Its sort of cult-like as Shinnyo-en, the religious group that puts it, on isn't exactly mainstream but they do touch lots of people who participate in the ceremony. I find the Asian aspect sort of beautiful but oddly wonder why the white folks (haoles, gringos, gaijin) get so bent on a ceremony which is not part of their western vocabulary. Some white folks got really upset that the media was taking pictures and putting them on tv, etc...I heard grumblings of it being a private solemn thing. How can you be solemn when you "grief" with 80,000 others on a public beach park with a massive ceremony on a rock and roll stage taking place all around?
Maybe our western religions are not good enough for some...I don't know. As far as the event goes, its very pretty if you forget that every candle and float represents a dead person. The Hawaii tourism board seems to tout this event as I saw photographs advertising the event all over Waikiki the week before. Tourist are bused in and beach goers, who many are already at the beach as it is Memorial Day, celebrate the festival as if its some grand show with lights, big screens, music, and whatnot.
As the event went on, I swam upon this guy slinking among the hundreds of lanterns in the water. I couldn't get cowboy's name but he and many others started to swim around the beach as the lanterns were released into the ocean. So many take the event as a load of unique fun, which it is but I think the meaning of the memorial is lost on so many.
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That's an interesting picture..
marco. this was one of my favorite photos from the night. you and jamm kicked some serios ass.
sorry misspelled serious*
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