By Kai Ioh | September 2025
There are many beautiful events on the Big Island, but few feel as sacred and deeply human as the Floating Lantern Ceremony held each summer at the Fairmont Orchid’s Coconut Grove.
This year’s gathering, hosted by North Hawai‘i Hospice, took place on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. And once again, it was one of the most meaningful evenings of the year for my family.
Under the glow of the setting sun, surrounded by candlelight, music, and prayer, hundreds gathered to remember the ones we love and have lost.
A Family Tradition, A Personal Tribute
I lost my dad three years ago. Since then, this ceremony has evolved into more than just an event on the calendar. It has become a ritual for healing and remembrance.
Every year, our family creates a lantern together. Momo draws, Kumi and I adds messages, memories, and symbols that represent him and our important ones. And then, as the sun dips into the horizon, we release it into the sea.
Watching the light float outward is deeply symbolic. It’s quiet. It’s beautiful. And it’s healing.
That’s the thing about this ceremony, it’s not loud or dramatic. It doesn’t need to be. It offers something much more powerful: space. A space to reflect, to grieve, to honor, and to celebrate those who’ve shaped our lives.
A Cultural Weaving: Japanese Roots, Hawaiian Spirit
Originally rooted in the Japanese Obon tradition, where lanterns guide ancestral spirits back to the sea, this ceremony has grown into something uniquely Hawaiian.
This year’s program featured:
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Taiko drumming by the Daifukuji Taiko Group, whose rhythmic power echoed through the grove like a heartbeat
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Hawaiian chanting that grounded the evening in a sense of place and reverence
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Graceful hula performances that honored the natural rhythm of life and memory
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Prayers offered by a Buddhist priest, a Christian minister, and a Hawaiian Kahuna—each bringing their own sacred traditions together in unity
In true island style, this wasn’t a religious event—it was spiritual. And it was inclusive. People of all backgrounds and beliefs gathered shoulder to shoulder. Each person carries a story. Each lantern represents a life.
Ceremony Highlights: Light on Water, Love in the Air
As we arrived at Pauoa Bay, we were greeted by calm trade winds, soft live Hawaiian music, and the smell of ocean in the air. Many tables were set up for lantern decorating. Some families worked quietly, others shared stories or laughter through tears.
At sunset, we all walked toward the shoreline together and lit candles. The lanterns, placed gently in the water, began to drift as the sky turned lavender and gold. Dozens of flickering lights slowly bobbed in a rhythmic ocean motion.
It was a breathtaking moment. A communal release of love, grief, memory, and hope.
More Than a Ceremony: A Cause That Cares
While the evening felt sacred, it was also a fundraiser. Each lantern came with a suggested donation of $25, with proceeds supporting North Hawai‘i Hospice—a remarkable organization that provides compassionate end-of-life care throughout our island.
In times of grief, hospice teams are the ones who show up quietly and do the work that truly matters. Events like this not only honor our loved ones, but they also ensure others in our community are cared for with dignity when their time comes.
Mahalo to North Hawai‘i Hospice, the Fairmont Orchid, and all the volunteers and artists who help make this event happen every year.
Why We’ll Always Come Back
As the final lanterns drifted away and the last notes of Japanese traditional music faded into the evening, I felt once again the power of shared remembrance.
This ceremony reminds me that healing doesn’t come all at once. It arrives in moments – quiet, shared, and filled with light.
If you ever have the chance to attend the Floating Lantern Ceremony at Fairmont Orchid, come with an open heart. Whether you’re remembering a loved one or simply want to be part of something meaningful, you’ll leave feeling more connected to the past, to the land, and to each other.
From my family to yours, may we always carry our memories with love. And may we always find light in the darkness.
