A Cultural Wedding Honoring Hawaiian, Tongan and Samoan Roots

Two lovers. Three island cultures. One day where every detail, the woven mat, the haiku lei, the mountains behind them, carried the weight of everyone who came before.

As Melia walked down the aisle, everyone gazed at her in awe. She had the Ko'olau’s attention too.

The land held them

In Polynesian culture, a wedding isn’t just two people, it’s the joining of families, ancestors and islands.

Surrounded by everyone who loves them

Every detail carried meaning

The groom wore his kiekielei (decorative waist adornment) handmade by his mother.

The beautiful bride was crowned with her lei poʻo and kahoa (Tongan lei).

The wraps you see around their waists are called tauvalas in Tongan, 'ie tonga in Samoan. Fine weaved lauhala mats, worn for the most sacred moments of life.

In Tongan culture, the finer the weave, the deeper the love.

Lui's grandmother began weaving his the day he was born. She did the same for each of his six siblings and had the foresight to weave tauvalas for all of their future spouses, too. Years of work. Years of love. Long before anyone knew who those spouses would be.

Later in the day, Lui changed into a second tauvala, one passed down from his grandfather.

Two generations. One day. Worn together.