Floating Lantern Ceremony at Pauoa Bay

Sunset release of ceremonial floating lanterns to remember those who passed, hosted by North Hawaii Hospice at The Fairmont Orchid. Photo courtesy of Big Island Video News.

North Hawaii Hospice will host its fifth annual floating lantern ceremony at Coconut Grove at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, on the Kohala Coast on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

The ceremony will include live music, hula, taiko drummers and Hawaiian chanting and will be followed by a sunset lantern release into Pauoa Bay.

“This is truly a unique and remarkable event,” said Katherine Werner, MHA, RN and executive director of North Hawaii Hospice. “We were overwhelmed at the amount of participants who were able to enjoy last year’s event and are looking forward to partnering once again with the Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i, to honor and remember those who have passed.”

Lantern floating is an Asian spiritual tradition that symbolizes the wish for all beings to live in peaceful coexistence. As the lanterns are released onto the ocean, they take with them our healing prayers to honor and remember those who have passed. Lanterns are collected at the end of the release, the lantern bases are saved, and the lantern papers are collected, dried, and burned in a respectful manner.

Admission is free, and floating lanterns for inscribing messages and decorating will be provided for a suggested donation of $10.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase.

Complimentary self-parking will be available; carpooling is encouraged.

Additional information may be found by calling North Hawaii Hospice at (808) 885-7547 or online.

North Hawaii Hospice is a community based non-profit hospice organization that helps seriously ill patients and their loved ones maintain quality of life even at the end of life. North Hawaii Hospice provides compassionate, supportive care that focuses on comfort, dignity, and peace, and has been privileged to serve North Hawai‘i’s families for 30 years.