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 …
Carrying Light Forward: A Journey of Peacebuilding and Connection Read More »
We’re thrilled to share a beautiful new video of the 2025 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii. If you haven’t yet, we invite you to read a deeply reflective article on our website, co-written by Amy Meuers and Jane Walker — two long-time supporters of peacebuilding through their work. Amy is CEO of the National Youth Leadership …
Exciting Announcement: The 2025 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii Video! Read More »
A collaborative reflection by Jane Walker, the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and Amy Meuers, the National Youth Leadership Council The Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony in Hawaii draws thousands to Ala Moana Beach each year. The event honors those who have passed, offering a collective moment for reflection, remembrance, and hope. This year, …
Contributed by Francis Bencik, Julie Hurst, Cesar Barragan, and Ryan Kusumoto As a Grants Manager at Shinnyo-en Foundation, I am deeply honored to witness the profound impact of the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony. Held annually on Memorial Day at Ala Moana Beach Park, this event serves as a communal experience of remembrance and healing. …
Contributed by Don Han, Director of Community Partnerships, Groundswell, and Gene Roehlkepartain, Senior Scholar, Search Institute On the surface, we are two very different people with two very different backgrounds. Yet we find ourselves to be more alike than it might seem. Don began his life in a Laotian, Theravāda Buddhist family. When the government …
Contributed by Qalvy Grainzvolt, Shinnyo-en New York Temple Attending the 2019 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii, a special Memorial Day ceremony held in Hawaii over the last 20 years, I have been a witness to myriad special moments each and every time. In the past, I have attended it as a member of the Shinnyo-en Buddhist …
An Ocean of Stories: Reflection on the 2019 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony Read More »
Contributed by Dr. Nina LeNoir, Chapman University Six American educators gathered as guests of Shinnyo-en Foundation to take part in a very special time in Honolulu, HI. It began on Saturday evening with a lovely dinner, a chance to meet and learn about each other and what brought us together to take part in this …
Every year on Memorial Day, the Shinnyo-en Buddhist Order presides over the Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony on the shore of Oahu. People of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs are invited to come together for a personal and collective time of remembrance and reflection, and to offer gratitude to those who have passed. It is a …
Over the past Memorial Holiday, Shinnyo-en Foundation hosted a small group of guests to experience the Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony on Ala Moana Beach in O’ahu, HI. Originating from a traditional Buddhist ceremony to honor and pay respect for ancestors, the Lantern Floating Hawaii has now become an international memorial event that is open to …
Announcing the 2016 Lantern Floating Hawaii Reflection DVD Read More »
On this International Day of Peace, it seems fitting to share one of the ways the Foundation works to create a more peaceful world through interfaith and intercultural dialogue. This past Memorial Day, the Foundation convened a group of guests to experience the Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony, which is based on a traditional Buddhist ceremony …
