Around 6,000 paper lanterns carrying handwritten prayers, messages to lost loved ones, and wishes for peace will float out across the Pacific at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day evening. The Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi ceremony is one of the most visually striking events on Oahu’s calendar — and one of the most emotionally resonant.

The 28th annual ceremony returns Monday, May 25, 2026. Free admission. Free lanterns. Open to everyone. An estimated 50,000 people will be there.

The Shinnyo-en Buddhist order hosts the ceremony, blending Japanese and Hawaiian spiritual traditions into something that feels distinctly local.

Lanterns are distributed for free starting at 10 a.m. at a tent on the beach. First-come, first-served — approximately 6,000 are available, and supplies typically last until around 4 p.m. You write your message on the lantern. A name. A prayer. A memory. Pens and markers are provided.

The evening ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. A conch shell sounds across the beach. Shinnyo Taiko drummers perform. Hula dancers take the stage. The program builds slowly and deliberately toward the main event.

At sunset, thousands of candlelit lanterns are released onto the water. The ocean glows. It is quiet in a way that 50,000 people together rarely are.

After the ceremony, all lanterns are collected from the water by volunteers in canoes and kayaks. No debris is left behind. The cleanup is part of the ceremony’s design — respect for the ocean is built into the ritual.

Memorial Day Weekend in Hawaiʻi 2026: What to Know

Read More

Arrive early. Ala Moana Beach Park fills up fast. Locals start claiming spots by early afternoon. If you want a good viewing position near the water, plan to arrive by 3 p.m. at the latest.

Parking: The Ala Moana Beach Park lot fills by mid-afternoon on event day. Ala Moana Center’s parking structure across the street is the overflow option. Some attendees take TheBus (routes 8, 19, 20, 23, and 42 all stop nearby) or rideshare.

What to bring: Beach blanket or low chairs, water, snacks, sunscreen for the afternoon wait. No alcohol is allowed in the park.

Photography: Bring a tripod if you have one. The lantern release at dusk is low-light — phone cameras struggle without stabilization. The best shots come from slightly elevated positions or along the waterline.

Military families: A dedicated lantern request line with shorter waits is available for active-duty service members, Guard, reservists, veterans, retired military, and immediate family. Valid military ID is required.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on KHON2 television and livestreamed on the event’s official YouTube channel.

You can also submit an online remembrance in advance at lanternfloatinghawaii.com. Your message will be placed on a lantern and floated during the ceremony even if you are thousands of miles away.

This makes the event meaningful even if your Hawaiʻi trip does not coincide with Memorial Day. Submit a remembrance from home and watch the livestream at sunset HST.

Organizers are actively seeking volunteers for the 2026 ceremony. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on April 8 that volunteer signups are open.

Volunteers help with setup, lantern distribution throughout the day, and the critical post-ceremony cleanup — collecting every lantern from the water by canoe and kayak.

If you are on Oahu the week of Memorial Day, this is a way to participate beyond spectating. Check lanternfloatinghawaii.com for volunteer registration details.

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel periods in Hawaiʻi. Hotels book up months in advance and rates spike 20-30% above normal.

If you are already planning a Memorial Day trip to Oahu, the Lantern Floating ceremony is free and does not require reservations — just show up early. Other Memorial Day activities on Oahu include ceremonies at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) and events along Waikiki Beach.

For the full rundown on the holiday weekend — Pearl Harbor ceremonies, crowd strategies, what to book now — read our Memorial Day Weekend in Hawaiʻi 2026 guide.

If you are still booking accommodation, compare rates on Booking.com for Honolulu hotels. And if you need a rental car for the weekend, Discount Hawaii Car Rental consistently offers competitive island rates.