With Hawaiian chants, Celtic pipes and the presentation of lei, the city of Honolulu paid tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks before the Eternal Flame Monument at Honolulu Hale on Monday morning.

“It’s been 16 years since these lives were lost, and while each day has been difficult for the family and friends of every victim, on Sept. 11 they are particularly reminded,” said city Managing Director Roy Amemiya Jr. “So on this national day of service and remembrance, we collectively gather to give homage to the victims, those that had their lives taken as well as those that survived.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with al-Qaida hijacked four airplanes. Two were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, a third hit the Pentagon just outside Washington and a fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Honolulu city officials paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives and commended first responders, including 412 who perished while fulfilling their duties that day as well as those who continue to serve.

At least nine people with ties to Hawaii were killed that day, according to Star-Advertiser reports.

Those who perished, said Amemiya, were “unsuspecting fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters” who did nothing out of the ordinary that morning.

Representatives from the airline industry were also thanked for their service.

“Today America and Hawaii faces new threats from rogue nations and the continuing scourge of terrorism,” said Amemiya. “But as 9/11 proved, we are a resilient people, and we can take comfort that the spirit of America will rise up when the freedoms we enjoy are attacked.”

Officials from the military, state and city and airline industry representatives from United and American airlines were present. Each received a different color lei: purple for the U.S. military and branches of federal government, yellow for the Honolulu Fire Department and blue for the Honolulu Police Department. A plumeria lei presented before the monument represented the citizens of Hawaii.

The presentation of lei was followed by the playing of taps and a moment of silence.

Mistress of ceremonies Misty Kela‘i, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, said the people of Hawaii sent many flower lei to New York as a symbol of aloha and support during the closing ceremony at ground zero and the anniversary of 9/11 in 2002.

“Here at Honolulu Hale we wish to continue the legacy of giving lei,” she said.