Memorial Day in Hawaii — What to Do (Lantern Floating, Punchbowl, Pearl Harbor)
Memorial Day in Hawaii
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May — in 2026, that is May 25. It is both a federal and Hawaii state holiday. In Hawaii, Memorial Day carries profound meaning: the state was the site of the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941; it is home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl; and its military heritage is woven into every community across the islands.
Lantern Floating Hawaii — The Memorial Day Highlight
The most beautiful and moving Memorial Day tradition in Hawaii is Lantern Floating Hawaii, held at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day evening every year. It draws 40,000-50,000 attendees and is broadcast live on local television.
The ceremony is organized by the Shinnyo-en Buddhist community and is open to all faiths and backgrounds. Participants write the names of loved ones on paper lanterns, then release them onto the ocean at dusk. As the lanterns drift out to sea in a glowing procession, the effect is overwhelming — a sea of light carrying thousands of names of the departed across the still water of Ala Moana Bay.
Key details for 2026:
- Location: Ala Moana Beach Park, near the Magic Island peninsula
- Arrival time: Gates typically open at 3pm; arrive early to find a spot — the park fills completely by 5pm
- Lanterns: Pre-made lanterns are available for $25-$35 donation from lanternfloatinghawaii.com; they sell out weeks in advance
- Ceremony time: The lantern release begins around sunset (approximately 7:15-7:30pm in late May)
- Parking: The Ala Moana Shopping Center parking structure is the most practical option; expect a long walk to the beach
Punchbowl Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — Punchbowl — holds its major annual ceremony on Memorial Day morning. Events typically include military color guard and formal opening, a keynote address by a senior military or government official, placement of small American flags on every grave (53,000+ flags, placed by volunteers the day before), a flyover by military aircraft, and Taps at 11am.
Arrive by 8am — parking fills quickly and the ceremony begins around 9am. The cemetery is at 2177 Puowaina Drive, above Nu'uanu.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor's World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument holds special programs on Memorial Day, including free admission for veterans and active-duty military. Book USS Arizona Memorial tickets in advance at recreation.gov — Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest of the year.
Beach Day and Local Traditions
After morning ceremonies, Memorial Day in Hawaii becomes a beach holiday. Local families head to Kailua Beach (Windward Oahu) for its calm, clear water and white sand; Sandy Beach Park (East Oahu) for bodysurfing; Ko Olina Lagoons (Ewa Beach) for family-friendly calm lagoons; and Haleiwa (North Shore) for the town beach and Ali'i Beach Park.
BBQs at beach parks are a Memorial Day institution in Hawaii — bring your own charcoal and arrive early to claim a pavilion spot. County parks fill by 8am on Memorial Day weekend.
Memorial Day in Hawaiʻi hits different. The Pacific is where the last great war ended; Pearl Harbor is twenty minutes from downtown Honolulu; Punchbowl Cemetery is carved into a volcanic crater above Waikiki. The names of 53,000 sailors, soldiers, airmen, and Marines killed in the Pacific are etched into walls you can walk past on a Monday morning.Looking for things to do in Hawaii? Browse upcoming events →
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