How You Can Honor Loved Ones This Memorial Day

Photo: Courtesy of Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i

Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i Ceremony

Monday, May 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Back for the first time in person since 2019, this ceremony gives people the opportunity to write messages to late loved ones on lanterns and place them in the water at sunset. This year, there are 6,000 lanterns available via an online reservation system. Pickup dates are available up to Memorial Day at Shinnyo-en Hawai‘i at 2348 S. Beretania St., and day-of pickup at the Lantern Pickup Tent at Ala Moana Beach Park.

Ala Moana Beach, lanternfloatinghawaii.com, @shinnyolanternfloatinghawaii

SEE ALSO: Reserve Your Lantern for the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i Ceremony

Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Dept. of Parks and Recreation

72nd Annual Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 29, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The City and County of Honolulu holds this Memorial Day ceremony with numerous veteran, community, and educational organizations to help facilitate this time-honored tradition. The ceremony includes speeches, a wreath presentation, an F-22 military aircraft flyover, a 21-gun salute and a hula performance.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl), honolulu.gov

Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Sew a Lei for Memorial Day

Each year, members of the community make 38,000 lei to place one upon every gravesite within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Pūowaina for Memorial Day. They currently need 15,000 lei. There are multiple “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day” events held around the island where you can donate fresh flowers, learn how to make a lei and help make the lei yourself. Visit this City & County of Honolulu website for all the dates and locations for lei-making events. The drop-off locations are all federal and city and county fire stations and the Department of Parks and Recreation office at the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building.

Various locations, honolulu.gov

Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 29, TBD

The American Gold-Star Families Memorial Day Parade Committee organizes an annual Memorial Day parade that pays tribute to veterans, active military and America’s Gold-Star families. The theme of the parade is “remembering our past and celebrating our future.” The parade starts down Kalākaua Avenue for one mile and takes Monsarrat Avenue to Kapi‘olani Park.

Kalākaua Ave. to Kapi‘olani Park, memorialdayparade.com

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Kai Towne Center

East End Hot Rod Car Show

Monday, May 29, 2 p.m.

Check out some of the island’s hottest cars gathered at the Hawai‘i Kai Costco’s parking lot for Memorial Day. Guests can also enjoy live music from Ka‘imi Hananoeau and Kevin Okimoto.

Family-Friendly Event, Hawai‘i Kai Towne Center, hawaiikaitownecenter.com