FLH, Andrea and Jon met up with some friends at Ala Moana Beach Park to take part in the annual Honolulu Lantern Floating Ceremony. Pictured above is Landon with the Wong ladies: Mama Heather, big sister Sarah and little sister Jessica. You can also see their dad and little brother Brandon in the background. Brandon is only a few weeks older than FLH. Here are the details of the event:
As the waters of the Pacific merge with each ocean to touch the shores of every continent around the globe, prayers and wishes for peace and the happiness of all are sent out from Hawai`i. Every year on Memorial Day thousands of people gather at Ala Moana Beach to honor and pray for those who sacrificed their lives in war, for loved ones who have passed away and to aim for a harmonious and peaceful future.
Even amidst the crowd, people commonly describe experiencing a very personal and private moment of warm connection with loved ones. It is an experience that somehow transcends any human division of culture or belief. In that moment, there is only peace, harmony, understanding, compassion and warmth without any boundaries of race, religion or lifestyle. “It’s not a Hawaiian thing or a Japanese thing. It’s not a Buddhist thing. It’s a ‘Human Thing’.”
Check out the website here. We caught some great pictures; a friend actually volunteered to work on a boat and reclaim the lanterns. People write messages to their lost loved-ones; and when reclaimed, the lanterns are shipped to Japan and the messages are burned in a holy ceremony.
1 comment:
I miss kissing those darling chubby cheeks! He is growing up so fast! The pictures are beautiful. Thanks so much for keeping the blog current. I don't want to miss a thing!
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