Aloha! Cara and EJ welcomed their guests and started off the wedding weekend by hosting a luau! The lush landscape of Lihue, Kauai was the perfect backdrop for guests to meet and mingle. Many relatives and friends chipped in to help make the luau a blast! The tables were decorated with white sugarloaf pineapples - a special pineapple that does not have acid which makes it super sweet, was preordered months in advance by Aunty Kerri.

Guests also had the pleasure of watching a live coconut demonstration where he climbed to the top of the coconut tree to cut down the coconuts, then cracked them open so that guests could drink fresh coconut water and enjoy fresh coconut meat!

Everyone had a good time playing lawn games, chatting, and enjoying tasty local foods like Lomi Lomi Salmon and Huli Pig (thanks to Dennis Wong and Konohiki Seafoods) and many family friends who chipped in to help make it a bountiful and tasty feast. A hula dancer and a firedancer shared the aloha spirit with their captivating performances to end the evening.

EJ and Cara's family members and wedding party participated in an intimate Hawaiian Ring Blessing Ceremony. The officiant facilitated by introducing us to the meaning of the salt, water, and leaves that connect us with Mother Earth. We went around in a circle explaining the special significance of the water that we brought and gave our well wishes for the newlyweds.