The Wedding of Brodie and Mackenzie, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

E Komo Mai, Welcome To The Hawaiian Wedding Estate

North Shore, Haula

Oahu, Hawai’i

Mackenzie and Brodie, March 6, 2026

The Wedding Estate

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Gordon and I at our Hotel in Waikiki, Ready to Leave for the Wedding

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But First…..

One thing that Gordon and I wanted to do while we were in Hawaii was to buy new wedding rings for ourselves.

Our 1985 Wedding Rings

I outgrew mine many years ago and quit wearing it, my fingers got too fat. Gordon suggested that I get it stretched but I just didn’t want to tamper with it. I know that whenever you tamper with something like that, that it looses the value and I just insisted that it be left as it is. That is when I passed my wedding ring down to my granddaughter for her to keep. After all, I still have my great-grandmother’s wedding ring and I enjoy wearing it sometimes.

Gordon’s finger also got too fat for his wedding ring and had to have it cut off. It was originally a size 9 1/2 and his finger had become a size 11 1/2. So he had it mended and more gold added to it, and it did work for awhile until one day the top just split in half and he could no longer wear it. Like I said, when you tamper with things like this, things usually go wrong.

We were looking into buying the Hawaiian gold rings that are very beautiful and ornate, but I didn’t want us to spend so much money on them at our ages, and at this time in our government’s uncertain history. (After all, a war was started the day we arrived in Hawaii, with Gordon’s working overseas suddenly becoming uncertain.) It was then that we spotted these rings. They are Koa Wood and the Shell is an Abalone from New Zealand. PERFECT!

They Represent the Land and the Sea

The Shell also reminds me of my Kiwi friend Trish that died years ago.

I miss her and think of her everyday as it is. 🙂

These rings also fit our spirituality at this time in our lives. I think the big flashy diamonds are for those younger than us.

Looks like Brodie got a wedding ring that matches our own. Great minds, huh? 🙂

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In The Rental And On Our Way To The Wedding

Funny Story: As we were exiting our hotel and walking towards the parking garage to get our car, a couple passed us and the woman said, “Wow, you look good!”

I then turned to her and said Thank you, only to then realize she was talking to Gordon.

Hard to compete with him. 🙂

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The Drive To The North Shore

Take The Likelike

(Pronounced Leak-A Leak-A)

It’s always easy to spot a Mainlander especially how they pronounce the Likelike.

After driving through the mountain range the road takes you along the shore beside this beautiful ocean.

Passed a Fisherman with his Truck Full of Nets

The Sea Surrounded By Lava Rocks

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We Did Make A Stop At Chinaman’s Hat

Chinaman’s Hat Is My Most Favorite Hawaii Site

It is said that a Chinaman is sitting underneath his hat, eating his rice from his bowl with his chopsticks.

This is a print in a Koa Wood frame that I bought back in 1999 that Brodie wanted.

I happily gave it to him knowing how special that it was to all of us.

The Chinaman Underneath His Hat Enjoying His Rice In His Bowl 🙂

I think between us we were taking photos with about 4 different cameras, phones included.

With the Exception of the Wedding, This Made My Day!

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Time To Head To The Wedding

Nice To See You Again, Chinaman’s Hat

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The Ko’olau Mountain Range

This beautiful mountain range is located right next to the beach at Chinaman’s Hat.

The wind makes the mountains look so beautiful.

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The Wedding Estate

The Estate was located along the North Shore drive. It was so beautiful! It is far larger than it looks. I’m told it was about 10,000 square feet and can sleep up to 40. This is where the bride’s family and friends stayed. (We were initially asked to stay here as well, which was very generous of Mackenzie’s parents to want to include us.)

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Everything Along The North Shore Was So Lush

Spot The Chicken

Chicken’s Run Wild All Over The Island

This is something new. When we lived on the island you never saw any chickens running wild.

You might hear them in the yard’s of the local families as you would drive by, but they were not so prevalent as it is now.

Besides, this chicken participated in the wedding vows! Always made a loud comment between vows, and at the perfect time. 🙂

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The Front Door To The Estate

Gordon and I arrived early for the wedding and had the pleasure of being able to roam around a bit on our own.

Me, Unknowingly Walking Through Chicken Poop 🙂

I Do So Love This Estate Elkhorn And Landscaping

The Lanai

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Gordon, Waiting For The Wedding To Start

Here Gordon and I are Roaming Around the Estate

We loved it! It was so big and beautiful. Very Hawaiian in the look of it all. Loved the dark woods.

The Kitchen and Breakfast Bar

Finally Saw Our First Gecko!

Gecko’s had the run of our home in Honolulu back in the day. I loved them!

Surprisingly, this one was the only one we saw while on the island for 2 weeks.

Here Is A Lovely Side Deck, With A Pool Underneath

How Tranquil

As Always, I Love All The Palms

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Diamond Head

A Beautiful Painting In The Estate

Check Out That Cute Stairway?

We would have loved to see the entire estate but it was being occupied by all the guests so we didn’t ask.

But, it was quite impressive! Very Hawaiian!

Yet Another Painting In The Estate

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While we were waiting at the bottom of the stairs by the entrance, who should appear but the bride!

Gordon was happy to escort his beautiful daughter-in-law down the stairs. Mackenzie looked stunning!

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Brodie Waiting Right Outside The Front Door For His Bride To Surprise Him

Gordon Took These Photos Of The Moment,

While I Took These….

I shot these through the clear slots on the frosted front door. I do love the look of these.

It Did Kind Of Feel As If We Were Intruding Into A Special Moment

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The Flowers and the Palms were so Beautiful

The Uniqueness of the Polynesian Cultures come Together

The Alter

The Grounds Were Beautiful

So, Why A Hawaii Wedding?

I can only guess, but we lived in Hawaii for 13 years. Both Brodie and Veronica were born here. Hawaii stays in your blood forever. We even gave Brodie a Hawaii middle name which wasn’t even used in the wedding ceremony. I mean, Hawaii vacation, Hawaii wedding, Hawaii estate, Hawaii flowers, but not a word in the ceremony to even acknowledge his Hawaiian middle name, Kanakaleo. It’s meaning is strong voice. And as for the bride, I can only assume that she wanted a tropical wedding. 🙂

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The Beautiful Floral Touches

Whoever Did The Flowers Knew What They Were Doing

But if you think about it, weaving flowers together in a beautiful way is in their culture so of course it’s all going to look lovely.

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The Wedding Guests, and The Tropical Cocktails

The Seating

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I Know That We Are Ready For This Beautiful Wedding To Take Place

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The Estate Chicken and a cute Pot on this Beautiful Fence

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Gordon Taking A Selfie With Our Groom’s Side

The Bride’s Side, The Lovely Mother of the Bride in Front

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Here Comes The Groom

I Believe Brodie Is Wearing A Maile And Ti Leaf Lei

Brodie Looks Really Good, We Were Very Proud Of Him

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I Can Only Assume That She Is A Spiritual Priestess?

I Don’t Know Her Official Title, But She Was Very Good

I Like That They Had A Woman To Officiate The Ceremony

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The Handsome Best Man, Jason whom we have known since we moved to Florida in 2003, and who has been one of Brodie’s best friends since they were 14.

The Maid-of-Honor, Susannah the bride’s twin sister, looking gorgeous in pink.

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Here Comes The Bride

Mackenzie’s Father Proudly Walking Her Down The Isle

The Couple Look Wonderful

(I will leave these next photos to speak for themselves. It isn’t up to me to fill in any blanks on their big day. Only they know what is in their hearts.)

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Mr. and Mrs.

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They Did Good!

This is probably the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to in my life.

Not that I have been to many, but this one is off the charts for me!

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The Family Photos

Mackenzie, Brodie and Her Parents, Left

Best Man Jason and his Beautiful wife Paola, Right

Maid of Honor and Best Man With Brodie and Mackenzie, Left

Bride’s Family, Right

Groom’s Family

Brian, Veronica, Isabelle, Mackenzie, Brodie, Julie, Gordon

Gordon and Brodie

The Proud Parents

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Brodie Did Really Good

Brodie With Veronica, Gordon and Brian

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So Very Proud Of My Children And The Adults They Have Become

Veronica, Isabelle, and Brian

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The Wedding Reception Dinner

Held At The Wedding Venue Estate

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Mackenzie’s Rings!

They are so beautiful. I did give Brodie my engagement ring that Gordon gave me in 1983. Brodie then passed it on to Mackenzie. It looks much better on her finger than it ever did on mine. 🙂 Happy to pass it on to the next generation of Whann women.

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Our Table

Brian, Isabelle, and Veronica Enjoying Their Dinner

This Whole Area Is Just So Beautiful and Spacious

The Newlyweds Have Arrived

Applause, Applause, Applause

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The Wedding Dance

Mackenzie and Her Dad

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Some Happy Photos

Veronica with Brodie, and Veronica with Mackenzie

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Time For The Toasts

Gordon’s was short and sweet. Pretty sure he winged it. 🙂

Brodie and Mackenzie Looking Sceptical

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Mackenzie’s twin sister Susannah gave a lovely speech of a childhood memory she shared.

Susannah Speaking, and her fiance Matt Looking so Proud of Her 🙂

(Their wedding will be in 2027.)

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Time For The Best Man Speech

We sat next to Jason and his wife Paola during the reception dinner. I probably talked his ear off but I have always liked Jason. It was cute that initially his speech was about 10 pages long and his wife told him to shorten it. But when the bride’s sister Susannah gave her speech it was beautiful and touching, but very long. I then leaned over to Jason and told him that it looks like his 10 pages weren’t so long after all. 🙂

One thing that Jason noted about Hawaii was how spiritual it is. He even mentioned that ‘you can feel it.’ That is Hawaii in a nutshell. You feel the history, the many cultures, the beauty, and the ancestors all around you. All the Hawaiian people ask is that you respect it.

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The Wedding Cake

Simple, Yet Beautiful and Perfect

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Having Some Delicious Wedding Cake

Gordon and I were very proud of them. They will face challenges in their life that we did not. We do wish them the best in life. This wedding having taken place in Hawaii gave every single person that came to Hawaii for this very special occasion, great memories that they will carry through their lives. Not just of the wedding and other celebrations associated with it, but to be able to visit such a lovely and spiritual place will stay with them all. I know that we were happy to go back to Aloha.

A Hui Hou,

Julie and Gordon

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