By Staff Reports
(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 73rd 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 27, 2024. The event features several ceremonial presentations and tributes, including: oli, speeches from Mayor Rick Blangiardi & Admiral Stephen T. Koehler, color guard, presentation of wreaths, firearm salute, military aircraft flyover, playing of taps, performances from the Royal Hawaiian Band, and hula from the 95th Lei Court.
“This day is set aside to honor the courageous souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Their valor ignites a flame of gratitude in our hearts, a beacon guiding us towards unity, peace, and remembrance. Let us pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to honoring their legacy by upholding the values they fought so hard to protect. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may their spirit inspire us to strive for a better tomorrow.”
For those unable to attend this in-person ceremony, ‘Ōlelo will broadcast the entire event live Monday, May 27 beginning 8:30 a.m. on ‘Ōlelo 49. The broadcast will re-air on the same channel on the following dates & times:
- June 5 at 6 p.m.
- June 7 at 8 a.m.
- June 10 at 1:30 p.m.
- June 11 at 11 a.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 23 | Kāne‘ohe Community & Senior Center | 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Ala Pu‘umalu Community Park | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Booth District Park | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Honolulu Hale | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Kailua District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Kalākaua District Park | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Kapolei Hale | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Kīlauea District Park | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Makua Aliʻi Senior Center | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | McCully District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. * | |
| May 24 | Mililani District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Wahiawā Botanical Garden | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Waiʻanae District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Waiau District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Wailupe Community Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.* | |
| May 24 | Waimānalo District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| May 24 | Bill Balfour Jr. Waipahū District Park | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | |
| * = until flowers run out |
Lei Drop-off
| LOCATIONS (O‘AHU) | TIME & DATE |
| All Federal and City Fire Stations on O‘ahu | Friday, May 24 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Hālawa District Park | Friday, May 24 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Booth District Park | Friday, May 24 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific | Friday, May 24 & Saturday, May 25 from 8 a.m – 6 p.m. |
| Parks Permit Office (1st floor FMB) | Friday, May 26 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| LOCATIONS (HAWAI‘I ISLAND)KTA Kailua- Kona | May 21 – May 22 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.May 23 from 5:30 a.m. to 12 noon |
| KTA Puainako-Hilo | May 21 – May 22 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.May 23 from 5:30 a.m. to 12 noon |
Graduating students and their families are encouraged to donate their fresh flower/ti-leaf lei from their celebrations to any of the lei-sewing locations or drop-off sites. It’s a great way to give your lei a second life, while showing your appreciation for our fallen servicemembers.
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 26 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 28 beginning at 8 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.