Floating Lanterns

On Memorial Day at Ala Moana Beach Park they had the annual Floating Lanterns. This is a Buddhist tradition that is actually done all over, but this year the one at Ala Moana had over 40,000 people attending!!! The paper lanterns are decorated with the names of those loved ones that have passed away, and then those wishes are floated out to sea.

Years ago, some of you might remember, they used to do this same ceremony in August down the Ala Wai canal. We went every year and watched the lanterns being towed behind outrigger canoes, drums beating, and people singing. I loved that because we could just walk over and sit and watch. For the last ten years they've had it down at Ala Moana...just too many people. It really is something to see.

***please note: all of the lanterns are collected and used again the folowing year...no lanterns ending up on some distant beach.