For the first time since 2019, Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi will return to Ala Moana Beach in 2023 as an in-person ceremony. Our hope is to offer time to reconnect and the healing space that we’ve all been missing.
One of the most interesting and beautiful events in Honolulu on Memorial Day weekend is the Lantern Floating Ceremony on Memorial Day. The ceremony is hosted by the Shinnyo-en Buddhist sect, which provides free lanterns for people to float into the water. All are welcome, even non-Buddhists. The floating lanterns represent the souls of the departed, and are a beautiful way for people to remember their loved ones on Memorial Day, whether or not they were soldiers. The lanterns are made of paper, on which personal messages can be written. You then light a candle, set it in the lantern, and place it in a boat that floats into the water. The sight of the floating lanterns at sunset form a perfect backdrop for personal reflection. Later, volunteers will collect the boats for reuse next year. Held at Ala Moana Beach Park at Magic Island, the event includes musical performances. More info: https://www.lanternfloatinghawaii.com/
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