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“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. 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.”
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.
Sew a Lei for Memorial Day
For over seven decades the City and County of Honolulu has kept their 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 38,000 lei 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 20-22 inches untied), lei flowers (preferably plumeria or crown flower), or attend one of the lei-making opportunities on Friday, May 22, 2026:
- Ala Pu‘umalu Community Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Booth District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Honolulu Hale 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Kailua District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Kapolei Hale 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Kīlauea District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Makua Aliʻi Senior Center 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- McCully District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Mililani District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Wahiawā Botanical Garden 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Waiʻanae District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Waiau District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Wailupe Community Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Waimānalo District Park 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Bill Balfour, Jr. Waipahu District Park 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The previous day–Thursday, May 21st:
- Kāne‘ohe Community & Senior Center 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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
You can also drop-off your lei on:
- Friday, May 22 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at any Honolulu Fire Department Station
- Saturday, May 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Punchbowl Cemetery
- Sunday, May 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at Punchbowl Cemetery
Ceremony Details
The 75th Mayor’s Memorial Day 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, speeches from Mayor Rick Blangiardi, 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 96th Lei Court.
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.
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.
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.
2026 Poster Contest
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Mayor’s Memorial Day Poster Contest!
This year the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation received 97 entries, with 13 keiki receiving accolades in their respective grade levels.
Mahalo to all of the keiki artists, their ‘ohana, art teachers, and participating schools for taking part in this annual tradition.
This annual contest challenges all school-age keiki to craft their best visual representation of our “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day” effort, to place a fresh lei on the approximately 38,000 graves within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl) for the annual Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony.
Each year keiki artists are invited to create a unique depiction of lei-making activities or ceremonial actions of the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Pūowaina, such as the lei-sewing, military salutes, or other patriotic symbols. We encourage all students to participate in this contest, and we hope all educators see this as an educational and creative opportunity to highlight our talented keiki artists, while also showing appreciation for those who perished in the line of duty.
Winning artists and their posters will be celebrated through various media, and will take part in a Mayoral recognition ceremony where certificates and prizes are awarded!
Community Support
For over seven decades the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation has organized the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Pūowaina (Punchbowl).
However, we can’t do this alone. We solicit the help of numerous organizations and volunteers across the state to organize this time-honored event, including making and gathering 38,000 lei for every servicemember laid to rest at the cemetery. Our ultimate goal is to make enough lei 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.
Mahalo to the many agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals for your kokua and contributions. A special mahalo to the leaders and hard-working staff of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
