ALAKAI CENTRAL

THE OFFICIAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY
OF THE ORDER OF HUNA INTERNATIONAL

1. The ceremony may be held in any appropriate location, either indoors or outdoors.

2. The ceremony may begin with the blowing of a shell trumpet (optional), with a processional (optional) or when the couple are standing before the minister. Music during or before a processional is also optional.

3. The ceremony will be held with the couple standing in front of the minister, the man to his own right and the woman to her own left. If present, the best man will stand to the groom's right and the maid of honor to the bride's left.

4. A lei (flower or other) is required for the bride, the groom and the minister. These may be given to the minister before the ceremony or carried during a processional by the maid of honor or other person. Any other leis are optional.

5. When the couple are standing before the minister and any music has stopped, he/she will place one lei on himself /herself (or someone else may do this), one on the bride and one on the groom. The the minister will read or make a statement on the purpose of the gathering and the meaning of love and marriage. The official Marriage Statement of the Order (below) may be supplemented by another statement read or made by the couple or another person of their choosing.

6. Next the minister will pour water into a bowl and bless it by saying E ho'opomaika'i i keia wai (Blessed be this water) and hand it to the bride. She will hold the bowl and speak her Vow of Commitment, facing the groom. Then the minister will pour another bowl of water, bless it, hand it to the groom, and have him make the same Vow, facing the bride. Next, the couple will interlace their arms and drink from their own bowls, then hand them back to the minister, who will pour the contents of one bowl into the other, signifying the mingling of the couple's lives, and then will drink the rest of the water, signifying the acceptance of their joined lives by the world. If the ceremony takes place outside the minister may pour a few drops of water on the ground as a recognition of the aumakua of the Earth.

7. After the sharing of water, the minister will say to the bride, "Do you, (name), take this man, (name), to be your lawfully wedded husband? The bride will answer "I do." Then the minister will say to the groom, "Do you, (name), take this woman, (name), to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The groom will answer "I do."

8. If there is to be an exchange of rings they will be handed to the minister at this time and he/she will bless each of them in turn by saying E ho'opomaika'i i keia komo (Blessed be this ring) and let the bride and the groom place them on each other's fingers.

9. After the declaration of acceptance and/or the exchange of rings, the minister will place his/her fingers (or a wand or a ti leaf) on the fontanels of the bride and groom and say this blessing: Aumakua, mai ka po wai ola, ho'ikea mai i ke ola (God in heaven, bring forth the water of life and bless these lives)." Then he/she will say, "By the power invested in me as a minister (alaka'i, kahu) of the Order of Huna International, I now pronounce you man and wife."

10. The minister will then have the bride and groom exchange leis while saying, E aloha pau 'ole (May your love be everlasting). The couple will be invited to kiss, and the guests will be invited to greet the newly married couple. If a shell trumpet is used, it will be blown as the couple kiss.

11. It is the responsibility of the couple to obtain the marriage license before the ceremony, and it is the responsibility of the minister to carry out the ceremony in accordance with the laws of his/her State or country.

12. The minister may provide the couple with a copy of the Marriage Statement and may also provide a Marriage Certificate in addition to, but not in lieu of, a certificate provided by the government.

THE MARRIAGE STATEMENT FROM
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY OF HUNA INTERNATIONAL

Aloha! We are gathered here to celebrate the union of this couple in marriage. It is a ceremony of commitment, and it is well to speak of the meaning of this commitment.

First, I would speak of love, and have you know that it is more than just a feeling that appears on some occasions and disappears on others. Rather, it is like a stream that ever flows yet never flows away. It is the willing act of sharing your God-given life, of supporting one another in times of joy and sorrow, of cherishing, of helping one another to grow and blossom in fullness.

Ho'ao is the ancient Hawaiian word for marriage. The esteem in which marriage was held is indicated by the fact that the marriage ceremony always took place on the eleventh night of the old calendar, the night called Huna.

Some idea of the meaning and intent of marriage can be had by noting these translations of the word ao : "to become enlightened; to take care of; to learn and to teach; to experience; a new shoot of taro (symbol of love); a team; a way of life; the aumakua." The word for "man" is kane, and the word for "woman" is wahine. The first can also be translated as the "breath of life" and the second as "the holder of life".

Marriage is considered to be a commitment, yet not to each other. Marriage is not a state of mutual custody. Rather, it is a commitment to do certain things with and for each other. In this it follows, the Hawaiian word for "commit", ho'oko: "to fulfill; to succeed; to give support; partnership; companion; strength." True marriage, then, is a commitment to love, to fulfill your lives together.

Yet, let there be spaces in your togetherness, and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, yet make not a bond of love. Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup, yet drink not always from the same cup. Give one another of your food, but eat not always from the same bowl.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, yet let each one of you have your times alone, even as the strings of a guitar are alone, though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, yet not into each others keeping, for only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together. For the mountains of the islands stand apart, and the koa tree and the palm tree grow not in each other's shadow. Yet both the mountains and the trees stand on the same ground and reach toward the same sky.

It is good, then, to remember the unique identity of your soul, while knowing you are one in spirit.

THE MARRIAGE VOW

"I commit myselt to share my life with you; to cherish you; to support your success; to encourage your growth, and to increase your joy."