‘We honor you every day’: Thousands expected at Shinnyo lantern floating ceremony

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Tens of thousands are expected to gather at Ala Moana Beach Park for a Memorial Day event, honoring loved ones through messages of remembrance and reflection.

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The 28th annual Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony draws visitors from across the islands and around the world to take part in the Buddhist-inspired tradition.

Families arrived early Monday morning to secure spots along the shoreline and receive one of 6,000 paper lanterns, which were set afloat at sunset.

Each lantern carried handwritten messages dedicated to loved ones who have died.

Kalihi resident Ocean Iona said he attended the ceremony to honor his friend RJ Tuitele, who died earlier this year.

“My boy RJ Tuitele. He passed away from suicide not too long ago. So this lantern is for him, this is my boy, my brother,” Iona said.

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Waikiki resident Julie Kaneko Hall said this was her first year personally floating a lantern in memory of her parents and late husband.

“I put: ‘Mom and Dad: We are fine. We are good. We honor you every day. We give service. We give love. We give aloha. You taught us well,’” Hall said. “‘I see you in the trade winds, the rainbows, the sunrises and the sunsets.’”

Organizers said the ceremony is designed to provide a space for collective remembrance while promoting ocean safety and environmental stewardship.

Following the event, all lanterns are collected from the water and refurbished for future ceremonies.

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