This story covers the rapid decline in the number of Japanese visitor weddings in Hawaii. There is a silver cloud, of course. Now it should be much easier to nail down the perfect date at that wedding chapel formerly dominated by Japanese brides bearing beaucoup bucks. Also, I personally think the Japanese wedding industry was not good for Hawaii's longterm image as it generally tended to overcharge patrons for certain things. It reminded me of when Japanese visitors were paying $50 for Mickey Mouse t-shirts in Waikiki in the 1980s and early 90s. Those days are gone and now its a global marketplace.

—Alex, 09/04/07