Lantern Floating Festival

For those of you that don't know, yesterday was Memorial Day. The day we celebrate our fallen brothers (& sisters) in arms. In Hawaii, it also marks the day of the Lantern Floating Festival. Thousands of Lanterns are lit in remembrance of loved ones who have passed and the ancestors who came before us. 

Traditional Japanese beliefs state that humans come from water, so the lanterns represent their bodies returning to water.

"Setting lanterns, bearing the names of loved ones, afloat along Ala Moana beach creates a meaningful exchange between souls seen and unseen, between the living and the departed. It is an opportunity to extend sincere prayers of consolation-honoring our family and friends, together with victims of natural disasters, poverty, sickness, and conflict-while expressing our gratitude for the bounty of nature."

My friend Vanda invited me to come and shoot with her, as eager as I was to shoot something not posing behind a life ring, I also wanted a lantern to light in memory of the first man I ever loved; the best man I've ever known, for the woman who watched out for me and took me in, to the mother I will never meet.

Our journey starts here, in a line a thousand people long.

This was the woman behind me in line. It was her first time at the festival, her husband passed earlier this year. When asked, if she was excited, she told the woman interviewing her, that there were already a lot of emotions already running through her. She hoped to find peace.

Not everyone was in the park for the Lanterns, several people walked by the mile long line and asked, what are you guys waiting for. When we replied, "lanterns" some people looked at us like we were nuts. As the day went on, the number of seemingly nut-so people at Ala Moana grew into the thousands. About 43,000.

This is probably the longest blog I've ever written.
This is probably the longest I've ever taken to write a blog.

It only gets longer and more personal from here.

The song is ended. But the melody lingers on. ~Irving Berlin

I wonder what you'd say about the choices I make. It worries me what you think when you're looking down on me. I feel like I've been cheated on the time I had with you, but thankful I had it, when none of the other girls did. I miss you everyday. You live on in all of us.
I wonder what if but...

It's for the birds Papa.

I still have a hard time.. believing you're gone. I can't grasp it. Its like a big slap in the face every time I'm reminded. For what you brought into my life, I am thankful, the world is thankful. For the sons you have given us. For your love, and your everlasting presence in our hearts. You are one of the strongest women I have ever met, and probably ever will meet.

My new answer to the question, "If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?" is you. I want to tell you how much I love your son. I want to memorize your smile and the way you laugh, so I can tell them about you. I want to feel your love. And I want your recipe for lasagna. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back to the festival.... while many lanterns are released from the beach, hundreds more are released from canoes. Below Vanda poses in front of them.

My partner in crime. 

More lanterns, these were to be floated by volunteers.

More people, a little panoramic stitching.

Waiting for the sun to set.

Priests of the Shinnyo-en Buddist Order. And at the center, Shaded by an umbrella, Her Holiness Keishu Shinso Ito.

As her Holiness addressed the crowd, the sun set over us all.

My Asissster (Combination, Assistant and Sister) was in charge of releasing my lantern. She held the name of the grandfather she never met, closest to her heart.

As lanterns are lit, prayers are whispered. Tears are shed, as the emotions run high and the tear educing music is blared across the sand.  Fathers hold mothers, who morn the loss of a child. Friends hold hands, people hold eachother. People bow in prayer. And together we wait.

Until finally, we set them on their journey, letting them light the night, and the way home.

I managed to chase my lantern for a few feet before I was attacked by 30 lanterns trying to make their way out to sea.

If I had let the tears fall, they'd have just been a few drops on the vast (and already salty) Ocean. 

 "The theme for this year's ceremony is 'Many Rivers, One Ocean', and it is fitting that we are here in the Pacific Ocean whose name signifies peace. The strength of any one person is like a single drop of water, but such small drops come together to form rivers, ultimately merging into one great ocean."

The tears shed into the water last night, united us all. Past, present and future.

" The lights of the lanterns are lights of hope, which extend our gratitude to our ancestors, allow us to reflect on our blessed lives, and offer prayers of love to the future. Let us always keep this light of hope in our hearts."

Looking towards the light.

This is the end (almost) of this emotionally charged (and hopefully moving) blog. Make sure you mark your calendar for next years lantern festival. Memorial day falls on the last Monday in May.

Make sure you keep an eye out for Vanda's shots of the night. Thank you so much for inviting me Vanda! I had a great night shooting.

The photographer in me was enchanted by all the light. I feel most at home pressing the shutter. Doing what it takes to freeze that moment. With two cameras around my neck, waste deep in the ocean, surrounded by hope and love. I felt home.

Only a photographer.

A special and final mahalo goes out to Ikaika! For hooking us up with special access-ness. Thank you so much for making the day even more memorable...and accessible ;)

In Loving Memory

John Juan Ladao

Lori Jean Colburn Phillips

Sheree Ann Young Luster

Harry Patrick Scott

Sergeant Daniel Sakai

Sergeant Evrin Romans

Sergeant Mark Dunakin

Police Officer John Hege

Jacob Anthony Foreman

Joel Whitlow Foote Jr. 

Troy Martinez Clattenburg

Seaman William G. Mack

For the soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors who don't come home.

The firemen, policemen and paramedics who risk and give their lives for our safety. 

For those who have left this earth, but not our hearts.