaiian Ring Blessing and Exchange

  5. Pili ā Nai Kealoha

  6. He alo ā he alo

  7. Hula Dance

1.The Oli Aloha

In some Hawaiian wedding ceremonies, a local minister prepares the space for blessings and welcome the couple and guests, with a chant , or “mele”. The chant which is called “Oli Aloha,” appropriately means happiness, love and respect. It directly translates to, “This is the sight for which I have longed. Now that you have come, love has come with you.”It is consumed with passionate and appreciative lyrics for the soon to be newlyweds.

The words of the chant are as follows:

Onaona ka hala me ka lehua, He hale lehua no ia na ka noe,
`O ka’u no ia e `ano’i nei,
E li’a nei ho’i o ka hiki mai,
A hiki mai no ka kou,
A hiki pu no me ke aloha…
Aloha e! Aloha e! Aloha e!




Photo by Anela Benavides

2.Leis are a symbol of love, respect and the Aloha spirit.

Wearing a lei is an integral part of a Hawaiian wedding, and can be worn anywhere. On your shoulders, head, and even wrists. Here in Hawaii, giving someone a lei( or flower garland in English), is a symbol of showing love, respect and gratitude. When you give your future husband or wife a lei on your wedding day, you are showing your Aloha, love and commitment to them. It is meant to honor the beauty of this amazing moment in time. Leis are traditionally open-ended in shape to represent endless love.

During a Hawaiian wedding, guests are welcome to give and receive leis from the couple. The bride or groom may decide to give their own lei, or their guests can give one. The mother or grandmother of the couple is typically given leis to welcome them but the couple can give one to all their parents and grandparents.

In Hawaii, the couples exchange leis after the ring ceremony. A lei is a traditional way of saying "I love you" and to show your affection. Traditionally, one spouse presents a fragrant jasmine lei and the other presents a handsome Ti leaf lei. The flowers used in the lei may vary depending on the location of the wedding - pink Lakelani roses are common on Maui and Puailima on Oahu. Note that flower colors vary per island and are are seasonal. If your wedding planner is organizing the flowers for you, she/he can check with the florist for availability.



3.Blowing of the Pu

The Conch Shell or Pū, (pronounced 'poo') in Hawaiian is commonly used in Hawaiian weddings. Officiants may choose to blow the pū at the very start of the ceremony as a way to bring guests into a space of reflection. Others choose to blow it as the couple shares their first kiss as a married couple." It is a gift from the ocean and was used by the ancient Hawaiians to announce a significant event such as the arrival of canoes and Hawaiian nobles. It was also a method of communication between villages.





Photo by Anela Benavides

4.Hawaiian Ring Blessing and Exchange

The officiant sometime blesses the rings using Koa wood which symbolizes integrity and strength , a ti leaf for good health and prosperity , and water for a brand new beginning as spouses. To perform the blessing, the officiant first dips the rings into the wooden bowl of water. Then, the officiant sprinkles water over the ring three times using the ti leaf while chanting, “Ei-Ah Eha-No. Ka Malohia Oh-Na-Lani. Mea A-Ku A-Pau," This means, “May peace from above rest upon you and remains with you now and forever.” The ritual concludes as the couple exchanges the rings.

5.Pili ā Nai Kealoha


A beautiful Hawaiian tradition where the officiant ties the hands of the couple with a maile lei is called Pili ā Nai Kealoha (the love that binds). It is accompanied by a Hawaiian Chant called the Oli(Number 1). The maile lei is a traditional Hawaiian wedding lei made with dark green vines that are twisted together. The leis entwining separate vines together, representing the two unique identities becoming unified in a marriage. Sometimes maile leis are decorated with pikake (fragrant Arabian jasmine) or white orchid which is one of the oldest leis  .Known as the lei of royalty, it holds a high significance of history ,devotion, desire for peace, and respect.”

6.He alo ā he alo

He alo ā he alo is a prayer for the couple and a way to share Aloha in their new marriage. Translated to “face to face,” this is an oli that's chanted at the end of the ceremony. The couple touch noses and heads together and share their first breath together as a married couple.








7.Hula dance tradition

Photo by HNL Studios

Hula is a Hawaiian dance performed by both men and women. The elegant, hypnotic dance depicts various emotions and elements of nature. A wedding hula can be performed in several ways. Sometimes the bride dances the hula for the groom or, other times, the couple hires a troupe of dancers for a performance during the reception. There are many reasons to include the Hula dance tradition in your Hawaiian wedding. The dance is an expressive and sacred way to connect with the gods and an ancient tradition originated in the islands. Polynesians arrived on the islands by handcrafted canoes. When they settled in lush, fertile land, they worshiped the gods by performing hula wearing colorful skirts and leis. While historically, women wore pau (skirts), men wore malo (pants), which covered their legs, traditionally they are not meant to be worn after the performance. The dancers leave their lei on the altar for Laka to keep it sacred.Capturing the dance in photos or a video is a must.It’s a beautiful gift for couple and the guests.

As mentioned earlier, these are just some of the many Hawaiian Wedding traditions. Many have been altered to the couples liking but the meaning is the same. You don’t need to live in Hawaii to do these so incorporate them if you wish in other parts of the world and bring some Aloha to your wedding.

Diana Moore