Aloha, Mr. Steele 7/8

Aloha, Mr. Steele 7/8
Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
From: "SusanRS" <myrtlelauragroggins@yahoo.com>

Aloha, Mr. Steele
Chapter seven


Remington checked his watch. He hoped everything was okay. What could she want to talk to Daniel about? He sent Kai to check on them. When Kai reached the doors to the hotel, Laura and Daniel were just coming out.

"Are you ready, Laura?" Kai asked.

"Yes, I am," Laura said and then added, "Mr. Chalmers will be walking me down the beach."

Kai motioned for Laura and Daniel to remove their shoes and place them with the other guest's shoes. For a woman who loved wearing three-inch heels, Laura had never imagined that she and Mr. Steele would be getting married barefoot. Laura and Daniel walked to the spot behind a few palm trees and waited for the ceremony to begin. She couldn't wait to see the look on Remington's face when he saw her.

Laura tried to calm her nerves. She certainly wasn't nervous about marrying him. She knew, without a doubt, that he was the only man for her. What she was feeling was giddy and excited. Excited to become the wife of the most incredible man she had ever met. Excited to begin the next chapter of their life together and add to the many crazy and wonderful memories they already shared. Excited to stand before him in front of their friends and family and profess the love she had for him.

Kai signaled for the ceremony to begin. A Hawaiian man dressed in traditional attire blew into a conch shell three times and then bellowed a traditional Hawaiian chant.

"*This is it!*" Laura thought.

A trio of musicians dressed in brightly colored floral print shirts began to play their ukuleles. They sang the Hawaiian words to a love song in perfect harmony as Laura and Daniel proceeded down the beach. The music was beautiful.

Eia au ke kali nei
Aia la i hea ku'u aloha
Eia au ke huli nei
A loa`a `oe e ka ipo
Maha ka `i`ini a ka pu`uwai
Ua sila pa`a `ia me `oe
Ko aloha makamae e ipo
Ka`u ia e lei a`e nei la
Nou no ka `i`ini (nou ka `i`ini) A nou wale no (wale no)
A o ko aloha ka`u e hi`ipoi mau

Laura tried to commit everything to memory; the sound of the enchanting music, the feel of the sand between her toes, the smell and sound of the ocean, the warmth of the sun and especially the look on his face.

Remington was standing inside a large, abundant circle of beautiful fresh flowers in the sand near the waters edge. The minister dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire stood next to him in the circle. Remington's heart leapt when he saw Laura walking down the beach towards him. He was touched by the fact that she was escorted by Daniel.

Laura looked so beautiful in her flowing white dress. The sun kissed her freckled skin and the ocean breeze gently blew her curly locks. Remington smiled at the realization that this incredible woman was about to become his wife.

Remington looked so handsome in his tan chinos and white-on-white Hawaiian print shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal his abundant chest hair. Laura didn't want to take her eyes off of him. But, for a brief moment, she glanced over and saw her wedding guests. It was obvious that Abigail, Frances and Mildred were already crying.

Remington and Laura were both oblivious to the photographer who was stealthily taking pictures to capture this beautiful moment.

Laura and Daniel reached the wedding party. Daniel kissed Laura on the cheek before taking his place next to Abigail. Remington reached out and took Laura's hand, leading her into the thick wreath of flowers. She looked into his azure blue eyes as a single tear fell onto his cheek. Laura reached up to brush it away. Remington smiled at her.

"You look so beautiful," he said softly.

"So do you," she replied smiling.

"I love you," Remington said and leaned in to give her a kiss. When their lips parted, he turned to the minister and said, "Sorry, I just couldn't wait until the end to kiss her."

The minister smiled. "This is one of the things that makes a Hawaiian wedding special," he said. "We don't wait for the end of the ceremony to start the kissing. Throughout the ceremony feel free to hold hands, embrace and share a kiss."

Remington smiled and reached over to pull Laura close to him.

The minister started the ceremony. "Guests, you may be seated." He turned to the bride and groom. "Remington and Laura, congratulations on your marriage," he began. "You have chosen one of the most beautiful places in the world to be married. But we are celebrating a different kind of beauty today--your love."

"A Hawaiian wedding often begins with the exchange of leis. This is done for several different reasons. One is that the lei is a circle, like the rings that will soon be exchanged, representing the eternal commitment and unbroken devotion of your hearts to each other. Also, each individual flower that is woven into the lei loses none of its individual beauty when it forms the circle. Its beauty is enhanced. Likewise, in your marriage, you do not lose any of your individual identity and unique beauty. In fact, because of the nurturing care and support of your relationship, you become even more of that special individual your partner fell in love with."

The minister handed a lei to Remington.

"Remington, please place this lei around the neck of your bride, and as you do so please give her a kiss."

Remington carefully placed the tuberose lei around Laura's neck and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"And Laura, place this lei around the neck of your beloved with a kiss," the minister said.

Laura stood on tiptoes to place the tuberose and maile lei twist over Remington's head and onto his neck. Then she kissed him gently on the lips.

The minister continued. "The Hawaiians have always had a sensitivity to the sacredness of special times and places. At the end of this service I will use a lava rock and Ti leaf to perform a Hawaiian blessing that commemorates this precious moment and sacred union."

"There is an additional significance as well. We see only the surface of the A'ina, the land. It is below, unseen, where the depth of the land abides. So also, we see and respect the outer expression of your relationship together. Only the two of you know the true and unseen depth of your inner union."

"This can also be compared to the beauty of the Pacific Ocean surrounding us here on the island of Maui, which you have chosen as the backdrop to your ceremony. We see constant changes on the surface of the sea. It is below, and unseen, where the life of the ocean resides."

"You will face constant change in the outer obligations of your life, while drawing from within yourself and your partner that rich and powerful inner spiritual strength that the Hawaiians call Mana. Allow your partner to be true to that inner life purpose and power."

"And if we speak of land and ocean, let's include as well the beauty of the mountains that surround us. Telescopes are looking outward and upward from the summit of Haleakala, making new discoveries there every day. Your marriage is not only about inner depth and strength. It is also a looking outward to the accomplishment of hopes, dreams and aspirations. One of those dreams is being fulfilled at this very moment. Continue to reach out, not only for your own personal satisfaction but for the uplifting of your Ohana, that circle of family, friends and community that will be enriched by your love and care."

"Continue to say I love you. Do not make a list of the occasional disappointments and conflicts that come between you. May the exchange of leis be a symbol to you of a healthy relationship, a giving and receiving, that mutual interchange that strengthens you both. Sometimes the simple gift of a flower speaks deeper than words about the heart's desire for your relationship to blossom, to be fragrant and to grow ever closer."

"Remington, please take Laura by the right hand."

Remington reached out and took Laura's right hand in his.

"Remington, do you take Laura to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, treasuring her in your heart as the special gift that she is to you, striving to do all that you can to make her to feel happy and secure, treating her with understanding, kindness and respect for all the days before you?"

"Yes, I do," Remington replied smiling.

"Laura, do you take Remington to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, treasuring him in your heart as the special gift that he is to you, striving to do all that you can to make him to feel happy and secure, treating him with understanding, kindness and respect for all the days before you?"

"I do," Laura replied and smiled back at him.

"Are there rings to commemorate these vows and your love?" the minister asked.

Remington and Laura both nodded. The minister handed a Koa bowl to Remington.

"A few moments before this ceremony I dipped this Koa wood bowl into the Pacific Ocean in order to perform a Hawaiian blessing over these rings," the minister said. "Koa, which is the hardest of our Hawaiian woods, has been used over the centuries to build the outrigger canoes, tools and utensils. It has come to represent integrity and strength; foundational qualities of your relationship. Marriage is more than just the beautiful passion and tender emotion of love. It is a foundational covenant based on faith, hope and love. The Ti leaf represents prosperity, health and blessing of body, mind and spirit."

The minister dipped a Ti leaf in the bowl, sprinkled the rings three times and chanted:

"Ei-Ah Eha-No. Ka Malohia Oh-Na-Lani. Mea A-Ku A-Pau. May blessings from above rest upon you and remain with you now and forever."

"The water has a double significance. One is a washing back into the Pacific, as it were, symbolically, of any hindrance to relationship. In Hawaiian this is called Ho'oponopono or reconciliation. Even the best relationship is challenged at times. This principle of forgiveness, grace and release is essential to marriage. Time is to be taken whenever necessary to build understanding and to find restoration of union when conflict arises. Open and honest communication is a part of this processes but so also is music, good food and dance."

"The second aspect of the water represents the brand new relationship that you start today as husband and wife."

"Remington, as you take this ring and place it upon Laura's finger, please repeat after me: Laura, with this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and my devotion to you, I thee wed."

Remington gently placed the wedding band on Laura's finger and said, "Laura, with this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and my devotion to you, I thee wed."

Remington reached into his pocket and retrieved Laura's antique diamond engagement ring. He gently slid the ring on her finger and it fit snugly against her Hawaiian wedding band.

Laura looked down at the two rings on her left hand and smiled. One ring represented the vows they were making and the beginning of their life together. The other ring represented the years they had spent together struggling to get to this incredible happiness.

The old and the new. The past and the future. All in one perfect wedding set.

"And likewise," the minister said, handing Remington's wedding band to Laura.

Laura put the ring on Remington's finger, looked into his eyes and said, "Remington, with this ring as a symbol of my eternal love and my devotion to you, I thee wed."

"And now we will hear The Hawaiian Wedding Song," the minister announced.

The three Hawaiian musicians once again played their ukuleles, but this time only one of them sang. The words and the music were so enchanting.

This is the moment I've waited for. I can hear my heart singing. Soon bells will be ringing. This is the moment Of sweet Aloha. I will love you longer than forever. Promise me that you will leave me never. Here and now, dear, All my love I vow dear. Promise me that you will leave me never. I will love you longer than forever. Now that we are one, Clouds won't hide the sun. Blue skies of Hawaii smile On this, our wedding day. I do love you With all my heart.

After the song ended, the minister continued. "As I mentioned at the beginning of the service, I now take this lava rock and Ti leaf to perform the final blessing. The rock represents this moment and place of your marriage - made sacred by your love. Wrapped in the leaf it is a traditional Hawaiian offering, a prayer and a blessing. You are to place it anywhere you choose on the island before you leave. It will stay here. Your rings will be with you everywhere you go, a reminder of your marriage and love. The rock marks your entrance into a promised land, that of marriage, full of rich promise and unlimited potential. May the joy of your many years together far exceed even your greatest expectation."

"We have had a very special honor here today to witness your love and Aloha; your exchange of leis, vows, and rings. And now by the authority that has been entrusted to me by the State of Hawaii, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss."

Remington cupped the sides of Laura's face in his hands and gently brought her lips to his. A kiss never tasted sweeter. Remington Steele and Laura Holt had shared many incredible kisses over the course of their relationship: their first kiss on the pier, the kiss in the cellar of the monastery, the kiss in the hotel room in Acapulco, the kiss in her loft when they ended the Cannes agreement and many, many more. But those kisses paled in comparison to their first kiss as husband and wife.

"I now present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Remington Steele," the minister declared as their kiss finally ended.

The musicians began playing another Hawaiian love song. Remington and Laura turned towards their smiling guests as they all rose to their feet. Frances and Donald were the first to congratulate them.

"Congratulations, Mr. Steele," Donald said as they shook hands.

"Please, Donald, call me Remington," he replied and then added, "We're family now."

"Remington," Donald corrected. "It will be great having you as a brother-in-law."

Laura and Frances hugged as Frances offered her best wishes to her little sister. Abigail, Daniel and Mildred were waiting not-so-patiently for their turns. Hugs and felicitations were shared by all.

Remington said to their guests, "If you'll excuse us for a moment, there is something Laura and I need to do. Please meet us at the restaurant."

Remington scooped Laura up into his arms and carried her off the beach.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"It's a surprise," he replied.

To be continued . . .
To Part 8

AN: The words and music to the Hawaiian wedding song were written in 1926 by Charles King. Used without permission.

The English words in the Hawaiian Wedding song are not the correct translation, but it is the version that was used in the 1961 Elvis movie Blue Hawaii and written in 1958 by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. Used without permission. (Blue Hawaii. Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Hilo Hattie. Paramount, 1961.)

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