Kuhina ~ Religious Wedding Ceremony/Vows By Rev. Alalani Hill
Aloha________
Aloha Kakou. We are gathered here today
in this sacred space before Akua (God), {friends and family is present} to join
this kane (man) and this wahine (women) in holy matrimony. {If applicable} A: and so I ask; who gives
this woman to be wed to this man?
Father: I do (or Ohana); We do} Today we share the Blessing and Joy of ________ & ________
As they come to each other with vows of Love
and Partnership.
Upon
Request:
Pu - Conch shell blown in the beginning then
followed by Hawaiian chant
I
would like to begin with a very special tradition to us in Hawaii, That
tradition is the Hawaiian lei exchange.
In the ancient language of Hawaii, the Lei has always symbolized an
extension of Love, acceptance and welcome.
A Lei that is closed is a never-ending circle and is called a Lei Mana
which means surrounding Power. The
understanding that God surround your life with his power and continuous
love. The reminder that the first lei
your parents ever wore was your arms around there neck. This is extended into
this exchange. The open Lei symbolized the giving of your love and reminds us
of how you extend your arms in love.
These Leis symbolize the sealing of this moment in this place for all
time. When I give these leis to you, I
welcome you to each other and to some of the concepts held sacred in these
Islands. The Lei exchange joins
'Ohana. Ohana is two individual
families coming together to make one stronger family. 'Ohana joins families and cultures and respect for Religious
beliefs in Lokahi (Unity), sharing of involvement and responsibility, through
support and solidarity. It is love,
loyalty, and forgiveness (Ho'opono pono).
These gifts are from the 'āina (land). They were gathered and stung together with aloha. They represent from today how you will weave
your own lei of aloha with your experiences together. They reflect the temporal and to embrace and live fully in each
moment to malama (care for) and nurture each other each day, each month, each
year you live, so this union will last a life time. Malama is a word I want you to remember. Because these flowers or this day will not
last. Malama (take care) of each other
with each breath you take. Express
your love or now and share with your partner any words from your heart to be
sealed in this moment. Welcome your
beloved unto your spirit & into your Family by giving a lei and Honi (kiss
with nose), to share the Ha the Alo-ha.
This is to share the breath of life.
If there are any leis to be given
to family are friend's bride and groom offer them now and welcome them to the
family.
The Scripture reading: (I Corinthians 13)
Love is patient and kind; love is not
jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right, Love bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never ends. Therefore, faiths, hope,
love, abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.
Upon
request: Personal vows, song or hula
will be here
Note: This prayer was taught to Rev. Alalani by
her Kumu Hula. It is Kapu for anyone else
to use without permission.
Na
Pule Kakou
(Let us Pray)
E
Ko makou, Makua I Loko O Ka lani~ eia ke Kane, eia ka Wahine~
E
Nana Mai IA Oukou ika Lani~
E Ho'opili mai~i'a Olua~
E
Oluolu au e Ho'opilipa'a Olua ~ Me Ke Koi'ini~
Koho'ohihi
Mana'o, Ko Ho'opulama ia Olua~
I
ka wa Mamua A I ka wa I Hala~ E
Ho'omana mai au me ke Akua
Our Father who art in Heaven, here is the Man
and here is the Woman. Look down from
Heaven to bind these two. I am Pleased to enforce, to activate the setting and
the entwinement of these two, with a desire that comes only from God. The desire that they have for one another,
that they both cherish. In this time to
come forward and the time that has passed, I am empowered by God in this
moment, That God alone has shown. In
his name, in the name of the Trinity, The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
I
ka Manawapono, Heinoa no Akua, Iesu Kristo,
A me ka Uhane Hemolele- AMENE- Amama Ua Noa. The Prayer is freed
And
it was asked of the student "What of Marriage?" and the Kumu replied
"You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore," Yes
and you shall be together even in the silent memory of GOD. But, let there be spaces in your togetherness-and
let the winds of heaven dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bondage of love; let it rather be a
moving sea between the shores of your Souls. Give one another of your
bread. Sing and dance together and be
joyous- but let each of you be alone- even as the strings of the harp are
alone, though they quiver with the same music.
Give of your hearts- but not into each other's keeping- for only the
hand of God within you, can contain your heart. Stand together- yet not to near for the pillars of the Temple
stand apart, and the niu (palm tree) and Kiawe grow not in each other's shadow.
Upon request: [Ope'a binding w/Kaula
& Oil] To Hamo, (be Anointed) with Holy 'Aila (oil) is to call forth the
joining of your flames, so they may come together as one. So you may face the world Stronger and more enriched
by this enlightening. This oil represents that your path be lit with protection
and guidance as you walk upon it, and that great Happiness is set before
you. The hand that is offered by each
of you is an extension of your Love and a mutual commitment of the giving and
receiving of yourselves and your Light.
Please open your right hands to me [oil]. Now join your palms together. (Ope'a) Rev. steps behind bride and groom
asking them to raise their right hands.
Rev. asks: Do you promise to love, honor and cherish taking care of
your partner as well as taking care of yourselves throughout this marriage?
Answer "We do" Let us move to your statements of confirmation,
answering I do with your deepest insight and fullest sincerity. Rev.
joins right hands together and wraps them in sacred cordage. If you look
deep into your beloveds eyes and into there heart, you will see your love
living there. It is these eyes that you
gaze into now that will be your strength, comfort and inspiration in the time
ahead. Do you _____(Groom) take
_____(Bride) to be your lawfully wedded wife.
Pledging all of your tomorrows, staying only unto her. To offer your
love from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in
sickness and in Health as long as you both shall live? "I do" Do you _____(Bride) take _____(Groom)
to be your lawfully wedded husband.
Pledging all of your tomorrows, staying only unto him. To offer your
love from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in
sickness and in health as long as you both shall live? "I do"
Ho'opono pono (upon request only)
This
process allows you to release the past through forgiveness so that you may
fully live in the present. This will take an additional 3 minutes or so
in the ceremony. Once strengthened
by your past, You are free in this
eternal moment to move forward totally in Male 'ana (marriage)
Objections are offered only
upon request. If there is anyone who knows any
reason why these two should not wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.
Rev.
asks for the rings. These rings
symbolize permanence and a never-ending circle. Though they are small.
They are the biggest symbols you have probably ever had. As these rings are continuous, so may be
your love and devotion. PRAYER: Akua
(God), Jesus Christ my lord in heaven the Holy Spirit and all that is good and
true. I ask that you Ho'omaika'i (Bless) These rings with Alohaaaaa (your
long descending breath) Protect them and keep them only unto each other when
they are apart. Fill these circles with
a band of light from your 3-fold flame and join there flames in one light
now! Let the light in these rings
always guide them safely back to one another.
Also Mahalo for encircling them in your Golden ray, connecting their
lives into one continuous flow (Nalu), forever taking them closer to bliss. I
Bless these bands in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit amen. I ask you now to place your partner's ring on their finger
cherishing this touch and exchange.
Knowing also, from this day forth you will touch and inspire other lives
with your Love and Joy. (Groom) _____, as you place this ring on____
finger-repeat after me. With this ring,
I thee wed and become your husband. With this symbol of my life, I join my life
with yours. Then Rev. directs
(Bride)
to
repeat the same promise and vow. Saying I become your wife in exchange for
husband.
Upon
Request: Song Or Hula
Na
Pule Kakou. Let us Pray... (Rev. joins hands with Bride and Groom and
all bow heads.) E
Na Ke Akua Mauna Lani, Mauna Loa we are most Grateful to you and all that is
good and true for witnessing and blessing this union here today. We thank this
space we stand in, the good spirits and ancestors of this land. We thank you
for the light and mana (spiritual energy) that has flowed into
_______&________ your children this day. We say Mahalo nui loa (thank you
very much). I ask you now to light a
flame in the celestial heavens that shall burn forever and all eternity. All honor glory, praises, and thanksgiving
to you God. [If couple requests we will
say the Lords prayer together and finish prayer) In Jesus name we pray {Ua Mau
closing in Hawaiian} let us say together AMEN
So
with the Power vested in me by God and by the State of Hawaii- I pronounce you
Husband and Wife. You may kiss your
Bride.
When
appropriate it is with great Joy I present to you for the first time Mr. &
Mrs.______
Kuhina Hawaiian Weddings