Hawai’i Island Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony

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Stewardship of Culture and Tradition on Hawai’i Island

Floating Lantern Ceremony at Fairmont OrchidCalling all residents and visitors of Hawai’i Island…Let’s join together at the Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony, hosted by North Hawai’i Hospice on Sunday, August 23, 2015.

Hawai’i is home to many cultures and people, each with a contribution of its very own. Whether you grew up in the sugar plantations of Honoka’a, raised your children in the coffee farms of Holualoa, or a visitor to Hawai’i Island, we are all participants in the cultural diversity of today.

The rich heritage and diverse cultures we share are evident in so many ways throughout the year. As they happen, you can count on LUVA Real Estate to share our Hawaii Island events. Among the many cultural and traditional events is the Annual Floating Lantern Ceremony. Come down to the Fairmont Orchid, Coconut Grove, 1 North Kaniku Drive at Waikoloa Beach on August 23rd from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

Hundreds of lanterns will float in beautiful Pau’oa Bay in honor and remembrance of loved ones who have passed. We recommend you arrive early and carpool if possible. Bring your camera to capture an amazing display of ‘Aloha’ among all who participate. There will be music, hula and Taiko drummers to accompany the release of lanterns. The admission is free and lanterns are provided for a suggested donation of $10 dollars.

Tōrō nagashi is a Japanese ceremony of floating lanterns down a river or waterway following the Bon Festival in Japan. During this ceremony, the belief is that the spirit of the ancestors will return to the afterlife. The light of the lanterns represent the soul. This tradition is well embraced among the people of Hawai’i in memory of their loved ones.

Hospice of Kona and North Hawai’i Hospice are non-profit organizations that help to provide quality of life and family centered support to seriously ill patients and their loved ones. Whether at a bereavement camp for youth, a Kokua Canine program of pets and their people, or operating a thrift store named Memory Lane, Hospice of Kona has been creating a legacy of Aloha since 1985. I recently met an incredible group of compassionate professionals and volunteers during a two day volunteers training class. If you decide to volunteer, bring your own box of tissues, you will be touched by everyone you meet.

With the support of a dedicated community, North Hawai’i Hospice was established in 1986 and supports the Waimea, Waikoloa, Kohala and Hamakua communities. Annually, they organize community events to include golf tournaments, youth camps, floating lantern ceremony and more. By the way, the Annual Lantern Ceremony is a community service available to everyone and not a fundraiser. Gayle Hubbard of North Hawaii Hospice says, “High Tea is another event that people really look forward to.” Gayle also expressed a deep appreciation for Tommy Bahama and the annual Big Island Classic golf tournament they organize to benefit North Hawai’i Hospice.

To learn more about how you can volunteer with your community hospice, visit their websites: www.hospiceofkona.org and www.northhawaiihospice.org. We welcome your feedback and ask you to return to our LUVA blog and share with us your experience at this year’s Floating Lantern ceremony. We would love to hear from you.