By Shira G. Tarantino
Officiant Heath Wyld Handfasting officiant Heath Wyld in Kona, Hawaii Hailing from the Big Island of Hawaii, Heath performs handfastings and wedding ceremonies on all of the Hawaiian Islands. He especially enjoys performing handfastings at Haleakala National Park on Maui, which he describes as "a spectacular location" for weddings.
Heath tells Handfastings Magazine about the traditional Hawaiian people's version of the handfasting: "In the Hawaiian version, the Hawaiian priest does not use rainbow-colored ribbons or red cords or Scottish tartans. Instead, the officiant binds the couple's hand in two intertwined Maile leaf vines. "It is really special," Heath remarks. "The Maile leaf lei is also the lei that men usually wear when they get married [Heath is pictured above wearing the lei]."
Heath describes his colorful spiritual path: "When I was younger, I was a Pagan. In late 1993, in Korea, I fasted for four-and-a-half days and four nights with no food or water, and fasted off-and-on for four months after that, breaking my fast with one meal every 2 - 4 days. In 1999 and 2000, I apprenticed with a Peruvian shaman named Lauro in Mexico. In 2000, I spent 4 months with Huichol indian shamans, in the mountains of Central Mexico. I have done intensive research into historical and contemporary religions, Ancient Greek magical texts, etc., and I have treasured all 12 volumes of The Golden Bough [by James Frazer]. I have traveled to the Scottish Highlands and find them to be spectacularly beautiful. But now I am a committed Humanist."
Heath lives in a house built on top of the 1990 Kalapana Gardens lava flow. That year, there was a volcanic eruption of the Kilauea volcano that destroyed a quiet residential neighborhood. "About 50-70 feet under the house where I'm living, there used to be an entire subdivision," Heath says. "The post office will not deliver out here; only UPS does." Kilauea is a shield volcano, which means it is low and flattish. Because of its angle, the lava flow is very slow. Heath describes his distant back yard: "There is lava flowing over the hill right now. In the daytime, all you can see is the smoke, where it is burning down trees and brush. At night, you can see rivers of lava. It is really very beautiful."
Wow! I can only imagine having a handfasting in this area.
Here are some interesting pictures of the cooled lava flow: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/history/1990Kalapana/
Heath can be found at WildGreenCeremonies.com
Heath tells Handfastings Magazine about the traditional Hawaiian people's version of the handfasting: "In the Hawaiian version, the Hawaiian priest does not use rainbow-colored ribbons or red cords or Scottish tartans. Instead, the officiant binds the couple's hand in two intertwined Maile leaf vines. "It is really special," Heath remarks. "The Maile leaf lei is also the lei that men usually wear when they get married [Heath is pictured above wearing the lei]."
Heath describes his colorful spiritual path: "When I was younger, I was a Pagan. In late 1993, in Korea, I fasted for four-and-a-half days and four nights with no food or water, and fasted off-and-on for four months after that, breaking my fast with one meal every 2 - 4 days. In 1999 and 2000, I apprenticed with a Peruvian shaman named Lauro in Mexico. In 2000, I spent 4 months with Huichol indian shamans, in the mountains of Central Mexico. I have done intensive research into historical and contemporary religions, Ancient Greek magical texts, etc., and I have treasured all 12 volumes of The Golden Bough [by James Frazer]. I have traveled to the Scottish Highlands and find them to be spectacularly beautiful. But now I am a committed Humanist."
Heath lives in a house built on top of the 1990 Kalapana Gardens lava flow. That year, there was a volcanic eruption of the Kilauea volcano that destroyed a quiet residential neighborhood. "About 50-70 feet under the house where I'm living, there used to be an entire subdivision," Heath says. "The post office will not deliver out here; only UPS does." Kilauea is a shield volcano, which means it is low and flattish. Because of its angle, the lava flow is very slow. Heath describes his distant back yard: "There is lava flowing over the hill right now. In the daytime, all you can see is the smoke, where it is burning down trees and brush. At night, you can see rivers of lava. It is really very beautiful."
Wow! I can only imagine having a handfasting in this area.
Here are some interesting pictures of the cooled lava flow: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/history/1990Kalapana/
Heath can be found at WildGreenCeremonies.com
Photo by Graham Chappell
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