Toro Nagashi: Honolulu's Memorial Day Lantern Floating Ceremony

Chanting Buddhist priests from Shinnyo-En Hawai'i will be the stewards of the Tōrō Nagashi, (Lantern Floating Ceremony), at Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu Hawai'i on Monday, May 28 2007, Memorial Day. The lanterns are set afloat in the water to guide departed spirits across the sea. Video of Tōrō Nagashi 2005 & 2006 near Waikiki on Oahu.

Since 1952, the Shinnyo-En of Tokyo has offered spiritual commiseration for those who have disappeared at sea. The purifying observance has been performed in Honolulu since 1999. Tōrō Nagashi is held annually on Memorial Day on Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park.

Shinnyo-en of Hawaii together with the Na Lei Aloha Foundation will carry out the liturgy. Na Lei Aloha means 'many lei of embracement', whose mission is to sustain the "aloha spirit" of the Hawaiians. Shinnyo-en Hawaii is of the Shingon school of philosophy that can be traced backed to 'Kukai the Universal', father of Japanese enlightenment in the ninth century. Kukai is also known as Saeki and Kobo Daishi. Adherents to the 'The True Word' provide ceremonious services for the deceased.

Traditionally, the Japanese river ceremony of floating candle lanterns happens on the last night of Obon. In Honolulu, the Obon dancing festival is continuous for weeks and the Hawaiian version of Tōrō Nagashi commemorates many sentiments including the veneration of the end of World War II.

During the day, Ala Moana Beach Park is a typical holiday crowd with barbecue picnics and swimming plus international and local dance ensembles performing throughout the day. For about five dollars, you are able to put any requested name, along with other people names as a group, on a boat lantern for the nocturnal sacrament.

As the sun descends towards the horizon, the main stage is broadcasted onto the large outdoor screen as it is being transmitted to Japan. A slight delay of action can be a little discomfiting if able to see the live stage action and mammoth screen at the same time.

As dusk approaches, smoky kerosene tiki torches are lit. The heavy sooty fumes from the line of shoreline oil burning lamps are distressing to those with respiratory ailments. It would be better if there were no lamp posts afire because the crepuscular fumes give more atmosphere than light.

The best seat in the house is in the water. Hobbyists wade a few feet into the water with digital cameras while professional camera frogmen capture the event with floating fish tank enclosed cameras.

Projected onto the big screen, a congregation of modulating priests promenades from the stage to the beach to light the oversized sepulture lantern that is atop an outrigger canoe. The chanting is amplified for all to hear while the rest of the sanctified canoes silently float offshore. At last light, true night begins, and the tiny stacked lanterns are lit one at a time and placed carefully into the water. Meanwhile volunteers at the shoreline light up the communal lanterns of the names that were collected throughout that day.

It is a profoundly meaningful feeling to listen to the chanting and watching the lamps on tiny boats afloat.

Video link below is from 2005 and 2006 Memorial Day ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park, Hawai'i.

Lantern Floating Hawaii Official Tōrō Nagashi Link is after video link.