Tulsi Gabbard and Abraham Williams: A Love Story Sealed in a Vedic Wedding

On April 9, 2015, a breathtaking moment unfolded on the eastern shore of Kahaluu, Hawaii, as Tulsi Gabbard, now U.S. Director of National Intelligence, and her husband, Abraham Williams, exchanged vows in a traditional Vedic ceremony. The setting, a serene fish pond once used by native Hawaiians to sustain their village, was adorned with palm trees and vibrant birds of paradise, creating a backdrop as enchanting as their love story. Gabbard, the first Hindu-American to hold her current post, and Williams, a filmmaker with a passion for human stories, captivated nearly 300 guests with a ceremony that blended Hindu spirituality with Hawaiian aloha, leaving an indelible mark on all who attended.

Their journey began in 2012 during Gabbard’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Williams, a freelance photographer, volunteered to capture images for her campaign, his lens framing the future congresswoman in moments that would become iconic. Their connection, however, deepened a year and a half later at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Honolulu. “It was the first time we could relax and talk on a personal level,” Gabbard recalled in a New York Times interview. Their shared love for the ocean, surfing, and adventure sparked a romance that felt destined. Williams, a part-Māori, part-Samoan filmmaker from Auckland, New Zealand, proposed to Gabbard during a sunset surfing session, presenting a ring secured to a gold duct-tape-covered flotation device—a gesture as creative as it was heartfelt.

The 2015 wedding, masterminded by Gabbard’s sister Vrindavan, a deputy U.S. Marshal, was a celebration of their shared Hindu faith. Gabbard, who embraced Hinduism in her teens following her mother Carol’s conversion, and Williams, also a practicing Hindu, chose a Vedic ceremony rich with tradition. A Brahmin priest officiated, guiding the couple through rituals dating back thousands of years. Gabbard’s father walked her down the aisle, her indigo gown shimmering against Williams’ elegant white suit. Her mother tied a flower lei around their hands, symbolizing unity, while the couple offered grains and bananas into a sacred fire, reciting prayers as they circled it seven times. The ceremony concluded with a yoga kirtan, blending Hawaiian song and dance, and a vegetarian feast featuring paneer tikka masala, samosas, and a rose cardamom cheesecake adorned with henna-style designs.