Photography: Ranae Keane EMotion Galleries
Coordinator: Ashley Akamu, Karen Wakata
Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort 
Officiant: Reverend Patrick Thompson
Ceremony Venue: Sunset Cove
Reception Venue: Alii Terrace
Dress: Justin Alexander
Brides Rings: Shane Company
Flowers: Illima Flowers
Hair/Makeup: Marta Nowak Friend's Salon
Music: Paper Wings by Vicky Emerson

Janelle and Robert were joined by their 2 year old daughter Jocelyn in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for their destination wedding. The event was centered around family who had traveled to join the young couple for the special event. Some of the heartfelt family moments were watching little Jocelyn help her mother and father prepare for the ceremony and hearing Janelle's heartfelt toast. Janelle started her speech thanking her family first then started to thank Robert's family by saying although she has spent time with them for years they have never spoke....   Robert's parents speak only Spanish and Janelle speaks only English. She then continued the rest of her speech to her new family in fluent Spanish.  The entire reception was together in tears of joy and understanding.  

Photography: Ranae Keane of EMotion Galleries
Music: Dancing by Daniel Nahmod
Coordinator: Ashley Akamu, Brian Scully
Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort Nohea Point
Officiant:Reverend Patrick Thompson
Reception Venue: Alli Surf BallroomDJ: Hawaii Sound & Vision
Dress: San Patrick
Rings: Robins Brothers
Flowers: Illima Flowers
Hair/Makeup: Pattie at Lush Salon

Dea took this picture of Mark and I with their phone after my hula set at Lava Lava Beach Club.  Dea and Mark Provenzano are two of the amazing volunteers that come to the Big Island every year to help support and make the Iron Man Triathlon possible.  For the last 21 years this couple have used their vacation days to travel to Hawaii and volunteer their time and energy to the race. 

The Provenzano's are athletes themselves... and have to be for the job they are placed at every year.  These two keep the Iron Men/Women hydrated, during the biking portion of the triatholon. In order to do this they must sprint as fast as the riders are pedaling, pass off the bottle (without touching the racers or they will be disqualified) and then.... jog back to the station and repeat several hundred times!!!!  What troopers, and they come back for more year after year.

Mark & Dea have had a profound impact on so many people.  I was fortunate enough to meet them last year at Lava Lava and they stopped by again this year to say hello - How sweet!!!!!

Although both were living in LA, Aember & Thomas Childress met during a fun weekend in Las Vegas. The valentines have been together for six years from that moment of love at first sight.  Aember is as sweet as she is beautiful.  Her dress was custom made by Liza Vill of Beverly Hills.  Aember originally did not want a veil, she was talked into one and appeared as if she had angel wings floating across the sand.  The bright pink plumeria and the bold blue of the ocean made her striking green eyes shine and golden locks glow like a halo in the sunshine.  Thomas made sure their wedding day was perfect. Together they make a great couple!

Photography: Ranae Keane EMotion Galleries
Coordinator: Ashley Akamu
Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort
Officiant: Kahu Tomasi
Reception Venue: Sunset Cove
Trash Dress Location: Waialea BayDJ: Hawaii Sound & Vision
Dress: Liza Vill
Rings: Armen Kalousdian
Flowers: Illima Flowers
Hair/Makeup: Marta Nowak Friend's Salon
Sandals: Stella's Design
Music: Valentine by Cary Judd

Tiffany and James were an absolute pleasure to spend the week with. Tiffany had every detail of her Polynesian adventure planned out.  Pre-wedding parties, wedding and reception on the Big Island with family and friends; then off to South Pacific for the honeymoon on Bora Bora.  These two are very giving of their time at home in New York City.  Tiffany is a nurse and James is a  teacher at the performing arts high school featured in the movie and television show FAME.  The family and friends were supportive and thoughtful.  One of my favorite moments is when all the guests of the resort (who had never met the bride and groom) were out on their lani watching us take bridal party photos and decided to get involved. They started yelling creative direction as if they were on a set at a model shoot.  They then added to the fun by blasting music and making it a full out runway party.  When they saw we were about to proceed to the first look, they left the Hawaiian Wedding Song playing out on the lani while they retreated into their rooms allowing Tiffany and James their intimate and emotional first look together.  

Photography: Ranae Keane EMotion Galleries
Coordinator: Brian Scully
Wedding Venue: Royal Kona Resort
Anticipation Venue: Wyndham Kona Hawaiian
Reception Venue: Sunset Cove
Trash Dress Location: Kikaua Point
Officiant: Rev. Dard Aller
Makeup: Rachel Kordell Big Island Hair
Dress: Moonlight
Flowers: Illima Flowers
Rings:  Ultimate Jewelry