Aloha! The health and safety of our guests is at the upmost importance to us, so as our wedding is getting closer, it is important to be aware of new and enhanced State of Hawaii Safe Travels entry requirements prior to departure. Please make sure to register for the State of Hawaii travel and health form for every person traveling to Hawaii. A negative COVID-19 “NAAT” test (taken within 72 hours) must be shown upon departure or a physical proof of your COVID-19 Vaccination Card. Please make sure to have your COVID-19 Test appointments in advance, as it can be hard to get an appointment in time prior to traveling. For more information please go to www.travel.Hawaii.gov Mahalo! See you soon!

Aloha! We truly hope that each and everyone of you are doing well and are staying safe during this unpredictable time of our lives. We do understand that the recent statement released from the governor of Hawaii had raised some concerns regarding large gatherings and if our wedding will still push through. We are pleased to share the news we received from the city of Waikoloa, that as of today, the celebration is still on! A permit from the city was granted to Hilton allowing us to have the wedding as planned, as long as we take the proper general precautions from this pandemic of course. Please be assured that the safety of our guests is at the upmost importance to us. So if needed, we may ask of proof of vaccination and/or a proof of a negative covid test, and may require mask wearing. And not to worry, any update we hear will be relayed to you right away, and we will be in close contact with you from now till the big day. We are absolutely excited to celebrate with you all! Mahalo and see you soon!

“We met in kindergarten” has always been the go-to response of both Jan and Raiza every time they were asked about how they met. Jan and Raiza grew up in Pangasinan, Philippines. In 2005, they immigrated to the United States – Jan in San Francisco, California and Raiza in Los Angeles, California. Their communication remained constant and they turned to each other when they felt homesick. They attended different colleges, continued on to form other friendships and moved on to different paths. Raiza eventually went back to the Philippines to pursue nursing, but their friendship continued throughout all these changes. The year that Raiza moved back to the United States after nursing school, her dad passed away. Jan, being the constant person throughout her life, remained by her side throughout this difficult time in her life. Finally, after years of friendship, Jan asked Raiza to visit the Bay Area, where they eventually had their first date, their first kiss, and their first dance. Jan and Raiza started their relationship as long distance - funny enough, he asked her to be his girlfriend while they were talking on Facetime one night, and after she had said YES, his battery died! She didn't hear from him till the next day, when he called her at 5 am and said " Good morning, Baby!" Raiza remembers jumping out of bed and realized, "HE'S NOW MY BOYFRIEND!” After 7 months of taking turns traveling to visit each other every weekend, they decided to take the leap and move closer to each other. Raiza was only beginning to establish her career as a nurse, while Jan was already rooted in the Bay Area, it was the perfect time and it was easier for her to move. They were frequently asked why they “took a leap of faith" and took their friendship to the next level. While many expected the most romantic response, Jan and Raiza usually just shrug and respond, "the day it happened, and the day we decided it was time- everything just made perfect sense."

In the midst of intense wildfire smoke engulfing the air of northern California, it is apparent that the spirit of love stands strong on bringing its magic into fruition. It was early October morning when Jan and Raiza received an “all clear” from their favorite winery, MacRostie Winery Estate House, for their scheduled wine tasting reservation. There was no special occasion, or so Raiza had thought. As Jan, Raiza, Maggie, and Max take their normal drive to Healdsburg, CA, the estate house staff prepares for their arrival. Jan’s hired photographer was discreetly acting as if she was taking pictures of the winery. After a few tastings have gone by overlooking the vast array of blooming vineyards, Raiza is asked by the estate house manager if she could be part of the winery pictures for “social media reasons”. This was all happening while Jan was going to the restroom. In reality, he was grabbing the “bling” from the car. As Raiza and the dogs were being photographed in the middle of the vineyard, Jan walks down this narrow path, looks at Raiza in the eyes, and kneels down on one knee. The story from kindergarten friends, to becoming best friends, and now soulmates, Jan and Raiza’s journey came full circle with a “YES!”