1745. “Aregato gozai masu” – Atsuhiko and Misato from Japan – 12/27/14 – 6 guests at the Sheraton Keauhou Wedding Chapel (It is always a profound experience to do the last wedding of the year. I remember with fondness all the couples and give thanks to God from whom every good gift flows)
1744. “Pastor Elliott, I just wanted to reach out one more time to say thank you so much for making our day perfect. I could not have asked for a more personal ceremony. You are truly a special person who touches lives. Please let me know where I might come visit you or attend a service in the future.” email from Kevin and Linda – 12/21/14 – 5 guests on the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1743. “That was great” – Chance and Angela from Fort Worth, TX 12/13/14 – 25 guests at Kumukea Beach at the Four Seasons Hualalai (With the new millennium, we have had consecutive number dates which couples have used for their anniversary beginning with January 2, 2003 – 1/2/3. Chance and Angela got the last one, Congratulations 12/13/14!)
1742. “Thank you” – Geoff and Mei from Briarcliff Manor Village, NY – 11/29/14 – 10 guests at the Milo Tree at the Mauna Lani 1741. “Aregato gozai masu” – Hideo and Toshiko from Japan – 11/25/14 the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1740. “We had a great time, we are going to recommend you next time to everyone” – Bojay and Tara from Keaau, HI – 11/22/14 – 350 guests at the Grand Staircase at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (This was the biggest wedding I have done for a long time with all local people. I admit, I was a little nervous! Tara had this set up in a way that no one has ever done. The wedding party were half way up the staicase on the landing while all the guests were seated with their backs to the waterfall. It was very dramatic!)
1739. “Aregato” – Yuta and Maki from Tokyo Japan – 11/22/14 – 20 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Wedding Chapel (Maki used to work for the big Japanese wedding company in Oahu. I have done many weddings for that company. Since she has helped so many couples with their weddings, I was excited to be with her on her wedding day. When the musician sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song, she spontaneously danced hula for her husband. It was such a thing of beauty and it touched everyone including the crew!)
1738. “Aregato” – Hidehiko and Hiroko from Japan – 11/16/14 – 30 guests at a private home 76228 Lako St
1737. “Keith, you were wonderful. Thank you. Fantastic ceremony.” Jordan and Natalie from Palm Desert, CA – 11/11/14 – 16 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (Pawn Stars visited Jordan’s business in one of the episodes. I had seen that episode. We had a great time!)
1736. “Well spoken – Thank you so much” – Michael and Valarie from Corpus Christi, TX – 11/6/14 – 30 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Wedding Chapel
1735. “Aregato” – Yasutaka and Machiko from Japan – 11/5/14 – the Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (It is such a beautiful thing when a dad gives away his daughter. This dad began to cry, he started digging through his pockets to find his handkercheif, which made everyone else cry. It was such a wonderful moment for all of us.)
1734. “Thank you for doing so much for us” – Anthony and Camysha from Plantation, FL – 11/3/14 the Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1733. ” Aregato” – Takeo and Rumiko from Japan- 10/20/14 – Kikaua Point (Thank you for your generosity)
1732. ” Aregato” – Hidenori and Hiromi from Japan – 10/20/14 – the Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (Thank you for your generosity)
1731. ” Aregato” – Toshihiro and Jun from Japan – 10/20/14 – the Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1730. ” Aregato” -Toshiki and Andreea from Japan – 10/16/14 – 8 guests at the Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1729. ” Aregato” – Hiroki and Saki from Japan – 10/9/14 – 5 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1728. “Dearest Keith, Thank you so much for being such a big part of our wedding day! We enjoyed the ceremony you officiated very much and hope that you were blessed as much as we were! We pray that you will continue to bless lives throughout your ministry! God bless you and again, we thank you so very much! Love in Christ” – Robert and Christine from Evans, GA – 9/30/14 – The Wedding Tree at Four Seasons Hualalai
1727. “This is so beautiful!” – Kevin and Kathy from Overland Park, KS – 9/28/14 – 25th celebration of vows at Anaeho’omalu Bay – (I took this couple to one of my favorite spots on the island. We had a great time at sunset. As with so many couple, even though we have never met, we immediately hit it off and had a great time together)
1726. “Thank you” – Dan and Phyllis from Union, KY – 9/23/14 – 2 guests for a 25th anniversary celebration of vows
1725. “Thank you, it’s been a pleasure” – Dennis and Diane from Barberton, OH – 9/22/14 – 2 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1724. “Thank you” – Steve and Shellie from Issaquah, WA – 9/18/14 – 9 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1723. “Aregato” – Takeshi and Haruna – 9/6/14 – 15 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1722. “Aregato” – Hirokazu and Fumie – 9/2/14 – 10 guests at a private home (Thank you for your generosity)
1721. “Thank you” – David and Maggie from Medina, Ohio – 8/18/14 – 7 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1720. “That was wonderful. We enjoy your sense of humor so much. You are the right one to do our wedding.” David and Carmen from KAILUA-KONA, HI – 8/16/14 – 100 guests at Honokohau Harbor (Most of the weddings I am part of are at resorts for people that I have just met. David and Carmen are part of our church family. I am thankful when I get to bring the experience and skill that I have gained working at resorts to the people I have known here in Kona for many years. I think people are surprised when they see the “wedding me”. David and I work on the church yard a couple of times a month. He sees me with a chain saw or a hedger and we work hard side by side. Both David and Carmen were really blessed at the ceremony. After the ceremony, we had a big local style luau at the pavilion. We ate all the local foods and laughed at local humor. My daughter just moved back to Kona. She has been gone for 10 years. She had forgotten how fun the Big Island culture can be. It was great to see her eating squid luau, Kalua pork, pork and peas and all the other foods with which we celebrate our unique culture.”
1719. “Perfect” – Cody and Cristy from Beaverton, OR – 8/14/14 – 60 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1718. “Pastor Keith~Hello! I just wanted to send you a quick message to tell you thank you so much for what an amazing job you did on our wedding ceremony that took place at the Hilton on Wed. August 13th! We really appreciate how personalized you made the ceremony and the fact that it was centered around God and keeping a Christ focused relationship. We also loved how you incorporated our engagement story into the ceremony what an amazing job! We can’t begin to thank you enough and it truly felt like I had the pastor from my own church at my ceremony which was really nice. 🙂 I hope you have a great day and take care!” – John and Nicki from Bolingbrook, IL – 8/13/14 – 30 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1717. “Thank you” – Igor and Irina from Pataskala, OH – 8/9/14 – 5 guests at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort luau grounds (There was a lot of news from this wedding. Hurricane Iselle was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii in recorded history. The lovely bride had to change her plans a couple of times but I believe everything worked out the way it was supposed to. We had a wonderful wedding. The military advisor to the French ambassador to the UN was at this wedding. I never cease to be amazed at the people I am privileged to meet at weddings.)
1716. “”You did an excellent job, thank you so much.” – Derek and Amy from Stillwater, OK – 8/8/14 – 30 guests for a fifth anniversary celebration of vows at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1715. “Thank you so much, that was a beautiful ceremony!” – Nick and Macie from Longview, TX – 7/20/14 – 14 guests at Kamakua Beach at the Four Seasons Hualalai
1714. “Aregato” – Manabu and Chigusa from Japan – 7/19/14 – 5 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1713. “Aregato” – Takashi and Keiko from Japan – 7/16/14 – The Wedding Chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (Thank you for your generosity)
1712. “We watch the video of you performing our wedding a lot. We wouldn’t have renewed our vows if you weren’t available.” – Steve and Laura from Marietta, GA – 7/6/14 – tenth anniversary celebration of vows at Keahu o Lu Beach (This meant so much to me. I performed their wedding exactly 10 years ago. Laura has sent a card every year for her anniversary. Thanks so much for doing this and allowing us to celebrate with you.)
1711. “That was just the right balance of spiritual and capturing who we are.” – Dan and Shauna from Skaneateles Village, NY – 7/5/14 – 40 guests at the Milo Tree at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort
1710. “Very nice – Thank you so much!” – Joe and Kirstin from Citrus Heights, CA – 10 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1709. “Thank you very much it was wonderful” – Scott and Augusta from Napa, CA – 6/28/14 – 40 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1708. “Thank you” – Scott and Amy Jo from TUALATIN, OR – 6/22/14 – 20 guests at the Palm Grove at the Four Seasons Hualalai
1707. “Aregato” – Jun and Shizuka from Japan – 6/21/14 – 40 guests at the Hapuna Prince Villa (It was a real honor to do this wedding. I have never performed a wedding in this location and it is spectacular. My wife and I flew to Oahu a few days later and Jun and Shizuka were on our flight!)
1706. “Thank you so much. That was the most awesome service. You couldn’t have done any better” – Moe and Ashley from Kirkland, WA – 6/20/14 – 40 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village – (This was a VIP wedding. Thye bride’s family had lived on the Big Island when she was a little girl. They invited my wife and me to join them at the reception at Water’s Edge Terrace. We had so much fun and really enjoyed talking to all the friends and family. Bless you guys and thank you for your generosity.)
1705. “Thank you” – Charlie and Donna from Auckland, New Zealand – 6/18/14 – 50 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (after the ceremony the bride and groom went to the bridge and threw in a lei in memory of those who have passed. It is always a beautiful gesture to keep those who have loved us close in our hearts)
1704. “Thank you for taking time to do our wedding” – Naicheng and Xiaowan from China – 6/15/14 – Keahu o Lu Beach
1703. “I am writing this to express our appreciation for what you have done for us during ceremony. It was not only cheerful and educational but also appropriate and perfect !! Some of the guests actually came to us and told us how great you were too. If you ever come to NYC area, please let us know. We would be honored to see you again and take you to Rockefeller building, Brooklyn bridge, coffee or dinner. Thank you very much for everything. Until we meet again, Andrew and Miky from Stamford, CT – 6/14/14 – 40 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village – This bride made such an impression on everyone. She laughed and cried. The groom was passing out cigars to everyone. He looked great in his tux – good fun!)
1702. “Thank you so much, that was meaningful to all of us” – Adam and Heather from Reno, NV – 6/12/14 – 7 guests at the Ocean View Terrace at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (This was my first time performing a wedding at this exact spot. What a beautiful eveing. The bride came to the Hilton for the first time when she was in third grade. It meant so much to us to help her realize her dream of getting married here! Thank you for your generosity)
1701. “Thank you” – Mike and Nicole from Tucson, AZ – 6/11/14 – 10 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1700. “Thank you, what you said is so true” – Steve and Michelle from Australia – 6/10/14 – 40 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village – (Thank you so much for including my wife and me in the reception. We have been working so hard and this was one of the first times in a long time that we were able to slow down and enjoy ourselves. Tiger and Betsy did a great job as the DJ’s. The table where we sat had so many interesting people. I sat beside Pauline who had just run for a Senate seat in Australia. She can trace her genealogy back to 1100. Her forefathers donated the land that the White House is on! I get to meet the most amazing people at these weddings. After the reception, my wife and I took a romantic moon light stroll through the hotel. We didn’t see anyone. It was magical.)
1699. “Thank you” – Adrian and Elisa from Oro Valley, AZ – 6/7/14 – 50 guests at the Grand Staircase
1698. “Thank you for performing our ceremony and making it fun.” – Chris and Malinda from Flower Mound, TX –
5/26/14 – The wedding tree at the Four Seasons Hualalai
1697. “What a perfect day!” – Taylor and Kristina from Kenmore, WA – 5/18/14 – 10 guests at Kamakua Beach at the Four Seasons Hualalai (her parents had been married on this beach many years earlier. How wonderful that families from the mainland make traditions on the Big Island!)
1696. “Aregato” – Yuji and Miwa from Japan – 5/17/14 – The Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1695. “Aregato” – Kazuki and Shiori from Japan – 5/16/14 – The Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1694. “Thank you so much for officiating our wedding. You took the time to make it a lovely ceremony even though it was just Cary and me, and I appreciate that! Our wedding was truly special, and the absolute BEST day of our lives! Thank you?” – Cary and Sarah from Charleston, SC – 5/15/14 – the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel (Sarah had to be the most excited bride I have seen in a long time. Good fun!)
1693. “Aregato” – Seiji and Hiroko from Japan – 5/7/14 – 2 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel
1692. “Thank you” – Yosuke and Nagisa from Tokyo, Japan – 5/7/14 – 25 guests at Coconut Grove at the Four Seasons Hualalai (The most popular wedding magazine in Japan, Zexy, was at this wedding!)
1691. “I don’t know how you did that – you don’t even know us. Thank you so much. The ceremony was perfect. I loved the blowing of the conch shell. The closing prayer that you did is a song that we sing in our church back home. It was one of those rare moments in life where everything felt perfect, good, and that God was present!” Dick and Joanne from Orlando, FL – 5/6/14 – the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (What a great love story. These two live 3 houses down from each other! After the ceremony, they had a romantic lunch for just the two of them on the lawn outside the chapel.)
1690. Nikolai and Amanda from Edmonds, WA – 5/5/14 – 24 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1689. “Aregato” – Hiroshi and Saori from Japan – 5/5/14 – 2 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel (Thank you for your generosity)
1688. “Thanks” – Chris and Mary from Redondo Beach, CA – 5/3/14 – 25 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1687. “Aregato” – Rui and Yuriko from Japan – 5/3/14 – 20 guests at Coconut Grove at the Fairmont Orchid
1686. “Aregato” – Yusuke and Akiko from Japan – 5/2/14 – 5 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1685. “Thank you” – Tony and Stacey from Calgary, Alberta Canada – 5/1/14 – 7 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel (According to these guys, it is starting to warm up in Canada, but it is still snowing 🙂
1684. “Thank you so much. It was a pleasure. We really enjoyed the ceremony” – Ken and Grace from Manassas, VA – 5/1/14 – King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
1683. “Aregato” – Motonaru and Rie from Japan – 4/25/14 – 5 guests at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel (I did my first wedding at the Hilton Wedding Chapel in April of 1996. 18 years later I’m back in the same chapel with the same wedding coordinator. Thanks for all the memories Emiko! Also, thank you to Motonaru and Rie for their generosity)
1682. “Aregato” – Kosaku and Yumiko from Japan – 4/22/14 – 7 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Thank you for your generosity)
1681. “Aregato” – Yoshitaka and Reiko from Japan – 4/21/14 – 10 guests at the Wedding Gazebo at the Fairmont Orchid (Yoshitaka had flown them over previously to propose at Anaeho’omalu Bay. How romantic they were able to return for the wedding!)
1680. “Aregato” – Ryota and Kasumi from Japan – 4/19/14 – 12 guests at Coconut Grove at the Fairmont Orchid
1679. “Thank you so much” – Dustin and Nikki from Phoenix, AZ – 4/14/14 – 25 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1678. “You were fantastic, absolutely fantastic, This was all I had hoped for!” – Scott and Kim from Airdrie Alberta Canada – 4/13/14 – celebrated their 25th anniversary with their family at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel
1677. “Thank you” – Oresti and Becky from MELBOURNE Australia – 4/12/14 – 30 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1676. “Aregato gozai masu” – Hidetoshi and Yumi from Japan – 4/12/14 – 20 guests at the Palm Grove Beach at the Orchid
1675. “Dear Keith, Both Frederick and I wanted to say goodbye to you and thank you again for the most beautiful ceremony. You were absolutely fantastic and it was special. Everything you said was so meaningful and brought us both to tears a few times. Thank you for being a part of this incredibly special day for us. Mahalo” – Frederick and Catherine from Evanston, Illinois – 4/9/14 – celebration of vows at the Four Seasons Wedding Tree
1674. “Thank you so much” – Jeff and Vickie from Kalamazoo, MI – 4/4/14 – 2 guests at the Point at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for a 40th anniversary renewal of vows (Jeff and Vickie’s story really inspired me)
1673. “Aregato” – Hiroaki and Tsugumi from Japan – 4/4/14 – 4 guests at Christ church
1672. “Thank you so much!” – Scott and Cassandra from Northridge, CA – 3/25/14 – 25 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1671. “Thank you” – Kenneth and Joann from Temple City, CA – 3/23/14 – 50 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1670. “Thank you” – Chris and Kathleen from Pearl City, HI – 3/10/14 – celebrated their 20th anniversary with their children at the Hilton Waikoloa Village wedding chapel
1669. “Thank you that was awesome!” – Blaine and Kaylea from Chauvin, Alberta – 3/7/14 – 15 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1668. “Thank you” – Martin and Megan from Everett, WA – 3/6/14 – 14 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1667. “Thank you” – Jayson and Pei from Mason, MI – 2/28/14 – 25 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1665. “Great’ – James and Christina from La Crescenta, CA – 2/24/14 – 40 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (James and Christian are fitness instructors. For the recessional, they did lunges down the aisle. How funny.)
1664. “Thank you” – George and Beverly from CHERMANUS BC Canada – 2/24/14 – 30 guests at a home off Ha’o Kuni Street (What a beautiful bride! She never stopped smiling. George is the musician at many of the weddings I perform. It was an honor to get to be part of his wedding. George and Beverly’s first date was to the Willow Street Cafe. Now they sing there on Friday nights).
1663. “Thank you very much, that was amazing” – Gordon and Jaime from Graham, WA – 2/19/14 – 25 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (This bride did a couple of things that I haven’t seen done before. She set up the chairs on the palace lawn a little higher than usual so that she could stand on the flagstone path way. If you are wearing heels, this is a smart thing to do. Then she used the chapel as her reception spot. It was beautiful and it really worked well.)
1662. “Thank you” – Todd and Susan from Ballston Lake, NY – 2/17/14 – celebrated their seventeenth anniversary by renewing their vows with their 2 children at the wedding chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1661. “Thank you” – Sean and Elizabeth from Vancouver, WA – 2/15/14 – 40 guests at the Point at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1660. “Thank you – that was wonderful” – Rob and Erin from Indianapolis, IN – 2/14/14 – 30 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1659. “Thank you” – Adrian and Lori from Tempe, AZ – 2/8/14 – 65 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1658. “Aregato” – Takanori and Sonoi from Japan – 2/8/14 – 6 guests at the wedding chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1657. “This is exactly what we wanted! Are you familiar with Chinese weddings? This is so much better!” Tony and Thea from China – 2/6/14 – Kona Church of God
1656. “”Thank you – that was perfect” – Aaron and Brandi from Calgary Alberta Canada – 2/5/14 – 70 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1655. “”Thank you” – Austin and Takako from Hilo, HI 2/4/14 – 70 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
1654. “Aloha Keith, We just wanted to thank you for the beautiful ceremony. It was perfect and is something that we will cherish forever. We also would like to thank you for your lovely note. It contained great advice and insight into the true meaning of our marriage commitment. We think of it often. Mahalo nui loa. Aloha, P.S.: I am getting down the ‘Look’– Richie is doing a great job with the Honi Honi. (Lol). Thanks again.” – Richie and Marilyn from MASPETH, NY – 1/23/14 – 20 guests at the Palace Lawn at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (Life has many ironic twists and turns, Richie and Marilyn have an amazing love story. They started dating their freshman year of high school, went to all the high school dances together and then didn’t see each other for 40 years. When they met up later in life, the spark was still there! Thank you for your generosity)
1653. “Thank you so much – That was perfect” – Frederic and Virginie from Aigues mortes, France – 1/18/14 – 11 guests at the wedding chapel at the Hilton Waikoloa Village