NAWILIWILI — Based on the toro nagashi, or floating lanterns, the Timbers Kaua‘i Hokuala Resort launched its inaugural floating lanterns, Sunday in the lagoons fronting the Mailula Residences at the Hokuala Resort.
“We are so pleased to host our first Floating Lantern Ceremony to honor and pay tribute to our loved ones who have passed before us,” said Carrie Bligh, the operations manager of Hokuala Resort. “Being a part of the beautiful ethnically-blended community, we hope this event will bring out families closer with appreciation and renewal for our future.”
Coordinated by Joy Stedman, the Bishop Kosen Ishikawa of the Jodo Shu Buddhist Temple Hawai‘i led the special remembrance prayer with Kalani Flores who blended the Hawaiian prayers with the Japanese ceremony.
More than 80 toro, each containing the name of a deceased loved one, adorned the singular raft that floated atop a modified kayak and piloted by Alan Kahaunaele aboard a kayak as Taiko Kaua‘i announced the floating following the prayers from Ishikawa and Flores before a handful of guests surrounding the fire pit and more viewing the procession from the upper floors of the Residences.
“I got a toro for my mom,” said Carey Sprenger, Senior Marketing Manager. “A lot of our guests who couldn’t be here got toro for their loved ones, and our Front Desk got toro to remember the victims of the recent Texas shooting.”
Sprenger said we haven’t gotten past the COVID-19, yet. That restricted attendance to the resort’s guests, and invited community members. She said hopefully, we get past the pandemic and can open it to the public in the future.
Toro nagashi, in Japan, is usually celebrated in August to mark the end of O-bon, a Buddhist festival where Buddhists belive the spirits of departed ancestors return and reunite with the living beings on earth. Following a brief time with the family, the spirits, each designated by a toro, or Japanese paper lantern, with their name inscribed, return to their world until the following year.
This practice has been adapted to where toro nagashi take place whenever there are events of remembrance such as the Shinnyo Lantern Floating on O‘ahu that started with Memorial Day in 1999, attracting thousands of people to the Ala Moana Beach Park to float toro.
