Contributed by Renée Dorn and Karen Osmanski , Community Character Coalition of Elk Grove, IL and Josh Gezahegn, The Volunteer Center-South Bay, Harbor, Long Beach, CA
Standing on Ala Moana Beach as thousands gathered for the 2026 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii was both humbling and inspiring. As guests of Shinnyo-en Foundation, we joined people from around the world in a shared moment of remembrance, gratitude, and hope. Watching thousands of lanterns illuminate the water at sunset reminded us that every light represents a story, a relationship, and an inextinguishable connection that continues to guide us forward.
For the three of us, the experience felt like a continuation of a journey that has unfolded over several years through our partnership with Shinnyo-en Foundation. Through the Infinite Paths to Peace Leadership Retreat Series, we had the opportunity to work alongside youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds, exploring leadership, service, and peacebuilding while building meaningful relationships rooted in empathy and understanding. Those retreats challenged participants to discover their own strengths, connect across differences, and consider how compassion can be put into action within their communities.
The Lantern Floating Ceremony brought those same values to life in a powerful and deeply personal way. As we reflected on the thousands of lanterns floating together across the water, we were reminded of the young people we work with each day—each carrying their own story, strengths, and capacity to make a difference in their communities. It was a pleasure to meet so many during this experience of a lifetime and to learn a little about each one’s life story. We are grateful for the opportunity to share a little of our own story with others. A rich life journey is about connections, and we are glad to have connected with so many.
As we continue to recognize and support young people in our local communities, we are continually inspired by their capacity for empathy, leadership, and service. When given opportunities to share their experiences, listen to others, and engage with people from different backgrounds, they often discover strengths and perspectives they did not know they possessed. Through service and meaningful connection, young people develop greater social-emotional awareness, often stepping beyond their own challenges to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, experiences, and perspectives of others. We have seen how these experiences foster confidence, compassion, and a stronger sense of responsibility to one another and the communities we share.
Her Holiness Shinso Ito’s message about recognizing and sharing the light within ourselves resonated deeply with our work and reinforced a belief we have witnessed time and again: when people feel seen, supported, and connected, they are empowered to become leaders, bridge-builders, and agents of positive change.
We returned home with renewed gratitude for the relationships we have built through Shinnyo-en Foundation and the lessons we continue to learn together. From Infinite Paths to Peace to the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony, these experiences have reinforced our belief that peacebuilding begins with relationships, grows through service, and flourishes when we help others recognize their own light. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue carrying that light forward in our work, our communities, and the lives of the young people we serve.
Enjoy more photos from their visit to Honolulu and the 2026 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i on our Flickr page.