The Celebration of Life is an annual community gathering to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Donations from this event will help support patients and families living through serious illness and those who are seeking grief support. Event Highlights:

• Luminary Decorating Tents

• Food Trucks

• Hot Andagi doughnuts served by Honpa Hongwanji

• Special Event T-shirts

• Hula Hālau & Live Music Performances

• Multi-Faith Blessings and Prayers

• Lantern Floating Ceremony at Sunset

Parking & Transportation:

Free parking will be available at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, with continuous shuttle services running to and from Reed’s Bay between 2 PM and 7:45 PM.

📍 Location: Reeds Bay, Hilo (near Liliʻuokalani Gardens) 📅Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026 🕒Time: 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM (or pau)

Parking & Transportation:

Free parking will be available at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, with continuous shuttle services running to and from Reed’s Bay between 2 PM and 7:45 PM.

Opening Ceremony – 3:00 PM

• Master of Ceremony – Kuʻehu Mauga

• Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi – Led by Kuʻehu Mauga

• Military Color Guard (National Anthem) by Pōhakuloa Training Area

• Welcome remarks to all Veterans and families by Pōhakuloa Training Area Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Alvarado
  

Welcoming Remarks – 3:15 PM

• Brenda S. Ho – CEO, Hawaiʻi Care Choices

• Chris Takahashi – Board President, Hawaiʻi Care Choices
  

Hālau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua – 3:25 PM

Bon Dance Begins – 4:25 PM

• Hilo Bon Dance Club

• Tsukikage Odori Kai Dancers & Taiko Drums led by Leonard Chow
  

Music by Kanakapila Band – 5:45 PM

Special Remarks – 6:20 PM

• Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda

• Councilwoman Jennifer “Jenn” Kagiwada
  

Multi-Faith Blessings – 6:50 PM

• Rev. Yuki Fujimori of Hilo Daijingu

• Kahu Brian Welsh of Hawaiʻi Care Choices

• Rabbi Rachel Short
  

Opening Protocol & Chant (at water’s edge) – 7:00 PM

• Kumu Lehua Veincent
  

Kupuna Lantern Launch – 7:05 PM

·         Performance by Kainani Kahaunaele – Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Winner

Launching of all the Lanterns – 7:10 PM

Singing of Hawaiʻi Aloha – 7:30 PM

Yes! The event is always free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and support our hospice and community grief-support programs.

Parking & Transportation:

Free parking will be available at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, with continuous shuttle services running to and from Reed’s Bay between 2 PM and 7:45 PM.

No registration is required to attend. However, if you'd like to sponsor a lantern or make a donation in memory of a loved one, please visit our donations website or come to the Will Call tent at the event.

Until noon on May 22, you can purchase them online in advance. Afterwards, luminaries can be purchased at our KTA Puainako Pop Up on Saturday 5/23 from 10 AM to 3 PM and also at the event on Sunday 5/23 at Reeds Bay from 3 PM - 5:30 PM. See our full schedule for KTA Pop Ups below.

KTA Puainako Pop-Up Sale Dates​

• May 9 (Sat)  – 10 AM–3 PM

• May 10 (Sun) – 10 AM–3 PM

• May 14 (Thu) – 2 PM–5 PM

• May 16 (Sat) – 10 AM–3 PM

• May 17 (Sun) – 10 AM–3 PM

• May 21 (Thu) – 2 PM–5 PM

• May 23 (Sat) – 10 AM–3 PM

Each lantern is $25, and you can buy paper memorial hearts for $5 each. You’ll receive a luminary paper that you’ll be able to decorate with the memories of your loved ones (quotes, pictures, drawings, etc.), and we will provide you with a base where you can put the luminary on.

You can pick them up at our office at 1011 Waiānuenue Ave, Hilo during normal business hours Monday-Friday from 8 AM - 4:30 PM, or at the will call tent at Reeds Bay on the day of the event.

We have ocean sentries who will collect every single lantern so no sea life is harmed. Then, all the lanterns will be disassembled, and the luminary papers will be collected for a separate private burning ceremony later. You will not be able to retrieve your lanterns, so please ensure to use copies of special photos when decorating your lantern.

There will be several food trucks and vendors at the event available for your purchase. They will sell non-alcoholic beverages and dessert options along with meals of various cuisine. Food vendors will begin to sell at 2 PM at Reeds Bay.

There will be free parking at the Civic Auditorium, and free shuttles will be provided between Civic and Reeds bay from 2 PM until 7:45 PM (departing promptly after the Singing of Hawaiʻi Aloha after the lantern launch).

Handicap drop off is available at curbside throughout the event. Handicap parking is very limited and is on a first come first serve basis. 

We recommend arriving to the Civic for parking when the shuttles begin at 2 PM to have plenty of time to find parking, travel over, and enjoy the full program, which begins at 3 PM.

The day includes bon dance, hula, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. The lantern floating ceremony begins around sunset (7 PM) and shuttles back to the Civic will leave at 7:30 PM.

You may want to bring:

• A beach chair or blanket

• Sun protection (hat/sunscreen)

• A light jacket for evening

• Cash or card for food vendors

• A photo or decorative items for your lantern

Yes! The event features local food trucks, vendors, and entertainers.

The event will continue rain or shine, with weather-appropriate adjustments. We will also have special ponchos for sale at the event for $5 each at the Will Call tent. We are in Hilo, after all 😊 Please come prepared.

It is a very emotional and powerful experience to let go of your lantern into the water, so we strongly recommend that you give it a chance. We will have volunteers who will be in the water and providing assistance.

However, if you are unable to participate, please ask one of our volunteers in a green t-shirt, and they will help release your lantern on behalf of you and/or your family.