Events

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 74th 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 26, 2025. The event features several ceremonial presentations and tributes, including: oli, speeches from Mayor Rick Blangiardi & Admiral Samuel Paparo, 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 unable to attend this in-person ceremony, ‘Ōlelo will broadcast the entire event live Monday, May 26 beginning 8:30 a.m. on ‘Ōlelo Channel 49. The broadcast will re-air on the same channel on the following dates & times:

• June 6 at 6 p.m.
• June 8 at 1 p.m.
• June 10 at 8 a.m.
• June 11 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.

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.

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 dedicated Mayor’s Memorial Day website: bit.ly/MayorsMemorialDay