Floating Latern Ceremony

We now return to our regularly scheduled program...ha.  Okay I'm going to try to pick up from the rest of summer blogs to get caught up.

Returning to Memorial Day 2012.  I have already blogged about what an amazing time I had at Pearl Harbor.  I was so lucky to attend on literally the 50th anniversary of the memorial.  Now the second half of my Memorial Day was equally as awesome because I finally managed to get my act together to attend the Floating Lantern Ceremony in Honolulu.  Now I've always heard about this event...AFTER it had happened.  Somehow I never connected Memorial Day with this event...nor realized it was kind of major - like broadcast on local news channels every year.  Whoops.

I had hoped to get down there early so I could have a shot at getting a lantern.  I was worried because the newspapers were predicting tens of thousands would be in attendance and they only had like 2,000 lanterns.  Of course, I got distracted at Pearl Harbor and got down to town way later than I wanted.  I found parking and located the tent.  The line was ridiculously long, but I figured I walk it just to see how far back it went.  Well it kept going on and on and on.  I really despaired of ever finding the end and if I did, I probably wouldn't even get a lantern.  I was just about to give up (but really didn't want to) and so I decided to walk just a little farther.  After about another fifty yards I reached the end and was told by a volunteer that there would be a good chance I could get a lantern! Yippee!

AT THE VERY END OF THE LINE (THE WHITE IS THE TENT)

The line moved quicker than I anticipated it would and it was sped up by me randomly spotting a co-worker from Mt. View wandering around the park.  Nanci teaches preschool at Mt. View and has recently transplanted herself from New York.  It was so nice to have someone with me to help speed up the line waiting and we ended up spending the whole experience together.

However, the best part of this blog is going to be the pictures since it's just gorgeous...so I better get to that!

After probably an hour of standing in line, we reached the tent! It was a relief to both be at the tent, know that we could secure our lanterns and be out of the sun for a bit!

ENTERING THE TENT

Upon registering we received these really nice large bags that had all the parts of our lantern in them. As Chris knows (and complains about), I am a sucker for a bag! The whole process was extremely well organized.  They had multiple lines, lots of volunteers, and you were directed everywhere.  It was seamless! 

LANTERN DIRECTIONS

We were directed to a table where we sat down to put together our lanterns and decorate them as well. It was an interesting environment as some people were celebrating life and others were mourning in grief.  The floating lanterns seem to mean many things to different people.  The history of it is that
lighting candles for the departed is a tradition that is embraced and practiced across most cultures and religions to illuminate the way, convey warmth and create hope and a sense of connection.
Toro Nagashi, or “lantern offerings on the water” is a time-honored Buddhist rite to pay respect to ancestors and offer comfort to spirits of the deceased. Candle-lit lanterns carry heartfelt prayers for those who have sacrificed their lives in war, for victims of water-related accidents, natural disasters, famine and disease, as well as loved ones who have passed away.

Lantern floating ceremonies symbolically ferry the spirits of the deceased back to the spiritual realm to mark the completion of Obon, the Buddhist tradition of welcoming spirits of family members back to celebrate with and be honored by the living.  Obon observances are traditionally held during the later summer months. Shinnyo-en observes the traditional period of Obon with its corresponding services including a lantern floating ceremony in addition to the May observances in Hawaiʻi. (http://www.lanternfloatinghawaii.com/about-the-event/)

PEOPLE CONSTRUCTING THEIR LANTERNS

Nanci and I had a few hours to kill until the ceremony began so I suggested that we do one thing that  I love to do...shop :) Ala Moana was across the street and I decided I wanted a bathing suit top because after being in the hot sun waiting in line for most of the late morning/afternoon I was pretty hot.  We had a fun time browsing in the mall, got some food to go, and then walked back to Magic Island to grab a seat.  The ceremonies were supposed to start at 6pm. We didn't have long to wait and snacked on our food in the meanwhile.

GRABBING OUR SEATS

They started with some guest performances from Raiatea Helm and Brothers Cazimero.  Then Her Holiness Keishu Shinso Ito appeared.  She serves as the spiritual head of the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Order.

HER HOLINESS ON THE BIG SCREEN

The next set of performances were by Shinnyo Taiko.  At first I was enraptured by watching the big screen that was just behind us...but then I realized that if I looked across the water I could actually see the performers! I LOVE taiko drumming so I really enjoyed this part of the show.

SHINNYO TAIKO DRUMMERS

At one point I looked back at the big screen and saw this (I'm assuming) tourist standing up amongst the crowd in her kimono and I thought...wow how perfect :)

JAPANESE TOURIST IN KIMONO ENJOYING THE TAIKO

Of course the show just got better and better.  There was an oli (chant) from Pualani Kanahele, Kekuhi & Kaumaikaiwa Kanaka'ole, the latter of which I am mildly obsessed with.  This Hawaiian family is legendary in Hilo and I think I've written about them a number of times.  With their bright yellow outfits, they were pretty easy to see against the all-white stage.

PUALANI & KAUMAKAIWA CHANTING

In this picture you can see Pualani and Kaumakaiwa chanting as some people bring out the "parent lanterns."

BRINGING OUT THE PARENT LANTERNS

PARENT LANTERNS AT THE BACK OF THE STAGE

 Next they had Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea perform some hula.

HULA

Finally the actual floating lantern ceremony started.  First Her Holiness gave and address to the crowd that was estimated to be about 40,000 people on Magic Island, plus countless people watching on the local TV channels and on the web where they streamed the event.

HER HOLINESS GIVES THE WELCOMING ADDRESS

Next the dignitaries (i.e. Governor Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Peter Carlisle, etc) lit the Light of Harmony.  It reminded me of the opening ceremonies to the Olympics.

LIGHT OF HARMONY

While all of this was happening on stage the canoes loaded with lanterns silently paddled and paused right in front of where I was standing.  It was gorgeous.

The six parent lanterns were carried to a canoe and then the lanterns began to be released into the waters.  As they were released, volunteers came around the beach and lit our candles for our lanterns for those of us standing on the shore with our own lanterns.

SIX PARENT LANTERNS ON THE CANOE

LANTERNS BEING RELEASED INTO THE WATER

ME WITH MY LANTERN BEFORE RELEASING IT

RELEASING MY LANTERN (I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS, BUT IT'S ONE OF THEM)

Periodically we would see these floating lanterns floating overhead.  It was pretty amazing (although now I know they can wreak havoc and start fires, especially in places that have extreme dry zones like our islands).

LANTERNS IN THE WATER AND IN THE SKY

LANTERNS IN THE TWILIGHT

LANTERNS AFTER THE SUN SETS

VIEW OF THE SCENE ON MAGIC ISLAND

PADDLING OUT

There was a barrier set up around the harbor and my final pictures were of these surfers paddling out.  I am assuming they were going to start the retrieval process since they try to reuse the lanterns as much as possible.

Overall the floating lanterns were a pretty magical experience and I am so glad that I got a chance to experience it at least once.  It was beautiful and touching.  As we released our lamps they have a video of various people talking about why they were releasing a lantern and if you didn't cry, you had a cold heart indeed.  The lanterns are a chance to those honor those who have sacrificed their lives in war, for loved ones who have passed away and to generate hope toward a harmonious and peaceful future. As it says on the Lantern Floating Hawaii website: "Lantern Floating Hawaii allows people a personal moment to remember, reflect and offer gratitude to those who came before us.  It is also a collective experience where families, friends and even strangers extend warmth, compassion and understanding to support one-another. We are strengthened as a community as we reach out to support others and build understanding of our common human values and experiences." What a perfect way to spend Memorial Day!