Hitched in Hawaii

[blackcat20]

I stayed at the same hotel a few years back. Your post brought back memories of watching/listening the luau for free one night, sitting on the room's balcony while sipping Blue Hawaiian (just-add-ice) drinks from the ubiquitous ABC store, and enjoying the sunset.
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Most likely the check in agent entering passport details into the wrong sections. The other month, when leaving Australia, I did the same thing - only showing the passport of the country I was planning to use on arrival (at my destination) as my documentation for check in (planning, as usual, to keep my Australian passport in the bag until I got to Immigration). However, I was advised that due to the new automated exit-gate procedures, I now had to also show my Australian passport at check in (so the Egate would be expecting me). No big deal for me that day, as the agent obviously put all the correct details into the right places. (Egate worked fine with Aussie passport for departure, and other passport worked fine for arrival at the other end.)

So note to dual/multi nationals, who are use to doing check in with the "other" passport when leaving Australia, you now need to show both at check in (and obviously hope the agent knows what they are doing).

It was just amazing listening to the luau while I got ready, perfect atmosphere.

Yes, I think the agent stuffed up. He was young, nervous and I'm gathering rather new.

 

[love_the_life]

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Then the doors were opened and off I went; the celebrant was waiting to lead me down the aisle while chanting which was awesome. I'm smiling but all I'm thinking is "dont trip over your dress". The downside of taking your shoes off when your dress is the correct length for shoes.


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We chose an amazing celebrant who did a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. It was just perfect for us and neither of us is religious. The ceremony involved a lei exchange, a salt exchange and a sand ceremony.

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The ceremony was quite long, around 20 minutes, but it was so well done.

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Awww, it looks just perfect. So romantic and special.

 

[I love to travel]

Congrats on the wedding

 

[blackcat20]

More photos

Pouring our two bowls of sand into a larger bowl


Raining orchids


By the Koi pond at the hotel



Dancing in the hotel lobby. Our photographer loved that I did the whole lot barefoot. Shoes went back on for dinner.


Our whole group at dinner overlooking the sand where we got married. Couldnt have chosen a better group to celebrate with.

 

[kermatu]

Looks fabulous. Congratulations to you both.

 

[LadyC]

Congratulations again - some lovely photos you have there

 

[TomVexille]

Most likely the check in agent entering passport details into the wrong sections. The other month, when leaving Australia, I did the same thing - only showing the passport of the country I was planning to use on arrival (at my destination) as my documentation for check in (planning, as usual, to keep my Australian passport in the bag until I got to Immigration). However, I was advised that due to the new automated exit-gate procedures, I now had to also show my Australian passport at check in (so the Egate would be expecting me). No big deal for me that day, as the agent obviously put all the correct details into the right places. (Egate worked fine with Aussie passport for departure, and other passport worked fine for arrival at the other end.)

So note to dual/multi nationals, who are use to doing check in with the "other" passport when leaving Australia, you now need to show both at check in (and obviously hope the agent knows what they are doing).

Yeah, they kept asking me if it was a new passport (neither was). Also that once QF had linked the two with immigration that link should stick for the lifetime of the passport. The problem with that statement is that I had travelled to the US using those passports just two weeks prior

 

[love_the_life]

Wonderful TR so far. It’s been a mammoth year for you two

 

[blackcat20]

Wonderful TR so far. It’s been a mammoth year for you two

It sure has, and won't be slowing down any time soon....

 

[Pushka]

It sure has, and won't be slowing down any time soon....

It’s only just begun. Hey, that sounds like a great song title!

 

[blackcat20]

The meal:
We chose a lovely three course menu that ended with cake for dessert.

First up was the beautiful salad of papaya, mango and pineapple.

Then an appetizer of seared Ahi. Very proud of a few people who had never eaten raw fish but absolutely devoured this.

We had a couple of main options, including chickem, fish and steak. The Filet Mignon was the winner of the night, and was so delicious I forgot to take a photo....

Then we finished off with cake; a chocolate sponge layered with raspberry filling.


Remebered right at the end that Eeyore was in my bag so he came our for a quick photo.


And of course, the selfie that I took after the ceremony to announce it to everyone back home.

 

[AisleSeat]

Yeah. But TomCat wanted to be legally married.

I’ve been learning lots about being married in an overseas country as my son’s partner is a Brit living in Australia. Can’t get married in the UK as they don’t live there and won’t be able to spend 28 days getting the license. Can get married in Australia but her family won’t be making the trip over due to brothers young family etc. She is also a US citizen but that won’t work at all either. So looks like a civil service here - eloping in Australia - then sorting out some kind of celebration in UK and Aus and somehow appeasing everyone.

Must tell her about the change in dual citizenship laws as she has 2 passports - UK and USA and will in next 2 years get an Aussie one.

They could always go to Denmark, where Mrs AS and I got married. Very low bureaucracy. After initial paperwork, we arrived on a Monday, registered on a Tuesday and got married on a Friday. I think the fee was 500 kroner. Completely valid and recognised worldwide.

 

[blackcat20]

We regrouped the next morning for brunch at Splasher's Grill. This was a great way to spend more time with everyone before we decamped to Oahu.
There were a few stragglers (the coughtails at the wedding were really good...). Lovely view over the ocean. And great food.

I kicked off with a Mimosa; its not everyday you get to celebrate getting married. Then I had the stuffed french toast which was delicious.

TV had some concoction of fried rice pork and gravy (as did both his siblings so it seems to be genetic....) called Loco Moco.

The fruit plates were also fabulous. I reckon I ate just about as much pineapple in Hawaii as I did Tuna, its so much better than anything we get at home.



Then it was time to head to the airport for our flight back to HNL.

There is a HA lounge at Kona though it is very small and accessed via scanning your BP at the door. Pretty much a water and chip stop only and somewhere to sit, but it does the job.

 

[love_the_life]

TV had some concoction of fried rice pork and gravy (as did both his siblings so it seems to be genetic....) called Loco Moco.
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Not an overly appetising looking dish, that.

 

[blackcat20]

Not an overly appetising looking dish, that.

It wasn't too bad, maybe a bit salty. A fried egg hiding under there too.

 

[blackcat20]

We touched down in HNL and picked up our car (this time a lovely new Mazda, would not have accepted another Versa), and hit the road to the North shore. We decided to go around the outside of the island for the scenic views, and arrived at the hotel just after 5pm.

The perks of staying in a beach cottage here are many, including parking right outside the cottage. The room was fabulous, a lovely big bed, sitting area, and lanai out the front. The ocean was a mere few metres from our door, and the lawn was dotted with hammocks.








In the room was a welcome pack; a bottle of water, a treat and a card containing a word of the day. Along with a "we missed you" card from the concierge, who promptly visited us to introduce herself and explain what she could help us with. She offered to book us dinner at one of the restaurants, and when she called back to confirm, told us that a golf buggy would collect us and take us to dinner. Gotta love that service!



The concierge returned each day with a new treat, bottle and word which was a lovely touch. They also checked in with us to make sure we had plans for dinner and arranged them if necessary.

 

[love_the_life]

The meal:
We chose a lovely three course menu that ended with cake for dessert.

First up was the beautiful salad of papaya, mango and pineapple.
View attachment 107878
Then an appetizer of seared Ahi. Very proud of a few people who had never eaten raw fish but absolutely devoured this.
View attachment 107874
We had a couple of main options, including chickem, fish and steak. The Filet Mignon was the winner of the night, and was so delicious I forgot to take a photo....

Then we finished off with cake; a chocolate sponge layered with raspberry filling.
View attachment 107877

Remebered right at the end that Eeyore was in my bag so he came our for a quick photo.
View attachment 107875

And of course, the selfie that I took after the ceremony to announce it to everyone back home.
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Poor Eeyore would have been devastated that you almost forgot to include him in the photos on this special day.

 

[blackcat20]

Poor Eeyore would have been devastated that you almost forgot to include him in the photos on this special day.

He got pre-wedding photos with all the bits (rings etc) so he wasnt completely out in the cold.

 

[TomVexille]

Not an overly appetising looking dish, that.

You'd be surprised

 

[GarrettM]

Not an overly appetising looking dish, that.

Oh I strongly disagree!