Aloha Island Weddings

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Shawn & Aki: A Japanese Wedding in Hawaii and Yokohama

by · Published · Updated

Shawn and Aki celebrated their love on two sides of the Pacific: a Japanese wedding in Hawaii on Friday, September 26, 2008, at 11:00 am on the beach at Bellows, with 24 family and friends, and a joyful reception back home in Yokohama, Japan.

A wide view of the white hibiscus arch and seated guests on the beach at Bellows

A hibiscus arch facing the islands

A White Hibiscus Arch at Bellows

Their white arch was decorated with light yellow and pink hibiscus and green ivy. The chairs wore turquoise sashes with shimmering sea mist organza, and the aisle was lined with white plumeria, yellow hibiscus, sea shells and starfish. A harpist played on the sand, and Aki’s sister stood beside her as maid of honor. After the ceremony, the couple and their guests had lunch at a restaurant on the North Shore.

A harpist tuning the golden harp on the beach before the ceremony

Golden strings, tuned for the vows

Aki and Shawn under the hibiscus arch during their vows

Vows beneath the hibiscus

A Kimono Photo Tour

Three days before the wedding, Aki wore a very special kimono, a wedding present from her grandmother. Dressing in the kimono took almost two hours, plus an hour and a half for hair and makeup, and then they headed to the cliffs at Makapuʻu, Sandy Beach and the Blowhole for photos, Shawn in his dress uniform.

Aki in her grandmother’s kimono on a cliff lookout above the ocean

A grandmother’s gift on the cliffs

Aki and Shawn kissing by a tree on the beach

A kiss in the shade of the trees

The Reception in Yokohama

Back in Japan, their reception overlooked Yokohama Bay, and as their friends and family cheered, Shawn lifted Aki into the air 17 times! We were honored to help with the photography there too.

Aki and Shawn making a heart with their hands at their reception in Japan

A heart for everyone to see

Aki and Shawn with their families, some in kimono, outside the reception in Yokohama

Two families, one celebration

Aki and Shawn cutting their wedding cake together, her blue rose bouquet beside them

The first slice, hand in hand

See their whole story in our classic real weddings: the wedding at Bellows · Aki & Shawn · getting ready · the Blowhole photo tour · family.

See Their Wedding Page

Aki in her grandmother’s kimono on the cliffs
Aki & Shawn’s Wedding

Prices for a Wedding Like Theirs

  • Beach wedding packages: from $350 to $8,000 (all prices)
  • Harpist: $250 the first hour, $200 each additional hour (harpist)
  • Wedding minister: $300 to $550, licensed by the State of Hawaii (ministers)
  • Sunset or sunrise photo shoot: $350 (photography)
  • Flower circle arch: $350, extra large $550 (flower circles)

All prices are plus 4.712% Hawaii state tax.

Hawaii Wedding Stats

  • The average Hawaii wedding costs about $53,369, but half of all couples spend less than $21,117.
  • Couples spent an estimated $927 million on weddings in Hawaii in 2025.
  • Our own couples usually spend between $10,000 and $15,000.

Figures from The Wedding Report, see our Hawaii wedding statistics page for sources.

Plan Your Japanese Wedding in Hawaii

Many couples from Japan marry in Hawaii and hold a second celebration at home. See our Oahu beach weddings and ministers, including ministers who officiate in Japanese. Learn more about the garment at kimono on Wikipedia.

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