Frequently Asked Questions

•Can you give me more information about Marriage Licensing?
Please visit http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html for complete information regarding your marriage license. You must have a license to be legally wed. You can get your license as early as 30 days before your scheduled ceremony.

Please ensure you have your license before the ceremony. This is the second most important item besides your presence at the ceremony if you want it to be a legal ceremony. We jointly will sign the license immediately after the ceremony (or during the ceremony if you prefer) and by law, I personally return the original to the state. I will not give you a copy of the license after the ceremony as it is the property of the state. If you forget to bring the license to the ceremony, we will need to arrange another time for me to sign it.  NOTE:  There is an additional fee and the legal date will be the date of our meeting, not the date we performed your ceremony.

After I deliver the original to the state, you will receive the official legal copy via mail. Ensure you fill out the form and pay the extra fee if you would like your license completed sooner than 6-8 weeks. For more information, visit http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html

•I am not a US citizen, and the person I am marrying is from another country. Can we still get married in Hawaii?
Yes you can. Please consult with the state licensing office for details. They are very informative and will answer your questions by phone. Here is the information on marriage licensing. http://hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html Please make your inquiries through this office.

•If we want to have a beach wedding, do you get the permit for us?
No.  You are responsible for securing the permit through the state and have it with you when we are at the ceremony site. Here is the link to the form and information: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/land/forms-1/forms. Once you obtain the permit, the ceremony can be scheduled and preformed.

•Can I meet you before the 4-month mark to see if we even like you and if you are a fit for us?
Of course, that is possible, but I recommend that in order to save time, you please read  through the wedding page of this website where I talk about my belief system and ceremonies. This should give you enough information to determine if you would want me to officiate your ceremony.

•What do your ceremonies consist of? Can we get a head start on understanding your ceremony?
Please go to my wedding page and download all the documents on the bottom of the page. You will find vow options, ceremony sequence, a suggested poem as well as a questionnaire that you will need to fill out if you eventually confirm your ceremony with me. If you have other elements you want to incorporate, I am happy to do so. We can review all of this during our consultation a few months before your ceremony

•What happens if our ceremony starts late?

I expect your ceremony to begin on time.  I will be happy to wait for last minute details to be completed. My ceremonies are approximately 15-20 minutes and I have committed an hour for you on the day of your ceremony from the time I arrive. At times, depending on the day and schedule I am not able to perform a full ceremony where we start more than 5 -10 minutes late.  Therefore, it is important to plan to start the ceremony on time by having a time line that supports your start time.

•What is a Haku and why do we get one for Kahu Pomaika`i?

The Haku is a lei of flowers and /or fern worn around the head.  It is customary in Hawai`i to gift your Kahu a haku lei for conducting your sacred ceremony.  Couples may utilize the Links page to order Pomaika`i’s haku or locate a florist of their own preference.  The haku along with all other lei will be blessed by Kahu Pomaika`i prior to the ceremony.

•What time do you arrive?

I normally arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony.  When I arrive at the wedding site, I will set up, conduct a blessing for the land or wedding site, as well as personally bless all lei used in the ceremony.

•How long is a ceremony?

A ceremony can be 15-20 minutes from start to end depending on the elements you select to include and the size of your wedding party. The more segments ( solo, poem, reading, lei ceremony, etc.) the longer the ceremony. Signing the license is approximately five minutes.

•If we want to have a sand ceremony, a lei ceremony or a unity candle service, do you provide these items for us?
No. There are various styles and choices and you are responsible to purchase the sand, containers, leis or candles and have them set up before the ceremony. I would then incorporate these rituals into the ceremony.

•Can you provide a microphone for the ceremony?
No. If you want the ceremony amplified, you would need to arrange for sound amplification either by the ceremony site or your deejay/musician. Some locations will have sound for the minister provided as part of the service and others will charge an extra fee. I do not provide speakers/microphones.

•What if we are from out of town can we “chance it” and do the consultation early when we are visiting Honolulu even though we are more than four months out and you might not be able to confirm my date?
Yes, please let me know your schedule when you are in town and with enough advance notice, I’ll be happy to meet with you and conduct the consultation.

•Can we meet with you more than once?
One 30 min consultation (phone or in person) is included with my ceremony fee. This is necessary to ensure you have a smooth ceremony as all of the information I need will be on the questionnaire you fill out. If you have questions, I’m happy to review details via phone or email. If you require and feel you need to meet again there is a $50 per 30 minute fee.

•Where will we meet?
You will meet with me at a predetermined and mutually agreed location.  Locations: Kahala Mall at Starbucks or the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at the Koko Marina Shopping Center in Hawaii Kai, etc.

•How do we pay you?
About a week to ten days prior to your ceremony you will receive an email from me with instructions.  You are welcome to write a check to Renee Pomaika`i Gongob and I will accept it at the rehearsal, or by someone else other than you on the day of the ceremony. Cash is also accepted.  Note:  I do not accept credit cards at this time.

•Do you need a deposit to hold my ceremony day?
No, I don’t take deposits. I take your names, the time and day as well as two phone numbers and two email addresses to hold the day.  I take reservations up to a year in advance. A final confirmation is given at the four month mark. If I am not able to confirm, I will offer you a list of recommended colleagues to help you find a minister and will continue to help you until you complete your needs.

•We have a really unique situation and would like certain accommodations for the ceremony, are you able to do this?
Yes, of course. I am able to accommodate any type of ceremony and special requests. We can discuss this at your consultation to make your ceremony exactly how you envision it to be.

•Is it necessary to have Kahu Pomaika`i at the rehearsal?
It is not, specifically if it’s just the two of you, or a very small wedding party (one bridesmaid and one groomsman) or if you have a coordinator that will coordinate the entire rehearsal.

If you have a wedding party, and no experienced wedding coordinator, I will be happy to assist during rehearsal as to who walks when, who stands where, timing, etc. However, the main advantage of having me there is that I will go through the entire flow of the ceremony with you which will take away much of the stress.  This causes ease of mind and eases the stress levels for all concerned.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you have a rehearsal without me, it is MANDATORY that you take note of all walking details of the wedding party and how you proceed/stand in front of me for the ceremony. I will expect your appointed spokes person, or your wedding coordinator to tell me where to stand on the day of the ceremony and the bride and groom will make their own way in front of me.

Note:  I will not coordinate your ceremony on the day of your ceremony. I will only perform the ceremony.

Once you are in front of me, less a rehearsal, I can lead you through the ceremony.

•Do we need to invite you to the reception?
No, it is not customary to send me an invitation.

•Can you do the lunch or dinner prayer for us at our reception?
Because the reception takes place often 30 minutes after the complete ceremony ends and the meal starts often times 15-30 minutes after that, I am unable to do your prayer. However, if you find anyone to conduct the prayer and you need a written prayer for your reception, let me know at our consultation and I will email you a prayer that you can use.

Kahu Pomaika`i • www.hawaiianalohablessings.com • hawaiianalohablessings@gmail.com•(808)222.5470