In my review of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach I mentioned the complimentary Hawaiian wedding vow renewal ceremony on Waikiki Beach. I was intrigued by this service after Go Visit Hawaii readers from Italy, Marco and Laura, had raved over how much they enjoyed renewing their vows in this free ceremony. Andy and I celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, so the time was right to participate and then to be able to let you know about this amenity.
I had to wonder how good a free vow renewal ceremony might be. I mean free doesn’t normally result in something of good quality. Well, my doubts were unfounded. The ceremony was beautiful and so touching that I was moved to happy tears.
Before the ceremony, Outrigger employee, Matt Sproat, carefully explained the process and the Hawaiian influences. He explained the significance of the kaihe (spear) set up of two trilogies – heaven, earth, ocean and the past, present, future. The ceremony begins by walking hand in hand through the middle of the two trilogies. Everything about the ceremony connects you to those trilogies. 
The ceremony included aspects of Hawaiian culture along with non-denominational, Christian influences. A couple of times during the ceremony, we were serenaded by Matt playing the ukulele and a beautiful dancer with her graceful hula. We were taught how to do a Hawaiian kiss by touching our foreheads and noses together and breathing. The breath represents the most precious gift of life – the breath that God breathed in me – and so through the Hawaiian kiss you are sharing the most precious gift you have.
Unless you just happen to be the only other couple there, you’ll be sharing the ceremony with other couples. Three other couples were also renewing their vows at the same time as we were. (Kudos to the other couples for reaching the 40 and 50 year milestones!) Though we were sharing the ceremony, I didn’t feel like it lessened the significance.
I asked Laura for her insight from when she and Marco renewed their vows at this Outrigger ceremony. Here’s what she had to say,
I found the vow renewal very inspiring. I felt quite emotional about it all. We both had tears in our eyes while exchanging leis and saying I DO again after 31 years of marriage!
I can certainly relate to the emotional response. I was caught off guard and didn’t even have a tissue. A softie like me should have known better!
What to know before you go:
- The complimentary vow renewal ceremony is available only for guests of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach and the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
- Register for the renewal ceremony before you arrive, if possible, and reconfirm when you arrive.
- The Hawaiian vow renewal services are generally held two mornings per week. Check with the resort for their current schedule.
- Though not necessary, you’ll enjoy bringing leis to exchange.
- A photographer was there, though he is not employed by the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. He charged $85 for a CD with approximately 200 – 250 photos from the whole ceremony and everyone there.
You can see all our personal photos from the vow renewal. To better visualize what this vow renewal ceremony is like, watch this YouTube video.
Mahalo to the Outrigger Reef on the Beach for providing such a wonderful experience for their guests celebrating their marriage.
Photo credit to Joseph Brown of Brown Photos Hawaii.
Sheila Beal
10 comments
AWWW !!! Sheila , what you wrote it’s so moving !!!
and you brought back SUCH A WONDERFUL MEMORY !!!
We too have a few pics and a short video of that “ceremony” : I still have tears in my eyes when I recall that “magic” morning on the beach .
Our “kapuna” was really inspiring and Matt and our “dancer” were so friendly and caring !!!
I’m so glad you shared this special feature with all of your readers : our best wishes to every couple who will try that wonderful touching experience !!!
Mahalo and aloha !!!
( We two plan to go back in ONE year !!!!!! )
Laura and Marco from Italy
Congrats on the big 1-0 this year you two!
Celebrating a milestone like that with a vow renewal ceremony on the islands sounds like such a wonderful idea, something Cindy and I are certainly going to look into. The question becomes, will we be celebrating as visitors or residents. A lot can happen in 4 years. 🙂
@ Laura & Marco – I’m so happy to hear that you have plans to go back to Hawaii next year. Will you be going back to Oahu?
@ Kris – Thanks! I didn’t know you and Cindy were thinking of moving to Hawaii. As much as I like Hawaii, I also love living in North Carolina. 🙂
Yeah, we’ve been contemplating it for a little while now. Our goal is to give it a shot for at least year to start, and see where that takes us.
We are planning to ease into it, though. For example, part of the plan for next year is to spend four weeks in August on Maui, rather than just 2, and certainly at a vacation rental or condo rather than our favorite Sheraton. The first two weeks would be a true vacation, while the second two weeks I would be telecommuting and testing out working with the timezone difference. The good news is that my current boss is onboard with trial run, so we’ll have to see how it works out from there.
That’s an awesome plan, Kris! I’ll be really interested in finding out how it goes. We love staying in a condo. We’ve found lots of condos in Hawaii with wifi which helped us be able to work in the mornings and then play in the afternoons.
Andy and I have thought about renting a condo for 1 – 3 months sometime. Of course it would have to be scheduled around college football and playoff hockey seasons. 🙂
LOL on the hockey schedule. I remember watching the Stanley Cup finals at like 3 in the afternoon on our first trip to Maui in June ’06. Much better than staying up to 11pm for the West coast games back home.
Also, good luck to the Canes tonight. I’m pulling for ’em, but Cindy thinks Boston is going to complete the comeback from 3-1 in the series.
MY HUSBAND AND I STAYED AT THE OUTRIGGER AND RENEWED OUR VOWS EARLIER THIS MONTH. WE PAYED THE $80 TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER TO SEND US THE CD AND PHOTOS WHICH HE SAID WOULD BEAT US HOME. ITS BEEN A WEEK AND A HALF AND NOTHING. WE EMAILED HIM (JOSEPH BROWN) A FEW DAYS AGO AND HAVENT GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE AND ALSO LEFT HIM A VOICEMAIL, STILL NO RESPONSE. I THINK WE GOT SCAMMED! SO DISAPPOINTING 🙁 ESPECIALLY SINCE IT’S ALREADY ALMOST 100% PROFIT TO BURN A CD AND MAIL IT. WTF
Hi Ruth – my goodness, I’d be upset, too. Have you had any response since you left the comment?
I know he’s separate from the Outrigger, but you may want to give them a call to let them know. If guests aren’t getting the photos they pay for then I’m sure the Outrigger would want to know about it.
This was the highlight of my vacation.. Having this complementary free was also another wonderful blessing.. My husband and I could not hardly stop crying it was so amazing.. Outrigger does a awesome job on everything.. we had so much fun and will one day return..