Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii offers many around the world the space and time to find comfort and healing, to reflect on and remember loved ones and honor fallen service members.
The 27th annual event returns to Ala Moana Beach on May 26, Memorial Day with the ongoing theme of “Many Rivers, One Ocean.”
“The rivers represent the many types of people, beliefs, cultures, etc. that flow or come together into one place,” explained Rev. Craig Yamamoto, community relations liaison of Shinnyo-en Hawaii to Spectrum News in an email. “In other words, there is diversity within this world, but within this diversity, there may be harmony and peace.
“Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii invites individuals, families, and communities of every background to unite in a shared spirit of gratitude, reflection, and hope. We are honored to continue this meaningful tradition, fostering connection where renewal and unity embrace all,” Yamamoto said.
Volunteers and practitioners of Shinnyo-en Hawaii have gathered on weekends since April to carefully assemble nearly 6,000 lanterns that will carry the prayers, remembrances, photos and mementos of individuals and families.
“I’ve been doing this since 2017,” said Jamie Grillo from Mililani. “It’s kind of an annual tradition for me and my husband to volunteer every year. I think it’s such a great event that helps everybody in the community.
“Every year there’s thousands of people at the beach. And this event brings so much comfort to people, allows people to grieve and find some solace in what they’re doing,” Grillo said.
Originally from India, Jeet Chattaraj has been in the U.S. since 2001 and moved to Oahu in 2023. “I participated as a lantern floater last year and I wanted to do more than just participate so that’s why I signed up to be a volunteer this year. Today is my third day of volunteering.”
Chattaraj is one of the volunteers who has been transcribing messages received online onto the paper that will be affixed to the collective remembrance wooden lanterns. “It’s been very satisfying, especially to see the messages coming from all over the world and kind of uniting everyone in a shared cause … sharing this collective wish for all our loved ones. It’s like a big global family.”
Yuri Ikeda from Hiroshima, Japan has also been writing messages, many of them in kanji. “It’s hard to write kanji, but it’s very fun.” Ikeda will be one of the volunteers on the canoe.
There are roughly 700 Collective Remembrance Lanterns, original designed wooden-framed lanterns floated from canoes. Remembrances submitted online through 11:59 p.m. HST May 25 will be printed out and affixed to these lanterns. Individuals can also stop by the Collective Remembrance Tent next to the Lantern Request Tent in person on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to write a message of remembrance that will be placed on these lanterns.
Individual lanterns will also be available on a first come, first served basis at Ala Moana Beach on Memorial Day with no pre-reservation option at the Lantern Request Tent from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until supplies run out. After picking up a lantern, the public can sit at a table to assemble their lanterns and write messages; volunteers will be available to assist.
Something new this year is a dedicated lantern request line open to active-duty military personnel, National Guard, reservists, veterans, retired military and their immediate family members with a valid military ID.
In light of the extreme differences of opinions among people and difficulties many are facing today, Na Lei Aloha Foundation Co-Executive Director/Communications Manager Charlene Flanter responded by saying, “Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii allows for a moment to pause, remember, reflect, then move forward with a sense of hope that comes from reconnecting in heart with those we miss. Experiencing something meaningful and beautiful with our loved ones and alongside others who may be very different from ourselves can be an opportunity to understand and care for one another just a little more.”
Event organizers ask the public to not float homemade lanterns or any lanterns not provided by Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii. The official lanterns are specifically designed and tested for flammability and water performance in various weather conditions to ensure a safe experience for all. The ceremonial lanterns are also designed to stay within containment lines in the water, preventing them from drifting into the open ocean where they could pose a hazard to marine life. Homemade lanterns could also pose safety risks to members of the general public and to volunteers who retrieve the lanterns following the ceremony.
Anyone unable to receive an individual lantern is encouraged to visit the Collective Remembrance Tent and write a message that will be placed on lanterns and floated by volunteers.
Lanterns are collected at the end of the ceremony by volunteers each year and refurbished for next year.
Attendees have some options in terms of parking for the event:
- Ala Moana Center will have designated parking zones. People can receive a 50% parking discount using promo code LANTERN2025. Enter the code on the Premium Parking app or scan the QR code posted throughout the area. People are strongly urged to apply the promo code to avoid getting ticketed or towed.
- A complimentary shuttle will operate throughout the day between 800 Olomehani Street near the Children’s Discovery Center and Magic Island starting at 7 a.m. The last shuttle will depart Magic Island at 9 p.m.
- There will be limited disability parking available on a first come, first served basis on Magic Island for vehicles with a valid disability parking permit.
Those interested in volunteering can visit the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii website.
The ceremony will be broadcast on KHON2 and streamed on SLFH’s YouTube channel.
“By contributing a remembrance, participants become part of a shared journey of reflection and renewal,” said Yamamoto. “Over the years, we have received remembrances, prayers, and affirmations from all over the world. While Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii physically takes place in Honolulu, it aims to unite our global community in generating hope and expressing a shared commitment to building a brighter future.”
Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii is a free event officiated by Shinnyo-en, an international Buddhist community with its roots in Japanese Buddhism and presented by the locally based, social-contributing arm Na Lei Aloha Foundation. For more information on the event, contact Na Lei Aloha Foundation via email at info@naleialoha.org or call 808-942-1848.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.
