13th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony

 This was the 13th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony at Magic Island. it seemed as if there were many more people than last year. I was met there by a few of my photo club members to capture this event digitally as we did last year.
I got there after work (just the way I did it last year) and proceeded to the large tent area. There I was given my candle and the floating platform for it. I really didn't expect to get one this year, people line up hours in advance to receive them. I was lucky or maybe I was meant to receive one. It was a moment to remember my brother Michael and my father-in law Bill along with a few others that had passed away. It was quite a moment to reflect upon, I managed to write down some words of reflection. They are all missed and I will always remember them because they each had special meanings to me.
We were faced with getting through the crowd to reach the waters edge, so we side stepped and said "excuse me" a number of times but we ended up in a decent location. One of the members of our group wanted to relocate to a further distance down the beach, we reluctantly agreed. Made our move to a spot that was supposedly better, but we would all agree to not come back to this spot next year. I got to launch my lantern and again say good bye to my loved ones, then I began to photograph my lantern and the many others that were set free around me, it always is a touching moment when everyone around you is saying goodbye to their loved ones and setting their lanterns free. I was a spectacular sunset but it was a secondary event as we all were absorbed in the sendoffs of many, and I mean many lanterns. Until next year, when we will return, we bid all of you farewell......aloha

one of my club members, Cora

Milton, Darcy, and her daughter

another beautiful Hawaiian night