Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, December 26, 2024 72° Today's Paper

Photo Galleries

Thousands attend the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event in Honolulu

Thousands of people attend the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event at Ala Moana Regional Park in Honolulu.

By Jamm Aquino and Mengshin Lin / Special to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser

May 29, 2023

Hawaii Photos

1/50
Swipe or click to see more
Drummers with Shinnyo Taiko perform at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
2/50
Swipe or click to see more
Kumu Hauʻoli Akaka, center, performs a song dedicated to the Shinnyo Lantern during the ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
3/50
Swipe or click to see more
Shinso Ito, second from the left, head of Shinnyo-en, gives a blessing at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
4/50
Swipe or click to see more
A ritual and blessing is performed by Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
5/50
Swipe or click to see more
From left to right, Bryan Talisayan, executive director of Mental Health America of Hawaii,  Dr. Ashley Ono, M.D., Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en, Pauline Sato, executive director of Malama Learning Center, Capt. Dameon Behlin, Navy Chaplain, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Dr. C. Kimo Alameda, PhD., light the Light of Harmony at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
6/50
Swipe or click to see more
Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en lights up a guiding lantern at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
7/50
Swipe or click to see more
Bobbie Palencia cries before setting afloat a lantern in memory of her boyfriend whom passed away last year.
8/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
9/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
10/50
Swipe or click to see more
People wait to set afloat a lantern at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
11/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
12/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
13/50
Swipe or click to see more
Kānealiʻi Ng-Osorioat Blows the pu during the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
14/50
Swipe or click to see more
Guiding lanterns get transported to the boat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
15/50
Swipe or click to see more
From left to right, Bryan Talisayan, executive director of Mental Health America of Hawaii,  Dr. Ashley Ono, M.D., Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en, Pauline Sato, executive director of Malama Learning Center, Capt. Dameon Behlin, Navy Chaplain, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Dr. C. Kimo Alameda, PhD., light the Light of Harmony at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
16/50
Swipe or click to see more
A ritual and blessing is performed by Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en, at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
17/50
Swipe or click to see more
Guiding lanterns get transported to the boat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
18/50
Swipe or click to see more
Canoes are pictured before thousands of lantern being released at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park.
19/50
Swipe or click to see more
Kaʻanoʻi Akaka performs hula at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
20/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of people watch during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event at Ala Moana Regional Park in Honolulu. The annual event made its first full-scale return since the COVID-19 pandemic.
21/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of people watch during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
22/50
Swipe or click to see more
Writing is seen on lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
23/50
Swipe or click to see more
Shinso Ito, seated, head of Shinnyo-en, performs the lighting of the Light of Harmony.
24/50
Swipe or click to see more
Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en, blesses lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
25/50
Swipe or click to see more
Writing is seen on a lantern during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
26/50
Swipe or click to see more
Joyce Unciano, right, is embraced by sister Penny Elaban, after Unciano floated her lantern for her son, Keola, who died at 46.
27/50
Swipe or click to see more
People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
28/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
29/50
Swipe or click to see more
People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
30/50
Swipe or click to see more
People prepare to float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event at Ala Moana Regional Park in Honolulu. The annual event made its first full-scale return since the COVID-19 pandemic.
31/50
Swipe or click to see more
Honolulu resident Isaac Pomper, left, pauses to take in a moment of reflection under a rainbow during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
32/50
Swipe or click to see more
People prepare to float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
33/50
Swipe or click to see more
Honolulu resident Jasmine Gillis floats her lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
34/50
Swipe or click to see more
Mariel Kaulupali looks out at thousands of lanterns after floating her own in memory of her husband’s grandfather during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
35/50
Swipe or click to see more
Penny Elaban looks out at thousands of lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
36/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
37/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
38/50
Swipe or click to see more
Janelle Kupuka’a, of Ewa Beach, looks out at thousands of lanterns after floating her own during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
39/50
Swipe or click to see more
Janelle Kupuka’a, of Ewa Beach, looks out at thousands of lanterns after floating her own during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
40/50
Swipe or click to see more
A woman pauses after floating her lantern during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
41/50
Swipe or click to see more
Joyce Unciano, right, is embraced by sister Penny Elaban, after Unciano floated her lantern for her son, Keola, who died at 46.
42/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
43/50
Swipe or click to see more
People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
44/50
Swipe or click to see more
People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
45/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
46/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
47/50
Swipe or click to see more
Lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
48/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
49/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
50/50
Swipe or click to see more
Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.

Related Story

Floating lantern ceremony draws 45,000
Previous Gallery
President Joe Biden addresses military veterans on Memorial Day
Next Gallery
People gathered for Memorial Day at Punchbowl and Kaneohe

More Photo Galleries

Subscriber Favorites

Flip through MidWeek online

Looking Back


Honolulu Local Business Guide