Lantern Floating Ceremony - Honolulu

Every Memorial Day in Honolulu, at the end of a lazy day at the beach,  a ceremony takes place

that embraces all, visitors to the island, and locals alike, to honor and remember

their departed loved ones.  It derives from a Japanese tradition and is presided over by a local Japanese Buddhist leader.   

People are able to write messages, thoughts, prayers, or simply the names of their loved ones 

on square paper lanterns which are lit by candles from the inside.   Some push them directly into the sea from the shore.  Others are loaded onto double-hulled canoes which are rowed out beyond the breakwaters.  Where the lanterns are set out onto the sea - to float away into the wider world.

As the evening falls people gather closer to the shore, in order to see.  The boats set out.  A hush falls on everyone.

Some go out into the water for a closer look.

And peace descends.  

Here's a link to the event website's flickr photostream that will give you a better look at the lanterns. And maybe the inspiration to have a lantern floating festival wherever it is that you live.