Officials are sharing information about traffic and parking to help families and students prepare for graduation season, which starts this upcoming weekend. 

This graduation season, there will be more than 11,000 Hawaii Department of Education high school graduates, with 46 commencement ceremonies across the state, including 25 on Oahu.

“Graduation is such a special time for our students, families and schools. We’re proud of the Class of 2025 and excited to celebrate all that they’ve accomplished," said HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi in a news release. 

Many graduations on Oahu will be held by City and County of Honolulu facilities, such as the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell.

"With so many ceremonies happening across the state over the next two weeks, we’re asking everyone to plan ahead, expect heavier traffic near venues, and drive with aloha,” said Hayashi.

In order to mitigate traffic, officials are passing along the following information:

• Parking lots will open two hours before ceremonies at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center campus and the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell
• Parking will cost $8 per vehicle at the Blaisdell
• Parking is free in the lot of the Shell
• No tailgating or picnicking is permitted at the Blaisdell or Shell
• The City Department of Transportation Services will monitor traffic flow around City venues and coordinate traffic lights accordingly 
• Other transportation options, such as TheBus and Biki, are encouraged to reduce the number of vehicles
• Drivers are asked to slow down and drive with aloha

(Image courtesy of the City and County of Honolulu)

For a list of graduation ceremonies via the Hawaii Department of Education, click here. Also, a graduation schedule for events at City venues will be posted on the websites and social media accounts for the Mayor, the Department of Transportation Services, and the Department of Enterprise Services. People who are not participating are asked to avoid these areas during graduation ceremonies. 

The City’s Department of Parks and Recreation also asked graduates to consider donating excess lei — made with fresh flowers or ti leaves — for the upcoming Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl (also known as Pūowaina). At City venues where graduations take place, there will be lei collection boxes. Lei may also be dropped off at any Honolulu Fire Department station on Friday, May 23 or at Punchbowl on Saturday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about how to “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day,” click here.