Lantern Floating Ceremony on Memorial Day on Oʻahu’s south shore

 Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Every year on Memorial Day, around 50,000 people gather on the south shore of Oahu in Honolulu to pay homage and tribute to veterans and honoring the loved ones who have gone before us. It an event that signifies remembrance, reflection, and offering gratitude to our family and friends who are no longer with us on this earthly journey.

The event is also live streamed and telecast to be watched by thousands around the world as 

People float special lanterns that are inscribed by hand with prayers and personal messages.

The ceremony starts with the opening of the iconic Hawaiian shell trumpet, or kani pū, followed by Japanese taiko, the ceremony then involves a chant, or oli, which calls in six large Parent Lanterns offering prayers and gratitude. And so on, this wave pattern continues.

People line up early morning at the Ala Moana beach to gather the personal lanterns that are offered free of charge on Memorial Day morning. The lantern distribution starts at 7 AM and continues till the supply lasts. You can then hand write your own special prayers and messages of remembrance on the paper provided and then float the lantern in the ceremony at sunset.

The making of lanterns

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

If you cannot be personally present or choose not to float an individual lantern, you may place your remembrances on the original handcrafted wooden-frame Collective Remembrance Lanterns that will be floated from the canoes or from shore by volunteers.

You may visit the Shinnyo-en Hawaii temple located at 2348 S. Beretania ahead of the actual ceremony to write your remembrances on special paper that will be placed onto a Collective Remembrance Lantern.

Courtesy: Nā Lei Aloha Foundation

Collective remembrances will also be accepted at the beach on the ceremony day from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m at the Collective Remembrance Tent located next to the Lantern Request Tent.

Hawaii Convention Center provides a free parking for all those who are participating in the ceremony from 7:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m. with a complimentary shuttle and special transport for the physically disabled.

The shuttle runs from the Hawaii Convention Center to Ala Moana Beach from 3:00-6:15 p.m. and then back to the Hawaii Convention Center after the ceremony through 9:30 p.m.

May you take time to pause in remembrance and gratitude for your loved ones creating a moment of harmony and hope amid diversity.

Visit the Lantern Floating Hawaii website for more details and how to submit your messages and for information about live streaming of the ceremony.