HAND WASHING CEREMONY

In the Hawaiian tradition, whenever a significant spiritual passage in life is made, you are called to "hiuwai." This transition is honored by a ritual cleansing of your spirit in a sacred body of water. Today, we will use ocean water as it has always been used for purification and bringing lives and souls into balance, as your lives are influenced and linked with the tides and sea.

OFFICIANT pours the water from the koa bowl, pitcher or shell onto BRIDE and GROOM’S hands individually to wash.

BRIDE and GROOM, the washing of your hands most importantly represents a complete and utter forgiveness of yourselves. Recognizing that all you have gone and grown through up to this moment has been necessary for you to stand here with the depth, capacity, abilities and compassion to love one another as deeply as you do...

(OFFICIANT pours the water onto BRIDE and GROOM’S hands so that they each in turn can wash each other's hands.)

BRIDE and GROOM, now you are asked to wash each other’s hands as a promise that throughout your long lives and marriage you will continue to find it in your hearts to forgive one another no matter what arises. At this time, I ask you to recognize that forgiveness is a vital conduit for your love to flow through.