Elena and Rafael were married on Kahala Beach in Honolulu on January 4, 2026, surrounded by their family, then had two more photo shoots: one at a private estate house in Kahala and one under the palms on Kahala Beach.
The couple’s names have been changed to protect their privacy.
The setup
A Tropical Beach Setup in Kahala
White covered chairs with turquoise sashes lined a flower aisle of pink hibiscus, white plumerias, and white and purple dendrobium orchids. At the end of the aisle, a half moon of light pink and dark pink roses and light pink hydrangeas, set with monstera leaves, curved across the sand between two carved Hawaiian wooden tiki statues draped in white orchid leis, with a little wooden table holding a ukulele and a love sign.
The two tikis are Kū and Lono, two of the four great gods of ancient Hawaii, together with Kāne and Kanaloa. Kū is the god of strength and war, and also of fishing, the forest and canoe building; his name means “to stand,” and he watches over protection and courage. Lono is the god of rain, farming, peace and abundance, honored each year during the Makahiki, the harvest season when fighting was set aside and people gathered for games, feasting and thanks. Standing on either side of the half moon, Kū and Lono brought balance to the ceremony: strength and protection on one side, peace and plenty on the other.
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The bride
Her Gown, Veil & Tropical Bouquet
Elena wore a white ball gown and a long veil, and carried a Hawaiian tropical bouquet of yellow cymbidium orchids, purple orchids, birds of paradise and heliconia, wrapped with a dark blue ribbon.
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Walking in
Walking to the Ceremony
Elena was walked across the park and down the flower petal aisle to Rafael, waiting in a blue suit by the pink flowers at the water’s edge.
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The ceremony
Their Ceremony on Kahala Beach
With their family gathered close on the sand, Paul, the owner of Aloha Island Weddings, led their ceremony by the ocean. He blew the conch shell, played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on his ukulele, and guided Elena and Rafael through traditional wedding vows.
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Leis
The Lei Exchange
Paul performed the lei ceremony and blessed the leis, and Elena and Rafael gave each other fresh flower leis before a kiss. Rafael wore a white orchid lei entwined with green ti leaf, and Elena wore a lei of fresh white and yellow plumeria, one of Hawaii’s most popular lei flowers, loved for its beautiful, sweet fragrance. Their family gave them pink leis as well.
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Vows & rings
Vows & Rings by the Ocean
Hand in hand by the sea, they said traditional wedding vows and exchanged rings, and Rafael kissed Elena’s hand.
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Sand ceremony
A Hawaiian Sand Ceremony
Together they poured dark ocean blue and orange sand into one keepsake bottle, mixing their colors together as a symbol of two lives becoming one.
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Husband & wife
Their Certificate & a Love Sign
They signed their wedding certificate on the beach, held it up for photos, and shared a kiss behind their love sign.
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Conch shell
The Conch Shell
Paul blew the conch shell, the Hawaiian call that opens and closes a ceremony. Afterward Rafael posed with the conch shell by the sea, and Elena held a green turban shell.
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The cake
Cake on the Beach
Their white wedding cake was topped with purple orchids, set on a beach table with Hawaiian snacks, and they cut it right by the ocean.
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Family
Family & Friends
Family in fresh flower leis cheered, raised a toast and gathered by the flower aisle for photos.
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On the beach
Portraits on Kahala Beach
After the ceremony they had the beach to themselves: dancing on the sand, a kiss by the palms and a jump for joy.
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Photo shoot
A Photo Shoot at an Estate House in Kahala
For a second photo shoot, Elena changed into a white sundress with a flower crown and Rafael into a navy shirt, at a private estate house in Kahala: a turquoise pool with a gazebo, tiki torches, monstera leaves, plumeria trees and a carved front door. Rafael blew the conch shell in the garden, and Elena posed with a white parasol.
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Photo shoot
A Photo Shoot on Kahala Beach
From the estate they walked over to Kahala Beach, about five minutes away, for one more shoot: walking hand in hand along the shore, leaning on curved coconut palms, a dip under the palm fronds, and their rings on yellow and purple orchids.
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The beach
Kahala Beach, Honolulu
Kahala Beach is a quiet stretch of sand in the Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu, just past Diamond Head and a short drive from Waikiki, with calm water, palm trees and green beach plants right along the shore.
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Kahala Beach Wedding Questions
Can we get married on Kahala Beach?
Yes. Elena and Rafael were married on Kahala Beach in Honolulu, with white chairs, a flower petal aisle and tiki statues on the sand.
Can we add a photo shoot at an estate house?
Yes. After their wedding, Elena and Rafael had a second photo shoot at a private estate house in Kahala, by the pool, the gazebo and the gardens.
What Hawaiian traditions can we include?
Elena and Rafael had the conch shell, a lei ceremony, traditional vows, ukulele music and a sand ceremony with dark ocean blue and orange sand.
Who are the tiki statues Kū and Lono?
Kū and Lono are two of the four great Hawaiian gods. Kū is the god of strength, war, fishing and the forest; Lono is the god of rain, farming, peace and abundance, honored during the Makahiki harvest season. They stood on either side of the flower half moon at Elena and Rafael’s wedding.
Can we have live music at our ceremony?
Yes. Paul played “Can’t Help Falling in Love” on his ukulele at Elena and Rafael’s ceremony on Kahala Beach.
Can our family join us?
Yes. Their family gathered on the sand for the ceremony, gave them leis, raised a toast and joined in the family photos.
