The 2015 Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony, held at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu, culminated with 6, 000 candlelit lanterns being floated off the 50, 000 people attended the ceremony, which is described as a cultural blending, as it is lead by a sect of Japanese-based Buddhism, but held on Memorial Day with the wish of creating cultural harmony and outrigger canoes release the first lanterns - these are meant to carry prayers for victims of war, water-related accidents, natural and manmade disasters, famine and disease


The 2015 Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony, held at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu, culminated with 6, 000 candlelit lanterns being floated off the shore. Nearly 50, 000 people attended the ceremony, which is described as a cultural blending, as it is lead by a sect of Japanese-based Buddhism, but held on Memorial Day with the wish of creating cultural harmony and understanding. Hawaiian outrigger canoes release the first lanterns - these are meant to carry prayers for victims of war, water-related accidents, natural and manmade disasters, famine and disease These lanterns are floated with the hope of encouraging harmony and peace. As the canoes begin to release the first lanterns, the general public starts to release theirs as well. Many have personalized the lanterns with messages and mementos.


Size: 5596px × 3731px
Location: Honolulu, HI, USA
Photo credit: © Logan Mock-Bunting / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2015, annual, celebration, ceremony, culture, festival, floating, focus, group, hawaii, hawaiian, honolulu, horizontal, idyllic, illuminated, islands, lantern, large, medium, men, oahu, objects, outdoors, outrigger, people, selective, sunset, traditional, usa, water, women