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    This Olympic Volleyball Player’s Kona Village Wedding Was a Heartfelt Tribute to His Hawaiian Roots

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    Photo: Kelly Vahos

    The couple decided to tie the knot on May 24, 2026, in Kona Village on the Big Island of Hawai’i. “Micah is Native Hawaiian, and his Hawaiian culture is something deeply rooted within him and his family,” explains Zana. “Having the privilege of getting married on the island of Hawaiʻi, on land that feels so raw, untouched, and sacred, was something we didn’t take lightly. Throughout the entire planning process, we wanted to honor and respect the culture of this land and its people. We kept coming back to one simple vision for the wedding: a sense of place.”

    Curating a thoughtful group of vendors made this dream come to life. Alison Rose Events managed planning, while the bride and her future sister-in-law helped lead the design process. “I spent so much time finding the right people—people who felt like family and, in many cases, actually were,” says Zana. “Each of our musicians was a friend of the family, which made every space feel that much more intimate. It wasn’t a stranger playing a violin; it was a friend sharing his gift with us on one of the most meaningful days of our lives.”

    Florals, in particular, were a key part of their wedding weekend’s vision. Ren McDonald of Renko Floral foraged greenery and blooms from all over the island—including some family members’ backyards—to create organic arrangements that felt true to the environment. Lei worn throughout the weekend were also hand-made by Micah’s family. “None of these details were about creating something simply for the sake of beauty,” says Zana. “They were about making the weekend feel like us and, just as importantly, making it feel like Hawaiʻi.”

    With a full weekend of celebration planned throughout Kona Village, the couple needed to fill their wardrobes with the perfect pieces for each event. Zana looked back in her closet for her first bridal look. “Micah and I actually got legally married the year before at Kona Village with just the two of us and our officiant,” says the bride. “I wore a Hanne Bloch two-piece silk tulle set, and we stood barefoot on the lanai of our hale as we said our vows. When it came time to choose what I would wear to our welcome party exactly one year later, it felt only right to wear that same outfit again.” The groom also donned a piece from the past for the party, choosing to wear his Tūtū’s (grandfather’s) aloha shirt as a nostalgic touch.

    The next day was full of activities, starting with a pickleball tournament with a Wimbledon white dress code. The bride wore a matching Alo set and popped on a custom hat the couple had made for all their guests. “Of course, Micah won,” says Zana. “I’m still not sure his partner touched a single ball, but that’s beside the point.” The couple then spent the afternoon poolside with all their guests. Zana kept it carefree in a Monday Swimwear bikini with a Solaqua cover-up. “We had fresh coconuts filled with a little rum float, lounged around the pool, and eventually ended up taking one huge group swim out to the lily pad in the ocean,” she says.

    The bride’s next ensemble made a bigger statement. “For our rehearsal dinner, I wore a shell-and-fringe dress by British designer Kilentar that weighed 22 pounds,” Zana says. “The dress was everything that night was: fun, organic, flirty, and a little unexpected. It floated and moved so beautifully, and with literally every step I took, the shells made the most incredible sound.” Micah complemented her natural-toned look in a custom linen button-down and trousers.

    Zana at first struggled to find a dress for the wedding day until Danielle Frankel opened her bridal boutique in Los Angeles. “I tried on my dress just days after it had come down the runway, and immediately, my mind was made up,” she says of her strapless gown. “The organic, lightweight linen fabric mirrored the textures of the landscape around us, while the bubble hem gave the dress this beautiful shape and movement that reminded me of the ocean and the lava rock.” Micah had one request for Zana’s bridal ensemble: he asked her to wear a veil. A style from Danielle Frankel was the perfect fit. “I loved it so much that I vowed to myself she will be worn again,” she says.

    For Micah’s walk down the aisle, he had a bespoke suit made at The Imperial Tailoring Company in Moscow. “He had been away for the eight months leading up to the wedding, so having a suit made together in the U.S. simply wasn’t possible,” explains Zana. “Instead, we set out to find the best tailor we could in Russia and ended up creating the most incredible custom suit for him.” She adds, “In a funny way, even his wedding look became a reflection of the life we were living at the time.”

    During the reception, Zana had two outfit changes. First, she wore a mini dress that was crafted from the skirt of her mother’s wedding dress. “Wearing a piece of my mother’s dress was so much more emotional than I anticipated,” she reflects. Her final look was an Elce linen two-piece set with a backless halter top and pants. “It was very me—comfortable, freeing, and effortless,” Zana says.

    Zana’s jewelry throughout the weekend was actually all pieces borrowed from her mother’s best friend, Lisa Wehrly, whom the bride sees as a mentor and role model. “I was able to wear pieces from her collection throughout the celebrations, each one carrying its own stories and history,” she says.

    The celebrations kicked off on Friday night with a casual welcome event overlooking the ocean. Cocktails, bites, and conversation led to an unexpected turn. “In classic Hawaiian get-together fashion, it wasn’t long before someone picked up a microphone,” says Zana. “Micah’s sister, Mehana Maʻa, took the mic for a few songs, followed by Micah himself, who sang ‘I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz. He then somehow transitioned into a hilarious, completely off-the-cuff freestyle, welcoming everyone to this beautiful place and telling them to get ready for the best weekend. Everyone absolutely erupted. It was spontaneous and so perfectly Micah, and it immediately set the tone for the weekend.”

    The next day was filled with pickleball, poolside drinks, and connection under the Hawaiian sun. Then, the night turned more intimate with a rehearsal dinner in a Kiawe grove with an open-air barbecue. The couple, who love to host, wanted the evening to feel like a night at their home with speeches added in. “Of course, Micah and I decided it was necessary to make our way around dinner, taking a shot with every single table,” says Zana. “Needless to say, the energy escalated pretty quickly. Everyone loosened up, we ate incredible food, laughed all night, and had the absolute best time.”

    However, the night didn’t end just yet. The couple and friends piled into golf carts back to their villa. “The second I walked through the door, my 22-pound dress hit the floor, and everyone jumped straight into the pool in their clothes. I opted for slightly less clothing and did a little skinny-dipping,” says Zana. “My mom and dad came out of bed and jumped in wearing their pajamas, while my brother and the rest of our family were mildly appalled that I was completely naked. It was chaotic and ridiculous and absolutely perfect.” She adds, “It will forever be one of my favorite memories from the weekend.”

    The ceremony took place the next day on the black sand beach surrounded by lava rock and cliffs overlooking the ocean. “It was dramatic. It was raw. It was perfect,” describes Zana. The bride walked down the aisle with her father to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and Micah’s best friend Evan Enriques officiated the proceedings. “The vows were, without question, the heart of it all,” remembers the bride. “There was nothing gentle or lighthearted about them. They were genuine and from the heart—raw and unfiltered, just like the place where we stood. From what we’ve heard since the wedding, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight.” The couple both felt as if everything else fell away and they were speaking to each other from the heart. “It was one of the best moments of my life,” says the bride.

    The reception kicked off with cocktail hour, followed by dinner and dancing. “Micah’s seven-year-old niece opened dinner with a prayer in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, which was such a special way to begin the evening,” says Zana. Speeches were followed by a hula performance by Micah’s three sisters and niece, then a fire knife dance from the groom’s best friend, Larry “Tui” Tuileta. “Before long, Micah and Evan had joined him,” says Zana. Watching the three of them together was so special because this wasn’t something created for the wedding—they have been doing versions of this at family parties since they were little.”

    “The rest of the night is honestly a blur in the best possible way,” says the bride. Dancing was followed by another late-night jump into the pool at the villa after-party. “Eventually, it was just Micah and me and a handful of our closest friends sitting around the dinner table, talking until four in the morning. A couple of them stayed so late that they left the table and headed almost directly to the airport for their flights home.”

    “It felt like the perfect way to end the weekend,” adds the bride. “We’re just heartbroken that we can’t do it all over again!”

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    It’s happening! I remember walking up to the Moana Lawn and thinking, “Oh my gosh, it’s really here.” Seeing everything I had envisioned come to life brought this incredible combination of relief and excitement. Suddenly, it was all real. —Zana

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    My grandma and one of my best friends, hand-in-hand and cocktail in hand. Exactly the spirit we were hoping for all weekend! —Zana

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    This photo captures the pure joy I felt watching all of my favorite people arrive for our wedding weekend. Savannah is my childhood best friend, and I had the privilege of standing beside her during her own magical wedding celebrations. Now it was my turn. There is something so special about moving through life’s biggest chapters alongside the people who have known you the longest. —Zana

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    Are you kidding?! The sunset, the people, the weather, the place, and THAT MAN! No words will ever do it justice. —Zana

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    In this moment, I remember feeling exactly the way I used to in college while watching Micah play volleyball at UCLA. His charisma and energy are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I think everyone there was completely charmed by him in that moment. It was just so perfectly Micah. —Zana

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    My niece has been asking her mom nonstop if she can please go back to Uncle Micah and Aunty Zana’s wedding. I’m not sure anyone had a better time than she did. —Micah

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    Everyone hard at work putting together their scouting reports.

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    For our save-the-dates, I embroidered our wedding details onto the same linen my dress was made from. They simply read, “Micah and Susannah – Kona Village, HI – May 24, 2026.” My Grandma Sue, never one to miss an opportunity, used hers to customize her hat for the pickleball tournament. —Zana

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    I’m pretty sure I didn’t stop smiling the entire weekend! —Zana

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    The long farm tables, the warmth of the fire, and the soft lighting made the evening feel less like a formal rehearsal dinner and more like a family dinner in our own home.

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    We wanted the florals to feel like a celebration of Hawaiʻi. Our florist Ren sourced rare bromeliad blooms that were punctuated by ripe and shiny mountain apples that were sourced from the Hilo farmer’s market. She wanted the arrangements to invoke a sense of lava flowing through the rocks, so in addition to the fiery color palette, she used hala lei made from the pandanus fruit to slope down the actual lava rocks at the base of the piece.

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    My beautiful mother made a special lei from naupaka, the flower we had chosen as the symbol of our wedding. —Micah

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    My relationship with my sisters has never been a rollercoaster full of highs and lows. Instead, for as long as I can remember, it has been a steady source of the most loyal and loving support that I have experienced. —Micah

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    I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to have parents who have supported every dream I’ve ever had. My wedding was no exception. Watching my dad beam as he saw me living out my fairytale wedding meant everything to me. —Zana

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    I might be biased, but this was one of the best meals of my life! The warmth of the fire, the local vegetables, and a family-style dinner beneath the lights and trees. I’ll never get over it. —Zana

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    Our niece and goddaughter loved my Kilentar shell-and-fringe dress just as much as I did! I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking, “This isn’t a want. It’s a need!” —Zana

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    The ocean has always been such an important place for us. It’s a place of healing and a place of cleansing. Before we make a big move across the world or a big decision in life, we have always made sure to jump in the water. —Micah

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    She sells seashells by the seashore. And he buys them just to spend a little more time with her. —Micah

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    Seeing my wedding dress hanging beside the mini dress made from my mother’s wedding gown was incredibly meaningful. My parents’ marriage is something I’ve always admired and aspired to, and having such a special piece of their wedding day woven into my own felt like a beautiful full-circle moment. —Zana

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    The most incredible human I’ve ever known. My mom. —Zana

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    The dramatic contrast of my billowing white Danielle Frankel gown against the jagged black lava still takes my breath away. —Zana

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    I am who I am because of them. —Zana

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    The two men who have lifted me up and carried me through every chapter of my life. —Zana

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    Moments before walking down the aisle. I was more nervous than I’d expected. I think the magnitude of what was about to happen finally caught up with me. —Zana

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    I found this suit in an underground shop near Red Square in Moscow. The story is far too long to tell, as so many of our stories from living overseas tend to be. But getting married in Hawaiʻi wearing a suit I found in Russia just about sums up our lives. —Micah

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    Tiny bubbles. —Micah

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    Simply perfect.

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    We wanted the ceremony florals to feel as though they were growing naturally from the landscape, complementing the beauty of the island rather than competing with it. Our florist so beautifully juxtaposed the sharpness of local foraged Kona grasses with the softness of cream colored oncidium orchids. The grasses created waves while the orchids created fluttering foamy moments, indicative of the ocean behind the ceremony.

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    I have dreamt of this moment hundreds of times since I was a little girl. I always imagined my dad would cry because, if you know him, you know he’s a big softie. But somehow, neither of us did. Instead, we laughed and smiled in complete disbelief at just how perfect everything felt. —Zana

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    I’ve never experienced a moment where I was so completely unaware of everything else happening in the world. Watching your future wife walk down the aisle is a feeling that can’t really be explained. It’s something you can only understand once you’ve experienced it. —Micah

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    Whenever someone asks me about my favorite moment of the weekend, I don’t have to think twice. It was sharing our vows. —Zana

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    There is no better feeling than knowing the people you love most absolutely adore the man you’re about to marry. —Zana

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    Husband and wife.

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    Just married!

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    The purest kind of happiness!

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    Just two kids who fell in love and never looked back.

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    Mr. and Mrs. Maʻa.

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    Micah’s hands have always been one of my favorite things about him. Seeing a wedding ring on his finger felt completely surreal. —Zana

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    Places everyone!

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    A poolside cocktail hour overlooking the black lava and deep blue sea.

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    The brother of the bride clearly had no fun at all! —Zana

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    Round tables beneath the palms, soft white linens, and the ocean in the distance made for the most beautiful setting for dinner.

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    I’ve always loved making things—particularly embroidery and sewing—so I created these hardcover menus myself, embroidering each guest’s name onto the linen cover. —Zana

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    A bare statement piece that blends so seamlessly into the surrounding environment while still making a statement.

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    Truly living in a dream!

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    A perfect night. —Micah

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    Aside from marrying the love of my life, this was the most emotional moment of the entire weekend for me. My sisters mean everything to me. It’s always been the four of us. They’ve danced hula since we were kids, and having them dance for us and—in their own way—bless our marriage was incredibly moving. It was the second time that day I cried. —Micah

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    My lifelong best friend has been fire-knife dancing at our family parties since we were eight years old. There was no way we could end our wedding night without him performing, just as he always has for us. He’s one of the most talented people I know, and man, can he spin those sticks! —Micah

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    Absolutely zero fun was had!

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    Boys just wanna have fun!

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    Take it off, baby! —Zana

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    Ending the night the only way we saw fit.

     

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