Almost a year ago, Brooke reached out to me with her own little secret “We’re planning to get married. But it’s going to be really small. And I want you to photograph it. Oh – and it’s going to be in Hana.” Hana. One of my favorite places on this little rock in the middle of the Pacific. Hana – where time stands still and things are fresh and clean. The thought of being their Hana wedding photographer was so SO appealing. But even more so, that my friends trusted me to photograph their day. I’ll truly never take that for granted.
A Hana Wedding
Brooke and Stein co-own a home in Hana with some of our other friends. They are in the throes of re-modeling so while the wedding wouldn’t be there, the reception certainly would be!
What I love so much about backyard and intimate weddings is all the love and care that goes into them. The boys spent a few days beforehand making sure the yard was cleared. The gals custom decorated the lanai to pretty-it-up for the upcoming festivities. It really was a labor of love!
Hana Wedding Locations
Because the house was being renovated, the gals opted to stay at the cabins at Wai’anapanapa State Park just before Hana Town (and only a few minutes from the Hana house). they’re rustic cabins (think seventh-grade camp style), but I really love them. They remind me of summers spent at camps in Northern Michigan – except, ya know, you can hear the ocean from your bedroom. The gals stayed up late into the night making a lei po’o for Brooke and leis for all of the guests.
Brooke and Stein had chosen a special waterfall (but don’t ask me where it is; it’s a secret!) to exchange vows. After their sweet ceremony, performed by our friend Mike, the couple and I did a small photo adventure along the Road to Hana. We stopped by some waterfalls, Koke’e Beach, and some other really cool spots to photograph the two of them. After portraits, we headed back to the homestead for some Thai Food by Pranee (some of the best on the island).
That evening was filled with Bocce ball, drinking, celebrating, and dancing. Honestly, it was perfect. It was one of my last few weddings before COVID hit, and looking back at these images gives me all the feels. I miss my friends, I miss documenting weddings, I miss meeting people from all over the world.
But I know when this craziness is done, Maui will still be here. And weddings like this will light me up more than they ever have before.
Brooke and Stein: Thank you for choosing me to be your Hana wedding photographer. Now that the world is upside-down, I appreciate even more the time we spent together in one of my favorite places in the world. Being present for your wedding was a gift and I’m so happy to have been there for it all.
Looking for a Hana Wedding Photographer? I’m your gal!
Here are some more weddings I think you’d love!
Jessie and Herman’s intimate Merriman’s Maui Wedding
Taima and Jessie’s Wedding at Sunsets Bar and Grill
Lydia and Pascal’s Haleakala Wedding
