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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

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Drummers with Shinnyo Taiko perform at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Kumu Hauʻoli Akaka, center, performs a song dedicated to the Shinnyo Lantern during the ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bobbie Palencia cries before setting afloat a lantern in memory of her boyfriend whom passed away last year.
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Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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People wait to set afloat a lantern at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Thousands of lanterns are set afloat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Kānealiʻi Ng-Osorioat Blows the pu during the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Guiding lanterns get transported to the boat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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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.
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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.
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Guiding lanterns get transported to the boat at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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Canoes are pictured before thousands of lantern being released at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park.
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Kaʻanoʻi Akaka performs hula at the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii 2023 Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day.
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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.
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Thousands of people watch during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Writing is seen on lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Shinso Ito, seated, head of Shinnyo-en, performs the lighting of the Light of Harmony.
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Shinso Ito, head of Shinnyo-en, blesses lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Writing is seen on a lantern during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Joyce Unciano, right, is embraced by sister Penny Elaban, after Unciano floated her lantern for her son, Keola, who died at 46.
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People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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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.
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Honolulu resident Isaac Pomper, left, pauses to take in a moment of reflection under a rainbow during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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People prepare to float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Honolulu resident Jasmine Gillis floats her lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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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.
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Penny Elaban looks out at thousands of lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Janelle Kupuka’a, of Ewa Beach, looks out at thousands of lanterns after floating her own during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Janelle Kupuka’a, of Ewa Beach, looks out at thousands of lanterns after floating her own during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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A woman pauses after floating her lantern during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Joyce Unciano, right, is embraced by sister Penny Elaban, after Unciano floated her lantern for her son, Keola, who died at 46.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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People float their lanterns during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.
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Thousands of lanterns float during the 2023 Shinnyo-En lantern floating event.

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