Memorial Day observances will be held at Waikiki’s natatorium, Punchbowl cemetery, Schofield Barracks and Ala Moana Beach Park, starting with an honor guard salute Sunday morning and wrapping up with a lantern floating ceremony Monday evening:
>> Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium will host its 28th annual Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. Sunday. Shortly before the start, riders representing veterans’ motorcycle clubs will roll down Kalakaua Avenue and into the event, so early arrival is recommended.
The observance will feature taps and a 21-gun salute performed by a Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam honor guard and rifle detail. The program also includes performances by Hula Halau Olana and floral presentations.
The natatorium, which opened in 1927, honors more than 10,000 Hawaii men and women who served in World War I, including 101 who died during the war.
>> The graves of 38,000 veterans at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, or Punchbowl cemetery, will be adorned with lei for the 67th Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony, which will start at 8:30 a.m. with a traditional three-gun rifle volley while taps plays in the background.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will give the memorial address, followed by Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Command. Veterans organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Junior ROTC Cadets will also participate in the ceremony.
Parking at the cemetery is limited, and attendees are encouraged to use TheBus from the Alapai Transit Center. Pickups begin at 7 a.m. and run continuously every 20 minutes, with the last pickup at 8 a.m. Regular bus passes and fares will be accepted.
Free parking is available at the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building, Stevenson Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School. Complimentary shuttles will run from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and are accessible from the parking lots of both schools.
>> The public is invited to a gathering at Schofield Barracks honoring Army and other military veterans. The Army remembrance ceremony is at 10 a.m. Monday at the post cemetery.
Maj. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commander of the 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii, will be the keynote speaker. Representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will place wreaths to honor fallen comrades.
Visitors without military ID cards should enter Scho-field through Lyman Gate on Kunia Road. Vehicle occupants age 16 and older must provide a valid state or government photo ID, and drivers must present a current driver’s license, vehicle registration, safety check and proof of insurance.
>> The Governor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe will feature the theme “Sacrificed All to Preserve Liberty.”
Hosted by Gov. David Ige, the event will begin at 12:45 p.m. Monday with a musical prelude by the 111th Army Band of the Hawaii Army National Guard, followed by a conch shell opening by Kahu Manu Mook. Various veterans organizations will carry out a parade of flags and lei presentation. Also, the Hawaii Air National Guard’s honor guard will perform a rifle salute followed by taps by the 111th Army Band.
Civilians attendees are asked to wear aloha attire. Military attendees are asked to dress in Class B or equivalent attire.
Shuttle service to and from Memorial Plaza in the veterans cemetery will be available. Guests can be picked up at the TheBus stop in the parking lot beginning at 11 a.m.
>> More than 6,000 candle-lit lanterns will illuminate the waters edging Ala Moana Beach Park at sunset Monday during the annual Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony.
Several thousand residents and visitors are expected to participate in remembrance of fallen military service members and deceased loved ones. The pre-ceremony will start at 6:10 p.m. with a performance by Shinnyo Taiko. The official ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m..
The “Lantern Request” tent will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers will be on hand to help affix written remembrances to lanterns. Lanterns will be given out at no cost, but supply is limited.
Free event parking is available from 7 a.m. until midnight at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. A complimentary shuttle will provide transportation from the convention center to the beach park starting at 3 p.m., then back to the convention center after the ceremony.
Online written remembrance submissions and a live broadcast of the event will be available at lanternfloatinghawaii.com. Online submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
