Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship.
Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
News Item- Powered by MBC NewsMaker
Public Invited To Observe 72nd Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony
- Tweet
Ceremony begins Monday, May 29, 8:30 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
(Left) flyer with Sew a Lei opportunities across O‘ahu. Click on the picture for a PDF version of the flyer. (Right) Scout adorning a grave for Memorial Day at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl)
O‘AHU – In honor of those who made the final, full measure of devotion while serving in the Armed Forces for the United States of America, the City and County of Honolulu and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are honored to present the 72nd Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl).
The ceremony is free and open to the public, beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 29. The event features several ceremonial presentations and tributes, including: oli, speeches, color guard, presentation of wreaths, firearm salute, F-22 aircraft flyover, playing of taps, performances from the Royal Hawaiian Band and Sounds of Aloha Chorus, and hula from the 94th Lei Court.
“As we mark this solemn day, remembering those who have served and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, it is incumbent for all Americans to be grateful for the many blessings their selfless sacrifices have bestowed upon our country,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City and County of Honolulu. “History has proven it is not enough to win a war, it is absolute importance of preserving and protecting peace as the cherished objective. We live in a world today where the geopolitical climate has become increasingly tense and uncertain because of the oppressive war Russia initiated against Ukraine, and the unprecedented build-up of China’s military force. We remember on this Memorial Day all those who paid the ultimate price in protecting our country, because we simply must never forget the price of freedom.”
For those unable to attend this in-person ceremony, ‘Ōlelo will broadcast the entire event live Monday, May 29 beginning 8:30 a.m. on ‘Ōlelo 49. The broadcast will re-air on the same channel on the following dates & times:
•June 7 at 6 p.m.
•June 8 at 8 a.m.
•June 11 at 1 p.m.
•June 12 at 2 p.m.
•
For those attending the ceremony, parking within Pūowaina for this ceremony will be extremely limited. Additional public parking is available at two nearby schools: Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Robert Louis Stevenson Middle. Parking at these three locations is available beginning at 7 a.m. Courtesy shuttle service to Pūowaina from these schools is available. Handi-Van reserved rides and marked taxi cabs will be allowed to drive into the cemetery for drop-offs.
Public parking is also available at the Civic Center Parking Structure, with special TheBus route 123 service from the nearby Alapa‘i Transit Center up to Pūowaina. The first bus from Alapa‘i Transit Center will depart 7 a.m. with three additional trips to Pūowaina leaving every 20 minutes. The final bus will depart at 8 a.m. Return trips from Pūowaina to Alapa‘i will begin promptly at the end of the ceremony. Parking is free, but regular bus fares apply.
Sun protection (sunscreen, hats, UV protective clothing) and water are recommended for all visitors as covered seating is limited for the ceremony. Umbrellas are allowed within Pūowaina, but please do not bring chairs unless medically required. No pet animals are allowed only certified service animals. Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles are strictly prohibited within and around Pūowaina. Reserved seating will be offered to veterans and invited guests. Remaining seats will be offered to the public on a first come, first served basis.
Those who plan to visit and pay their respects to gravesites within the cemetery are encouraged to visit the Saturday or Sunday before Memorial Day or after 12 noon on Monday to avoid traffic congestion from the ceremony.
SEW A LEI FOR MEMORIAL DAY
For over seven decades the City and County of Honolulu has honored a solemn promise to adorn every grave at Pūowaina with a fresh lei for Memorial Day. This uniquely Hawaiian display of gratitude is our way of saying “mahalo” to our veterans for their service. Now we need your help to commemorate their sacrifice by helping us make and gather 38,000 lei for every servicemember laid to rest at the cemetery. Along with this significant task, the City is hoping to assist the Hawai‘i State Veterans Cemetery in Kāne‘ohe with their Memorial Day ceremony by donating extra lei to help them adorn the graves of the 15,000 servicemembers laid to rest on those hallowed grounds. To reach these remarkable goals, you are invited to donate lei (made of fresh flowers/ti leaf, measuring 20-22 inches untied, please tie), lei flowers (preferably plumeria or crown flower), Anthurium bouquets, or attend one of the lei-making opportunities below.
Lei Sewing (may also drop off pre-made lei and flowers at these sites)
DATE
SITE
TIME
May 25
Kāne‘ohe Community & Senior Center
10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
May 26
Ala Pu‘umalu Community Park
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 26
Booth District Park
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 26
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
May 26
Honolulu Hale
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 26
Kailua District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Kalākaua District Park
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
May 26
Kapolei Hale
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Kīlauea District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
May 26
Makua Aliʻi Senior Center
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
McCully District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Mililani District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Wahiawā Botanical Garden
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
May 26
Waiʻanae District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Waiau District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Wailupe Community Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
May 26
Waimānalo District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
May 26
Bill Balfour Jr. Waipahū District Park
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
* = until flowers run out
Lei Drop-off Loations
LOCATIONS (O‘AHU)
TIME & DATE
All Federal and City Fire Stations
Friday, May 26 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Hālawa District Park
Friday, May 26 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Booth District Park
Friday, May 26 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Friday, May 26 & Saturday, May 27 from 8 a.m – 6 p.m.
Parks Permit Office (1st floor FMB)
Friday, May 26 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
LOCATIONS (BIG ISLAND)
TIME & DATE
KTA Super Store in Kailua-Kona
Tuesday, May 23 & Wednesday, May 24 from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 25 from 6 a.m. - 12 noon
KTA Super Store in Puainako, Hilo
Tuesday, May 23 & Wednesday, May 24 from 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, May 25 from 5:30 a.m. - 12 noon
KTA Super Store in Waimea
Tuesday, May 23 & Wednesday, May 24 from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 25 from 6 a.m. - 12 noon
The Scouts of Hawaiʻi will place the lei from the “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day” effort and an American flag on every grave within Pūowaina on Sunday, May 28 during their Good Turn Event at 1 p.m.
Following the Memorial Day Ceremony, the Scouts will return to Pūowaina to remove the lei and American flags. Volunteers are encouraged to join in this effort on Tuesday, May 30 beginning at 9 a.m.
Now celebrated on the last Monday of May, the first form of Memorial Day in the United States began after the Civil War as a day to honor and remember those who made the final full measure of devotion while serving in the Armed Forces. Following WWII, Pūowaina was designated the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific with the first Memorial Day Ceremony held within the crater in 1949. Since that first humble ceremony, City and County of Honolulu has been honored to work with numerous veteran, community, and educational organizations to help facilitate this time-honored tradition.
For the most updated information concerning this time-honored ceremony, please visit the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s special Mayor’s Memorial Day website: bit.ly/MayorsMemorialDay
If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
Questions? Ready for an appointment?
Featured Product/Service
- RELATED LINKS
Calendar
Check out things to do in Waikiki, Hawaii on the calendar of events.
News and Newsletters
Keep up with the latest news and happenings in the Waikiki, Hawaii community.
Waikiki, Hawaii Featured Pages
View our directory of feature pages showcasing all the great things Waikiki has to offer.
Featured Sponsors Offers
Great offers from our sponsors who support the Waikiki, Hawaii Community More...
Waikiki, Hawaii Coupons & Discounts
Save money in Waikiki, Hawaii with these coupons.
About Waikiki - Honolulu Hawaii
Learn about Waikiki, Hawaii.
About Waikiki Get Down.com
Learn about WaikikiGetDown.com website and its creator.
Please send questions about this website to
Copyright© 2012 - 2023 WaikikiGetDown.com. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use / Legal Disclaimer / Privacy Statement
Site Designed and Managed by MacBusiness Consulting
Terms of Use / Legal Disclaimer / Privacy Statement
Site Designed and Managed by MacBusiness Consulting