Lantern Floating Hawaii 2012

Photos from the 14th Annual Lantern Floating Hawai‘i ceremony, May 28, 2012. The Toro Nagashi, “lantern offerings on water,” ceremony is a Buddhist rite to pay respect to ancestors and offer comfort to spirits of the deceased. Candle-lit lanterns carry prayers for those who have sacrificed their lives in war, for victims of water-related accidents, natural disasters, famine and disease, as well as loved ones who have passed away. The Shinnyo-en Buddhist order established the first Lantern Floating Hawai‘i in 1999. Shinnyo-en Hawai‘i makes over 3,000 lanterns available for people to write messages in honor of loved ones. Read the blog post.

Photos were not permitted during the service, and we did not enter the upper part of the temple, but we got to sit in the part of the temple where the parent lanterns were displayed, and were permitted to take photos after the service. © 2012 Sugar + Shake

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Photos were not permitted during the service, and we did not enter the upper part of the temple, but we got to sit in the part of the temple where the parent lanterns were displayed, and were permitted to take photos after the service. © 2012 Sugar + Shake