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Just returned from a week on Oahu. A friend invited me over for the Floating Lantern Ceremony. This is a long tradition on the island and is sponsored primarily by the Bhuddist community, although because the emphasis is on remembering those who have passed, it is attended by people of all beliefs.
The ceremony itself was very moving. Some 7,000 floating lanterns are set into the waters at Ala Moana Beach, next to Waikiki in Honolulu just after sunset. It is an awesome sight.
The event draws prominent civilian and military personnel, and takes place on Memorial Day, which is a big deal there. If you plan ahead, you can arrange for a floating lamp to commemorate your lost loved one.
The Ceremony aside, spending the week on Oahu was a much needed break for me. I made some new friends and despite the creeping, crass commercialization emanating from and surrounding the Greater Honolulu area, there are still many opportunities to experience the spirit of Aloha and to truly enjoy the beauty of the island(s).
I also re-learned a couple valuable lessons during my stay. Namely; don't overdo it when attempting activities you've been away from awhile. I went surfing the second or third day I was there (hadn't been in 2 yrs), and pulled a chest muscle staying out too long. I suffered with it for the rest of the time there. Then, on my next to last day, I went snorkeling. While swimming around with a mask on and my face in the water, I frequently had to stop and empty the water out of my mask. After about the 10th time doing that, I realized that swim masks and moustaches are incompatible.
Last but not least, not being a greatly experienced traveler, I failed to read beforehand the reviews of my hotel of choice. My room, initially, was directly over a courtyard and a bar that operated until 3 or 4 am. Read reviews.
All in all, I had a great trip and learned a great deal about the island that houses Pearl Harbor and the Schofield barracks..
My favorite Hawaiian island is Kauai, but I was fortunate enough to make a new friend on Oahu who lives there who was willing and kind enough to take my other friend and me on a nice tour.
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13 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Also...does anyone think of the environmental impact of these lanterns? Where do they end up? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Ravenwolfcasey
Level 7
June 5, 2018
0
See comment below (smoyle) -no, they don't drift out to sea, they are retrieved and reused.
I remember Waikiki beach and clear heels...lol Shanty town shacks in the outskirts and valley..the main strip was tourist trap central...it was a false sense of wonder..and lies of reality...
I would rather be in Alaska seeing miles of forest and mountains capped with powdered snow...
Ravenwolfcasey
Level 7
June 5, 2018
0
Waikiki is a tourist mecca, it's true. But there are still interesting people to see, and a whole other part of the island that holds great beauty, and some very significant history. All depends on how you want to see it.
Could I ask what are the 7,000 lanterns made from please?
smoyle
Level 6
June 3, 2018
1
I believe they are constructed from foam (polyurethane?), and plastic. All lanterns are retrieved and used year after year, they do not just float out to sea and add to the Pacific garbage heap.
@Condor5 are we 100% certain of this because there are plenty of articles that say flying sky lanterns destroy environment
I loved reading that post. Thank you.
It's so true about taking for granted the things we used to do in our youth, and then being rudely reminded by the passing of time that our bodies have changed. It's quite sobering.
Youth is wasted on the young.
Ellatynemouth
Level 8
June 3, 2018
2
What's up with the Buddhists in Myanmar? What they're doing seems so unlike Buddhist behavior.
rb123
Level 2
June 3, 2018
1
I am not personally a Bhuddist, so I cannot comment from a well-informed perspective on that issue as I have not studied it in depth. Oppression of any kind of others for their beliefs never looks right from the outside.
The faith and the teachings are not the same. Participants in lynchings in the South primarily labelled themselves "Christians". That doesn't mean they followed the teachings of Christ.
Sounds wonderful... thanks for the story... I loved it.
BucketlistBob
Level 8
June 3, 2018
2
Glad you enjoyed, Bob.
Sounds great. I've found that I can get get some sort of a seal with a snorkelling mask in the small fleshy part just under the nose before my 'tache starts. I would depend on how bushy it grows I guess.
I can never enjoy those balloon-candle-lantern events myself because I'm always thinking "where will this trash end up?".
Gareth
Level 7
June 3, 2018
2
All the lanterns in this ceremony are contained within a perimeter set up a couple hundred meters off the beach, and except under unusual circumstances, all are retrieved for re-use the following year.
@Condor5 that's good
That sounded really cool. I have to visit Hawaii at least once before I expire.
SpikeTalon
Level 9
June 3, 2018
2
Go to Kauai or the Big Island for your 1st visit, there is less commercialization, imho.
We do a smaller version of the Toro Nagashi (Lantern Floating Ceremony) here on Kauai, usually in August on the last day of the Obon Festival. Held at Kukui'ula Harbor, if you're familiar. It's very moving, in fact the Bon Dances each week during the summer are very moving as well, honoring those who've gone before us. Glad you got to witness the big one on Oahu.
I hear that a bit of vaseline on a mustache is supposed to help with the seal - or use one of the full face kind. I don't have a mustache, haha, but I do use a high quality full face snorkel mask. There are cheap versions that I don't think are as safe, or at least they are questionable. I love my full face mask, but I don't do the real vigorous snorkeling - just the easy going kind.
Seems to me nearly every hotel I've stayed at in Waikiki was above a noisy hotel bar, haha! At least the ones I can afford... What a fun city though!
Sorry to hear you hurt/wore yourself out, but still had a good time. I spent a week on Oahu a few months ago and really enjoyed it - and got a lot of Aloha Spirit while there. Glad you like Kauai - me too!
Julie808
Level 8
June 3, 2018
3
My Little brother lives on Kauai, Thats why I stay Big I
Haha! Well Pele might be nudging you northward for a visit!
Good advice about the vaseline, thanks. I think next time I'll just shave; moustaches always seem to grow back.
Kauai is my favorite. I think Hanalei Bay is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. And, I saw Bethany Hamilton once while out surfing. You're lucky to live there.
Someone told me there was a problem with the full-face masks not venting all the exhaled air; true, not true?
Interesting, I just noticed we share the same birthday.
@Condor5 There is some controversy regarding the full face masks. Not sure if the controversy is fueled by the renters/sellers of the traditional masks, fearing the love for this new mask as scary competition for them or what.
The stories about the snorkel controversy blame the full face masks for an increase in drownings, but often do not say if the victim in the story was even wearing one. A lot of us think it's odd not to show the data regarding what kind of mask each snorkeler was wearing, when making such a claim in a news story. A task force study is being done regarding the number of drownings over the years and the type of equipment being used. I'm very interested in the results. There were many drownings before the full face masks were introduced. The full face snorkel allows many people like me (not a strong swimmer) to snorkel. More weak swimmers in the deep water would seemingly increase drownings. I will continue to use mine, since I know my limits and stick to the calm water only.
I enjoy mine for the easy style of snorkeling I do. I had a scare with the traditional style mask, during a vigorous snorkel outing, where I got anxious and I felt out of breath... that's when I switched the full face one, and immediately felt more secure. I stay away from vigorous snorkeling now, but feel safer with the full face mask. I love mine. There are some lower quality ones out there, that I would not try, but that's just me. I have the Aria brand, not the cheaper quality Head brand currently sold at Costco.
@Julie808, good to know, thank you for the info. I don't snorkel enough to warrant purchasing any equipment, and only learned about the full-face masks on this trip. Over here, in California, the ocean water is too cold to stay immersed in without a wetsuit, and in most places, not clear enough for snorkeling.
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