Hawaiian (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi) Wedding Vows
You know already about Hawaii's picturesque natural beauty, unique "Aloha" culture, and the stunning sunsets from Waikiki beach. Hawaii is a terrific choice for weddings, and yet quite often, couples choose the sort of wedding programme they could easily have at home.
One extra special touch to make a wedding exotic is to say the vows in the local language, and below are the traditional wedding vows in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the language of Hawaii.
Practicing the pronunciation before you set off will make all the difference on The Day. Repeating the vows over and over in your practice sessions gives the additional advantage of letting the commitment you are making sink deeply into your hearts.
But whether you decided to make sure you speak fluently on The Day, or skip the practice and make a mess of things, the most important thing is to make sure you understand what the vows mean, and make sure your guests also understand what they mean.
For that reason, the vows below are traditional and most likely familiar to all.
Wedding vows in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
i loaʻa a paʻa mai kēia lā aku;
no ka maikai, no ka ino,
no ka waiwai, no ka poe ilihune,
ma ka mai a me ke ola kino,
e aloha ai a e malama,
a hiki i ka wa e kaawale ai ka make;
e like me ke kanawai hemolele o ke Akua.
I ke alo o ke Akua ke hoohiki nei au.
to be my wife,
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part;
according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.
i loaʻa a paʻa mai kēia lā aku;
no ka maikai, no ka ino,
no ka waiwai, no ka poe ilihune,
ma ka mai a me ke ola kino,
e aloha ai a e malama,
a hiki i ka wa e kaawale ai ka make;
e like me ke kanawai hemolele o ke Akua.
I ke alo o ke Akua ke hoohiki nei au.
to be my husband,
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part;
according to God’s holy law.
In the presence of God I make this vow.
