The 2024 Shinnyo Lantern Floating Festival is an enlightened ceremony that honors our fallen soldiers and loved ones lost. It brings closure for family members regarding friends who recently passed. We will never forget our own friends Wayne Spencer from Oregon, Frank Grillo from Ecuador, and several other close friends who have passed recently. The candle-lit floating lanterns provide a guiding light to those who have departed.

This year there were floating lanterns launched for the victims of the Lahaina fires in Maui, the Oceans, victims of war and conflict, natural disasters, famine, disease and epidemics, and the forest. The one hour show starts with the sounds from conch shells, blessings, a live broadcast from Maui, taicho drums, the bows ritual, a prayer from Her Holiness Shinso Ito, lighting the lanterns, then floating them out to sea. The show was Liivestream and can be seen on YouTube or you can click on the link here.

Master Shinnyo Ito was founder of Shinnyo Buddhism and brought the traditional floating lantern ceremony to Hawaii. He chose the date as Memorial Day because it would be meaningful to both cultures. This was the 25th year of this event, and Her Holiness, the Global leader of Shinnyo-en Foundation, joined the celebration. It was estimated up to 50,000 people attended and more than 6,000 lanterns were launched to sea.