This time-honored ceremony will return to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Monday, May 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. More information is coming soon. 

“As we mark this solemn day, remembering those who have served and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, it is incumbent for all Americans to be grateful for the many blessings their selfless sacrifices have bestowed upon our country. History has proven it is not enough to win a war, it is absolute importance of preserving and protecting peace as the cherished objective. We live in a world today where the geopolitical climate has become increasingly tense and uncertain because of the oppressive war Russia initiated against Ukraine, and the unprecedented build-up of China’s military force. We remember on this Memorial Day all those who paid the ultimate price in protecting our country, because we simply must never forget the price of freedom.”

~ Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City and County of Honolulu 

 Honoring our Veterans  

 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 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 help to commemorate their sacrifice by helping us make and gather 38,000 lei for every servicemember laid to rest at the cemetery. Along with this significant task, the City is hoping 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. To reach these remarkable goals, you are invited to donate lei (made of fresh flowers/ti leaf, measuring 20-22 inches untied, please tie), lei flowers (preferably plumeria or crown flower), Anthurium bouquets, or attend one of the lei-making opportunities below. 

 Lei Sewing Sites 2024:

Join our Parks & Recreation staff in showing your appreciation for those who sacrificed for our country by helping to Sew Lei for Memorial Day! If you can't volunteer your time, we also take flower donations, particularly plumeria. Feel free to drop-off your flower donations at any of the lei-sewing sites listed below.

DATE	SITE	TIME	PHONE CONTACT (808)	(click picture below for a list of the DOE school lei drop-off sites)
May 23	Kāne‘ohe Community & Senior Center	10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.	768-6847
May 24	Ala Pu‘umalu Community Park	9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	768-6738
May 24	Booth District Park	9 a.m.  - 1 p.m.	768-6744
May 24	Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden	9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	233-7323
May 24	Honolulu Hale	10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	768-6622
May 24	Kailua District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-6824
May 24	Kalākaua District Park	9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	768-6757
May 24	Kapolei Hale	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-3001
May 24	Kīlauea District Park	9 a.m. - 3 p.m.	768-6713
May 24	Makua Aliʻi Senior Center	9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	768-6895
May 24	McCully District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m. *	768-6707
May 24	Mililani District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-6777
May 24	Wahiawā Botanical Garden	10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	621-5463
May 24	Waiʻanae District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	696-5039
May 24	Waiau District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-6795
May 24	Wailupe Community Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.*	768-8948
May 24	Waimānalo District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-6841
May 24	Bill Balfour Jr. Waipahū District Park	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.	768-6798
		* = until flowers run out

Lei Drop-off Sites 2024:

We encourage everyone to make their own lei-making workshop and drop-off their lei at one of these designated locations! The lei need to be 20"-22" when untied (please tie them). It is preferable to make flower lei which are more visible on the gravestones (particularly plumeria), but ti leaf lei will work as well. Floral spray, such as ti leaf and anthurium bouquets, are welcome. Mahalo in advance for your kokua!

The Scouts of Hawaiʻi will place the lei from the “Sew a Lei for Memorial Day” effort and an American flag on every grave within Pūowaina on Sunday, May 26 during their Good Turn Event at 1 p.m.

Following the Memorial Day Ceremony, the Scouts will return to Pūowaina to remove the lei and American flags. Volunteers are encouraged to join in this effort on Tuesday, May 28 beginning at 9 a.m.

 Congratulations to the 2024 Poster Contest Winners!

Mahalo to all of the keiki artists, their ‘ohana, art teachers, and participating schools for taking part in this annual tradition by depicting their best visual representation of our "Sew a Lei for Memorial Day." Special thanks to ‘Ewa Makai Middle, Reverend Benjamin Parker Elementary, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Hawai‘i Mission Academy, and Pearl City High schools for their significant support and contributions to this contest. The top three winners from each of the age categories received a prize package with art supplies during an award ceremony with Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the Honolulu City Council on Friday, April 5, 2024 at Kapolei Hale (pictured above). This excellent artwork will also be featured on Memorial Day publications, posted within Kapolei Hale, and can be enjoyed below!

Kindergarten – 4th grade division	(click the pictures for larger, higher resolution versions)
1st Kehaulani Anderson	2nd Jayde Anderson	3rd Aurora Ng-Fahey
5th – 8th grade division
1st Kendra Cabico	2nd Nicole Alcayde	3rd Peyton How
9th – 12th grade division
1st Maria Gilyn DeLeon	2nd Aileen Kang	3rd Kaelie Karikomi

Honorable Mentions

(click the pictures for larger, higher resolution versions)

Kindergarten - 4th grade division

5th - 8th grade division

9th - 12th grade division