Community assistance needed to collect 38,000 lei, showing gratitude for fallen servicemembers
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 75th Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl).
“Memorial Day is a time for our nation to come together in solemn remembrance of the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Their sacrifice is the foundation upon which our freedoms stand, and we owe them, and their families, a debt that can never truly be repaid. At a time when American service members continue to serve in challenging and dangerous missions around the world, we are reminded that the defense of liberty and democracy requires constant courage and commitment. Today, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by striving to live up to the values they fought to protect: service, unity, resilience, and peace. May we never forget their legacy, and may we continue to carry it forward with gratitude, humility, and purpose.”
The ceremony is free and open to the public, beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026. The event features several ceremonial presentations and tributes, including: oli, a speech from Mayor Rick Blangiardi, keynote address from Housing and Urban Development Administrator (and former Navy Seal Master Chief) William Spencer, color guard, presentation of wreaths, firearm salute, military aircraft flyover, playing of taps, performances from the Royal Hawaiian Band & Sounds of Aloha, and hula from the 97th Lei Court.
For those unable to attend this in-person ceremony, ‘Ōlelo will broadcast the entire event live on ‘Ōlelo Channel 54. The coverage will re-air on Channel 49:
- June 3 at 6 p.m.
- June 5 at 2 p.m.
- June 6 at 8 a.m.
- June 7 at 10 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 before and after the ceremony.
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 the cemetery on Memorial Day are encouraged to visit after 12 noon on Monday to avoid traffic congestion from the ceremony. No tour buses will be allowed within the cemetery on Memorial Day before that time.
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 assistance to commemorate their sacrifice by helping us make and gather 38,000lei for every servicemember laid to rest at the cemetery.
To reach these remarkable goals, you are invited to donate lei (made of fresh flowers/ti leaf, measuring 10-11 inches tied), lei flowers (preferably plumeria or crown flower), Anthurium bouquets, or attend one of the lei-making opportunities outlined in the below flyer.
The primary day for lei-sewing is Friday, May 22, with 16 sites around O‘ahu designated as locations where you can assist in the kākou effort. Hours are typically from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. depending on the site and supply of lei flowers.
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 final day to drop-off lei to support Memorial Day is Sunday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Pūowaina.
The Scouts of Hawaiʻi will place the lei and an American flag on every grave within Pūowaina during their Good Turn Event at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. Following the Memorial Day Ceremony, the Scouts will return to Pūowaina to remove the lei and American flags. Volunteers are encouraged to join this effort on Tuesday, May 26 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 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.
—PAU—
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Website: honolulu.gov/parks
