Frozen Kona: One Among SixThousand

Last April when Mark and I moved to Oahu we looked up dozens of festivals, events, cultural experiences and anything else new we could try while living in Hawaii. We found and already experienced soo many, but by far our favorite is the Lantern Floating. This event is held every Labor Day at Ala Moana beach park. Last year we arrived to the festival late because of work commitments, but this year we were able to attend the entire thing which was so awesome. The entire day/experience was extra special for me because this past April marked ten years since my dad passed away. We arrived to the park at about 9:30a.m. to pick up our lantern (6,000 total lanterns were floated at this years ceremony). We waited in line for about 45 minutes to receive our lantern. We were able to take the lantern back to our apartment and decorate it and really put thought into the design. The lantern contained three sides all surrounding a candle in the center of the float. We decorated ours for a few hours with colorful markers, pictures, quotes and memories dedicated to our loved ones. Others at the event added lights, flowers, poems, and even leis to their lanterns.

To be apart of the ceremony and able to float our own lantern this year was unreal. Being surrounding by 50,000+ other people that are all there for the same reason; to honor and remember those they love, is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. Nothing mattered; not race, gender, religion, beliefs, etc. but only to support one another and reflect on those we love that were lost. The silence once the lantern floating ceremony started was indescribable. The night started with a beautiful sunset that provided an amazing backdrop to the ceremony. The stage was within viewing range for us, but there was a TV screen closer that gave awesome up close visuals to the events that were taking place at the start of the ceremony. A drone flying above the crowd and stage provided an awesome aerial view of how large the crowd gathered really was, it also was sharing these moments on a live streaming on the ceremonies website. I'm still so in awe how so many people in such a small place somehow worked out. People really share the space and make sure that everyone around them are taken care of. The start of the ceremony lasted about 20 minutes before the actual floating of the lanterns began. There are eleven parts of the entire lantern floating event which includes the floating of 6,000 lanterns. The beginning of the ceremony is sounded by the Pu- which is the Hawaiian conch shell. From there many blessings are said, a prayer to bring everyone together, the hula is performed, plus more, until finally the six main lanterns are placed into the water. "Six large Main Lanterns carry prayers for all spirits on behalf of all people. Prayers are offered for victims of war, water-related accidents, natural and manmade disasters, famine and disease. Gratitude is offered for all - even endemic, endangered and extinct plant and animal life. These lanterns are floated with the hope of encouraging harmony and peace." Many different religious beliefs are incorporated into ceremony which is just another way of bringing so many people who are so different together for one underlying same reason, our loved ones. We finally heard the ringing of the bell which was the signal that it was time to float our lanterns. We weren't very close to the shore line so we waited in line to float our lanterns, which made the view even better when it was our time. Seeing the thousands of lanterns all floating atop the Pacific Ocean was a very calming and humbling moment. I was so proud to be apart of it and knowing that we were able to bring our loved ones from across the world in Wisconsin to this moment across the world, I felt sooo very thankful and happy! As we approached the shoreline our lantern's candle was lighted. That light represented so many things for us and was such a special moment.

To have so many people together in such a small space all feeling the same love, respect, and compassion for those around them was such a memoriable feeling and night and we truly look forward to being apart of the ceremony next year. I felt my dad's presence more than ever at the ceremony and know that he loved being apart of it! Our biggest surprise of the night was how far into the water we actually had to go to ensure our lantern floated far enough out. I was under the impression that we would go knee deep at the most to push our lantern far enough into the water for it to be carried, but that wasn't true. Where we chose to float our lantern we had to walk about stomach high to send our lantern away. At first I was hesistant thinking about how cold that 45 minute walk was going to be walking home, but once we got out there and really started experiencing everything we had to force each other to get out of that water to make way for others. After I placed our lantern into the water and gave it a final push, Mark and I hugged and said a prayer to our loved ones. In just a few minutes our lantern was quite far away as we kept trying to keep an eye on it. I started tearing up with emotion and we thought we lost it in the dozens of other lanterns floating directly around it, but ours floated just enough on its own that we were able to see it. That moment for the two of us was tear jerking-it was our loved ones way of saying they were there. Being so deep in the water with beautiful live music playing in the background a strong connection between the ocean and the thousands of lanterns floating was felt. We were lucky again this year because like last year we were able to walk and avoid the traffic nightmare that is 50,000+ people trying to leave a park at the same time.

(^Two of our favorite videos from the Lantern fest)

We walked back to our apartment soaking wet and had one of the most peaceful evenings I can remember. Above all we left with a feeling of happiness and thankful that we are able to continue this awesome journey together in beautiful Hawaii. With that being said... I (Jen) turn 27 next Monday! Eek! I have a feeling it will be one of the best years yet though. ;)