15th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii

The 15th AnnualLantern FloatingHawaii ceremony isset to be the largest

one yet with more than5,000 lanterns bearing thenames of the departed andthe prayers of those stillwith us being set afloat from the beach.

The ceremony, officiatedby the Shinnyo-en BuddhistOrder, an internationalBuddhist community, pro-vides a way for all to paytribute to those who havepassed. The event is pre-sented and underwritten byNā Lei Aloha Foundation.

“People have a hard timeunderstanding why we dolantern floating, but for us itis a social contribution, it is away to give back to thecommunity,” says the Rev.Craig Yamamoto ofShinnyo-en Hawaii. “One ofour volunteers from a halautold me that lantern floatingis not a Buddhist thing, it’snot a Japanese thing, it’s nota Hawaiian thing. It’s a human thing.”

So serious is Shinnyo-enHawaii about this being agift to the community thatany donations made to theorganization on the day ofthe ceremony are gifted to

the City and County ofHonolulu for the beautifica-tion of Ala Moana BeachPark. The members ofShinnyo-en do not even getto float their own lantern;instead, they put all theirremembrances on a grouplantern to leave more openfor the public.

The event that began sohumbly at Ke‘ehi Lagoon in1999 has swelled in popular-ity to the point it isstreamed live on theInternet and broadcastlocally on KGMB. An estimat-ed 40,000 people attendedlast year’s ceremony, makingit one of the largestMemorial Day gatherings inthe country.

There are no reservationsfor the lanterns, which aredistributed on a first-come,first-served basis on the dayof the event at the LanternRequest Tent, located just‘Ewa of the Magic Islandparking lot. The tent opensat 10 a.m. Event organizersask the public to please con-sider the feelings of otherswho would like to partici-pate by receiving just onelantern per family or group.

For those who don’t planon floating a lantern butwould like their remem-brances to be included inthe ceremony, severaloptions are available.

Through May 19, the pub-lic is invited to Shinnyo-enHawaii to handwrite theirremembrances on remem-brance forms that will beplaced on CollectiveRemembrance Lanterns andfloated from canoes.

Remembrance forms willalso be available at theLantern Request Tent on theday of the event, from 10a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Or, theymay be submitted online atlanternfloatinghawaii.comthrough midnight beforethe ceremony day.

During the weekends

leading up to the ceremony,Shinnyo-en members andcommunity volunteers havebeen gathering to constructthese lanterns and carefullyplace each remembrance onthem. “We ask our volun-teers to please be mindfulwhile handling the lanterns;the lanterns really do holdpeople’s hearts,” saysCharlene Flanter, communi-cations manager and pro-gram officer for Nā Lei AlohaFoundation.

The ceremony will be offi-ciated by the Head Priest ofthe Shinnyo-en BuddhistOrder, Her Holiness ShinsoIto, whose father hadexpressed his wish to hold alantern floating in Hawaiiafter his first of many visitsto the memorials at PearlHarbor and Punchbowl.

“Lantern Floating Hawaiiis based in a Buddhist ritual;however, it is open to every-one, no matter what theirbelief,” says Flanter. “HerHoliness is collecting every-one’s hearts, prayers andremembrances together.”

The theme of the event is“Many Rivers, One Ocean” asthe founder of the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Order MasterShinjo Ito believed Hawaiiwas at the perfect cross-roads to send out prayersacross the globe. His beliefswere well founded as thepeople of Hawaii have takenhis idea and turned it intoan important annual tradi-tion and moment ofremembrance for those whopreceded us.

“Lantern floating is atime-honored tradition thatpays respect to one’s ances-tors and loved ones whohave gone before us,” saysRoy Ho, executive director ofNā Lei Aloha Foundation. “InHawaii, we do not say good-bye, we say aloha. Aloha canmean many things, but oneof the meanings is ‘see youagain.’”

Memorial Day is justaround the corner,and the 15th annu-

al Lantern Floating Hawaiiceremony will soon be heldat Ala Moana Beach. At sun-set on May 27, local resi-dents and visitors will setmore than 5,000 candle-litlanterns afloat on thewater, illuminating theocean at sunset. Theselanterns will carry remem-brances and prayers frompeople from all around theworld dedicated to thosewho have passed.

Her Holiness Shinso Itowill officiate at this ceremo-ny, as she has since its incep-tion in 1999. Her HolinessShinso Ito is Head Priest ofShinnyo-en, a Buddhist com-munity of lay practitionersknown for its history ofreaching out to others tocreate harmony amid diversi-ty. When asked whyShinnyo-en holds the lanternfloating ceremony in Hawaiieach year, Her HolinessShinso Ito answers with asmile, “We hold it with a wishthat all people can feel aconnection to those whohave passed and develop aheart that cares for others,related or unrelated, friend orfoe. We hope that this cere-mony kindles a light in yourheart, and that you take thatlight home with you andpass it on to someone else.”The Rev. Craig Yamamoto, a

priest at Shinnyo-en Hawaii,explains that the lanternfloating ceremony embodiesShinnyo-en’s philosophy ofcultivating warm-hearted-ness and sharing harmony,and adds his hope that thesesmall activities will become astep toward expanding har-mony and peace throughoutthe world.

Japanese lantern floatingceremonies are traditionallyheld during the summerObon festival, when familieswelcome their ancestors totheir homes before sendingthem off again by floatinglanterns on streams, rivers orlakes. In Hawaii, MemorialDay was chosen because HerHoliness Shinso Ito felt adeep respect for howAmericans set aside a day tohonor their fallen servicemenand women, and how thepeople of Hawaii also see itas a day to place flowers, leiand offerings on the restingplaces of all their loved oneswho have passed.

Lantern Floating Hawaiiopens with the sounding ofthe “pū” — the Hawaiianconch shell. A traditional“oli,” or Hawaiian chant, isoffered and later in the cere-mony, Buddhist chants aresung, set in Western classi-cal choral style. Thus, theLantern Floating Hawaii cer-emony combines time-hon-ored observances of Hawai‘i,the East and the West with-

out compromising the spiritand intention of any.

The ceremony’s historycan be traced back to HerHoliness’ first trip to Hawaiiin the company of Shinnyo-en’s founder, Master ShinjoIto in 1970. Memories ofWorld War II still lingered,and Master Shinjo Ito andHer Holiness Shinso Itomade a point of visiting theUSS Arizona Memorial andthe National MemorialCemetery of the Pacific atPunchbowl. After offeringconsolatory prayers for thedeceased at the two memo-rials, Master Shinjo Ito said: “Iwish to have a lantern float-ing ceremony for all thedeceased, friend and foealike, here in Hawaii.”

Her Holiness Shinso Itofinally had the opportunityto realize Master Shinjo Ito’swish in 1999, when sheconducted the first LanternFloating Hawaii ceremonyat Ke’ehi Lagoon. In 2002,the ceremony moved toAla Moana Beach toaccommodate its growingpopularity and open thedoor for all the local peopleto participate. In recentyears, more than 40,000have gathered on thebeach, filling it from end toend, and many more haveexperienced the ceremonyin and outside of Hawaiithrough live televisionbroadcast and internetstreaming.

The Shinnyo-enBuddhist Order of lay practitioners has had a local presence in Hawaiisince it opened its firsttemple in Mililani in 1971.The current Shinnyo-enHawaii temple onBeretania Street was estab-lished in 1973, and wel-comes visitors at all times.

"One of our volunteers from a halau told me that lantern floatingis not a Buddhist thing, it’s not a Japanese thing, it’s not aHawaiian thing. It’s a human thing.”

This MemorialDay the crowds gathering at AlaMoana Beach willnot be gazing atthe giant, glow-ing sun sinkinginto the ocean,but rather at thethousands of tiny lightsfloating out to it.

02 | 15th Annual lantern floating hawaii

MANY RIVERS, ONE OCEANBy Chad Pata

A MESSAGE FROM SHINNYO-EN

Gathering in Harmony

It began with a few fol-lowers at a small templein the front of MasterShinjo Ito’s home in

Tachikawa, Japan, south ofTokyo. That was in 1936.Today, the Shinnyo-en line-age of Buddhism he found-ed has about 1 millionmembers at 140 templesand learning centersthroughout Asia, theMainland U.S., Germany, TheNetherlands, Great Britainand South America.

The basic teaching isdescribed in the nameShinnyo, meaning “theunchanging and real natureof things,” and en, meaning“a garden,” with its Chinesecharacter denoting “a gar-den without borders.” Thus,the name Shinnyo-enreflects the Order’s intentionof offering places and meth-ods of Buddhist training toall people, without excep-tion.

Members are encouragedto actively involve them-selves in volunteerism. And

Shinnyo-en was createdwith a focus on lay ministry,not priests.

Shinnyo-en’s internationalreach began in Hawaii, andled to what will be the 15thannual Lantern FloatingHawaii ceremony at AlaMoana Beach Park onMemorial Day, May 27.

It was 1970, and MasterShinjo Ito, founder of theShinnyo-en lineage ofBuddhism, visited theArizona Memorial at PearlHarbor and later Punchbowlcemetery. His choices mayseem surprising, but a cen-tral tenet of Shinnyo-en isbringing together all peo-ples in peace.

“I still vividly rememberhow he was praying on theArizona Memorial, and hededicated a wreath of flow-ers to the lives lost duringthat attack,” says his daugh-ter, who succeeded him ashead priest of Shinnyo-en,Her Holiness Shinso Ito.

“But that was not the onlywish he had in his heart. He

also wanted to continue topray for all the lives lost innatural calamities, and allsorts of conflicts. His wishwas that as a spiritual com-munity Shinnyo-en contin-ues to pray together for allthe lives that have been lost.So this is what I am doing,step by step, to make thiswish of his a reality.

“That prayer he had, and Ialso shared, was invisible.But that prayer in Hawaii, Iwanted to give an expres-sion to it. So I was lookingfor a suitable place. I wantedto do it at the beach, I want-ed to do this in Hawaii andspread this prayer through-out the world, in the placewhere our founder had thatprayer.”

The result is Honolulu’sannual ceremony, which thisyear expands from 3,000 tomore than 5,000 lanterns.(There were 750 in the firstyear, held at Keehi Lagoon).

In 1973, the secondShinnyo-en temple outsideJapan was established in

Honolulu at the corner ofIsenberg and Beretania.Today the congregation hasaround 4,000 members.

Her Holiness Shinso Itohas since taken LanternFloating beyond Hawaii, andon Sept. 21 will officiate thefirst Lantern Floating in NewYork City’s Central Park.

Last year, she was invitedto Kenya, where she officiat-ed at a fire ceremony withtribes that traditionally havebeen at odds, and often atwar. Like the Achala Buddhathat is revered in theShinnyo-en Buddhism and isconsidered important as asymbol of perseverance andresolve — he holds a swordin one hand to cut awayattachment and destructivebehaviors — the Kenyanwarriors used implements ofwar in a peaceful ceremony.Months after her visit, thepeace remains.

And last month HerHoliness Shinso Ito becamethe first woman priest toofficiate a MahayanaBuddhist ceremony at WatPaknam, a reveredTheravada Buddhist templein Thailand, bringing thetwo paths together inpeace.

She also has conducted aservice at St. Peter’s

Cathedral in New York City, ablock from Ground Zero,and at another service offici-ated with Jewish, Christianand Muslim clerics.

“When we act for thesake of others, it gives rise tojoy,” Her Holiness says.“Mutual understanding is aresult of our efforts toexpand the practice of lov-ing kindness and altruism,starting with those aroundus. I believe that such efforts

will ultimately lead to lastingpeace in the world.”

In the words of Rev.Minoru Shitara, Shinnyo-en’sdirector of internationalaffairs department, “HerHoliness wants Shinnyo-en to be known for bringingpeople together in peace, no matter what their background.”

It’s a message that obvi-ously resonates with peoplearound the world.

In hindsight, it seems soobvious that Shinso Itowould succeed her father,

Master Shinjo Ito, as theHead Priest of the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Order. But thatis only in hindsight, becauseit was never her father’splan. Or her’s.

“I have five siblings —two elder sisters, two elderbrothers and one youngersister,” says the woman nowreferred to as Her Holiness,who will lead the 15th annu-al Lantern Floating Hawaiiceremony at Ala MoanaBeach Park on MemorialDay. “We lost those boys atyoung ages, but even afterthat I had two elder sisters,so I was thinking I would besupporting them, and Ienjoyed that role. Growing

up, I thought I would besupporting them.”

But over the years, the sis-ters “gradually came to theirown decisions that theywanted to pursue otherinterests, so they stoppedtheir Buddhist training, theydid not complete the pathmy father had set out forthem. And my fatherrespected their decisions.”

She was in her mid-20swhen her father broachedthe subject.

“Knowing my personalityvery well, he did not tell me,‘You have to be like this, Iwant you to be like that.’ Buthe came to me and said,‘You are very good withpeople, so I am happy if youcan be my successor.’ Evenafter that, I was not confi-

dent that I could be the kindof spiritual leader he was,but he wanted me to dothat.”

While Shinjo Ito receivedhis tutoring at Daigo-jimonastery in Kyoto, aJapanese National Treasureand a U.N. World HeritageSite, Her Holiness studieddirectly under her father.And under her leadership,Her Holiness Shinso Ito hascontinued her father’s pref-erence for predominantly layleadership as a way of mak-ing Buddhism more accessi-ble to modern people.

That includes Honolulu’sLantern Floating ceremony,which she founded to honorher father, and which shewill conduct for the 15thtime this year.

The Path of A Spiritual LeaderBy Don Chapman

“When we actfor the sake of others, it gives

rise to joy.”

15th Annual lantern floating hawaii | 03

Prayers of Peace from across the milesBy Don Chapman

But much like the oilthat refuses toremain contained inthe fallen battle-

ship’s bowels, the inspira-tions the memorial gener-ates spreads out across theocean from the harbor thatfeeds into it.

Such was the case whenthe founder of the

Shinnyo-en BuddhistOrder, Master Shinjo Ito,visited the memorial in1970. A generation before,his country was droppingbombs on this very water-way; here he was, movedto pray not just for his peo-ple, but for all the lives lostin that costliest of wars.

“When visiting

Punchbowl and PearlHarbor, he had a very strongfeeling to pray not just forthe Japanese, but for all thesoldiers who had lost theirlives, praying for friend orfoe with no distinction,” saysCharlene Flanter, communi-cations manager and pro-gram officer of Nā Lei AlohaFoundation, the secular,community-building arm ofthe Shinnyo-en BuddhistOrder in Hawaii.

“His wish was to continuethat prayer every year intoeternity, and the idea of thelantern floating was bornout of that idea of carryingthat prayer into the future.”

There were many moretrips to Hawaii over the next

14 years, accompanied byhis daughter, Her HolinessShinso Ito, who was to suc-ceed him as head ofShinnyo-en, to say prayersfor the departed. Fromthese prayers grew the idea of observing aShinnyo-en lantern floatingceremony in the islands.

So it was that 37 years tothe day after the USSArizona Memorial waschristened that the firstlanterns were floated atKe‘ehi Lagoon, a tribute of750 lanterns to rememberthose who had passed anda tradition was born. Thechoice of performing thefloating on this Americanholiday rather than in the

late summer as is Japanesetradition, was no accident.

“We chose Memorial Daybecause we thought itwould help people in theU.S. to relate to the cere-mony better,” says HerHoliness Shinso Ito, in thedocumentary “Where theOcean Meets the Sky.” “It’sthe day that peopleexpress their gratitude tothe departed.

“Lanterns are imbued withpeople’s prayers of gratitudeand respect for the depart-ed. I think we could say thetrue intention of holding theceremony is for those of uswho are still alive. Throughthis we learn to express thesame feelings to those who

are around us now.” Unfortunately, Master

Shinjo Ito passed in 1989, afull decade before hisvisions were realized, buthis hope that his prayerwould continue on into thefuture has blossomed intonot just an important localevent, but one that has animpact across the globe aspeople send in theirprayers from Belgium toBrazil.

It only seems fitting thatwhat began with a terriblesinking has given birth to afloating, not just oflanterns, but of the humanspirit, no matter the partici-pants’ nationalities orbeliefs.

A Tradition Is Born With master Shinjo ItoBy Chad Pata

When the USS Arizona Memorialwas dedicated on Memorial Dayin 1962, it was envisioned as ashrine to those brave men whohad fallen and a tribute to theAmerican spirit.


Regardless of thememories thatbrought them toLantern FloatingHawaii, the tensof thousandswho gather atAla Moana Beachon Memorial Dayare afforded aspecial momentthrough whichthey can remem-ber, reflect andshow gratitudeto those whocame before.

Jill Takasaki Canfieldexplains that sheknew about LanternFloating Hawaii for

years, but got involved in2007 when students in thePacific and Asian AffairsCouncil’s (PAAC) highschool program volun-teered as part of a GlobalAction Project, selecting anissue or topic beforedeciding how they will actin their community tomake a difference.

“I usually list on differentpanels of the lantern peo-ple to remember interna-tionally, like victims of dis-asters, nationally or in ourstate,” says Canfield, theexecutive director of PAAC.“Personally, it’s there thatover the years, I’ve remem-bered uncles, aunties,friends’ parents, friendsfrom high school, board

members and mentors.” Canfield explains that

the experience bringsforth both memories ofthose friends, family andloved ones who havepassed on as well as gen-erates a positive outlookfor the future. She alsonotes that the feeling ofcompanionship and know-ing that one is not alonein dealing with the loss ofa loved one is comfortingas cherished memorieslive on through the float-ing of lanterns.

“Lantern Floating Hawaiiinvokes a flood of memo-ries of loved ones,”Canfield says. “Leading upto the day and while youare watching the lanternsfloat away, you rememberall the big and little thingsyou may know about thepeople and the things that

made them who they areto you. There is a sense ofgratitude as the memoriescome. You recall whatthese people taught, gave,how they lovedyou, showed kindness andmade sacrifices. It’s thosememories that will remaina part of you.”

Similarly, musician KeolaBeamer has also taken partin Lantern Floating Hawaiisince 2007 and uses theexperience to honor lovedones and kupuna whohave journeyed forward.The innovative Hawaiianmusician, composer andsongwriter fittingly drawscomparisons betweenLantern Floating Hawaiiand one of his melodiousmusings.

“Lantern floating hasgiven me so much that Ican’t even properly

express it in words,”Beamer says. “Perhapsmusic better carries thismessage. I wrote a song afew years ago about thetime I floated a lantern,remembering my sweetmother, Nona Beamer. Thesong is called ‘Our TimeFor Letting Go,’ and is a farbetter tribute to the heal-ing capacity of LanternFloating Hawaii than anywords I could stringtogether.”

Beamer says that thelantern floating helps par-ticipants move from expe-riencing grief to remem-bering loved ones posi-tively. He calls the experi-ence a “sweet gift,” andrecalls the aloha in thehearts of those who honorthe iconic memories.

“In the fullness of ourexistence, human beings

begin to understand thatwhen we lose someoneimportant to us, weshould try and let them gowith joy in our heart,”Beamer explains. “I believethis is what they want usto do. As we are still hereon this earthly plane, let-ting them go is hard to do.We grieve and feel anemptiness to the verydepths of our being.Lantern Floating presentsus with a unique opportu-nity. As the lantern repre-senting our loved onefloats out to sea, weobserve that brave littlelight drifting off into theblack velvet of the Pacific.Somehow, we begin toexternalize our loss andthe quality of our lovechanges just a little bit,moving from grief tosweet remembrance.”

Stories of SweetRemembranceBy Kyle Galdeira

Leading up to the day and while you arewatching the lanterns float away, you remember all the big and little things youmay know about the people and the thingsthat made them who they are to you.


Volunteers are crucialin keeping theLantern FloatingHawaii alight — no

small feat for a ceremonywith more than 5,000lanterns this year, up from750 in 1999. With the signif-icance the ceremony holdsfor many, volunteers areinspired to take part in theceremony officiated byShinnyo-en, either havingattended the ceremonythemselves or after learningabout how it touched afriend or family member.This includes members ofthe public as well asShinnyo-en Buddhists.Serving others is a central

practice in ShinnyoBuddhism. Practitionersfrom around the worldcome to offer themselves inservice through lanternfloating. Each year, over 50youth from Japan engagein a beach clean-up as oneof their volunteer efforts.

The event would sink if itweren’t for the help of hun-dreds of volunteers, whohelp before, during andafter the ceremony day.This includes both mem-bers of the public as well asShinnyo-en Buddhists. “Weactually have to limit thenumber of volunteers,” saysRoy Ho, executive directorof Nā Lei Aloha Foundation,

due to the overwhelminginterest of the public.

Volunteers perform avariety of activities fromassembling lanterns toretrieving them at AlaMoana after the ceremony.

Assembling the woodenlanterns is one task. Otherassignments volunteerscarry out are paddling eightdouble-hauled canoes outto cast off the woodenlanterns; running theLantern Request Tent,where individual lanternsare handed out to the com-munity; lighting thelanterns’ candles; andretrieving lanterns, disas-sembling, cleaning and

storing them.Included in volunteers’

instructions in handling thelanterns is a spiritual mes-sage that stems from theceremony’s roots inShinnyo-en. An introducto-ry video asks volunteers:“Please quiet your mindand focus your heart as youmake these lanterns, as ifthis were the lantern thatyou yourself would float.”

A purification process takes place before lanternassembly as well.Volunteers must wash theirhands, and they have theoption of using incensepowder for further symbol-ic cleansing. Tools

or hardware that fall on the floor during assemblymust be re-purified. “This ishow precious this construc-tion is,” explains 13-yearvolunteer HowardTakahashi. “People’s heartsare really going into theselanterns.”

Charlene Flanter, com-munications manager andprogram officer of Nā LeiAloha Foundation, echoesthe same sentiment: “Thehundreds of volunteerswho help to make this cer-emony possible are aninvaluable resource notonly for their manpower,but for the heart they bringto the activities.”

One such volunteer withher heart in the ceremonyis Danielle Moskowitz. Shebecame a volunteer afterattending the ceremony in2008. Like others attendingthe event, Moskowitz wrotemessages to her father on alantern. “To let the lanterngo provided so much per-sonal healing for me,” saysMoskowitz. Since then shehas attended the ceremonyand volunteered each year.

After participating in theevent, Moskowitz alsobecame a Shinnyo-enBuddhist. “I wanted to getto know more about thepeople that put it on,” shesays.

dedicated volunteers offer hearts, invaluable serviceBy Rachel Breit

“We want everyone to find happiness. Alwaysremember happy momentsin your life. Then you can take action to help othersby sharing that feeling. Thisact of compassion willexpand your heart’s capacityfor altruism.”


— HER HOLINESS SHINSO ITO

As an avenue for theShinnyo-enBuddhist Order tocontribute to the

Hawaii community, HerHoliness Shinso Ito estab-lished Nā Lei AlohaFoundation in 2004. Theorganization’s name wasbestowed by Kūpuna“Aunty” Malia Craver, and itmeans “many lei ofembracement.” The secular,community-building arm ofthe Shinnyo-en BuddhistOrder strives to encourageharmony in diversity tobuild caring communitiesthat value and embody thealoha spirit.

In addition to the annualLantern Floating Hawaiiceremony, Nā Lei AlohaFoundation also focuses itsefforts on the DiversityHarmony Peace initiative,Bridge of Friendship andproviding grants to a widearray of community-build-ing organizations.

Diversity Harmony Peaceis an effort launched by NāLei Aloha Foundation onMay 27, 2008 with the goalof helping people under-stand how a single, small,sincere act can have far-reaching effects and howeach act reinforces a per-sonal commitment toward

peace on a daily basis. Theinitiative aims to helpmembers of the communi-ty recognize a commondesire for living happy,peaceful lives while per-ceiving, embracing andappreciating the value ofdiversity.

The organization alsohosts an annual meetingof community leaderscalled the Bridge ofFriendship. The gatheringis designed to give individ-uals from non-profit organ-izations, foundations, busi-nesses and local govern-ment entities the time andspace to build relation-

ships with each other with the ultimate goal ofstrengthening the commu-nity. The Bridge ofFriendship, like the LanternFloating Hawaii ceremony,reflects Nā Lei Aloha’s mis-sion of encouraging har-mony in Hawaii’s diversecommunity, as was thecase in 2012, when 180people representing 140organizations unitedaround the theme ofDiversity Harmony Peace.

Through Shinnyo-en, NāLei Aloha Foundation pro-vides grants to a host oflocal organizations. Someof the recipients in 2012

included the American RedCross, Family ProgramsHawai‘i, Family Promise ofHawai‘i, Hawaii Fi-Do,Honolulu Museum of Art-Art To Go, HUGS (Help,Understanding & GroupSupport), Mālama LearningCenter, Waikiki HealthCenter, Women in Needand Youth Service Hawai‘i.

Roy Ho, executive direc-tor of Nā Lei AlohaFoundation, expresses theimportance of LanternFloating Hawaii and howthe singular event has blos-somed into the year-roundefforts of the foundation.

“Lantern Floating Hawaii

is a ceremony where peopleremember their ancestorsand loved ones by lighting a candle and floating alantern,” Ho says. “Throughthis simple act, and self-reflection, each person isable to connect in someway with those they areremembering in a very per-sonal and sublime manner.

“Her Holiness Shinso Itohas said that LanternFloating is a teaching with-out words, where the pastmeets the present. Throughthis ceremony, what wasonce despair and sadnesscan be changed to courageand hope for the future.”


While Lantern Floating Hawaii is recognized as a once-a-year event to provide participants with amoment to remember, reflect upon and honor those who came before, year-round efforts are alsobeing taken to make Hawaii a better place by bringing people together in cooperation and harmony.

A foundation built on alohaBy Kyle Galdeira

Those who wish to float an IndividualLantern should visit the LanternRequest Tent at Ala Moana Beach,starting from 10 a.m. on the day of theevent, to obtain a single IndividualLantern per family or group. Theselanterns will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Pens and aquiet area for writing remembrancesare provided within the tent.

Lantern details

memorial DayMonday, May 27, 2013

6-7:30 p.m.Ala Moana Beach, Honolulu


Those who aren’t able tomake the ceremony orchoose to not personal-

ly float an Individual Lanternmay have their remem-brances placed onto theoriginal handcrafted wood-en-frame CollectiveRemembrance Lanterns,which will be floated fromcanoes or from shore by vol-unteers. Remembrance formswill be available from 10 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. at the LanternRequest Tent. Online submis-sions are being acceptedthrough Sunday, May 26 at www.lanternfloatinghawaii.com.

PARKINGFree event parking is avail-

able at Hawaii ConventionCenter from 9 a.m. to mid-night. A complimentary shut-tle will transport passengersto Ala Moana Beach begin-ning at 3:30 p.m., then backto the convention centerstarting from 7:45 p.m.

Documents

15th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii