Hawaii Weddings Down

Aloha Kakou:

With the current state of the economy, the number of non-Hawaii residents getting married here has decreased by 30% since 2005, current figures show.

Many couples are now choosing to get married in a less expensive location, such as the Caribbean, or are shunning destination weddings entirely, instead opting to spend more on their festivities at home.

Of those couples still getting married in Hawaii, many are having smaller weddings.

"Marriage is a major component to the tourism industry," said Alvin Onaka, who heads up the Department of Health's vital statistics office as the state's registrar. He said that several factors may be involved in the steady decline in nonresident marriage licenses, but the economy is by far the biggest.

Hawaii's Department of Health issued 5,596 marriage licenses for nonresidents, down 13% from 2008.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100412/NEWS01/4120351/Hawaii+losing+some+enchantment++as+wedding+site+for+nonresidents