Memorial Day 2013

Memorial Day plans abound with fun barbecues and family beach days, and there is no shortage of fun to be had in Hawaii. Here is a roundup of some of our favorites Memorial Day festivities:

15th Annual Lantern Floating Ceremony
May 27, 2013
Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu, Hawaii
6:00-7:30 pm.
Every year Ala Moana park fills ups with thousands of people for a beautiful and moving lantern floating ceremony. Right at sunset, more then 5,000 glowing lanterns light up the ocean at Magic Island. The lanterns are inscripted with messages to loved ones who have passed away, and prayers for a peaceful future.

Two Museums and a Royal Palace
The Bishop Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Iolani Palace are offering a special deal on May 25 and 26 for just $10 admission to all three for local residents!

50th State Fair
May 24-27, various other dates
Aloha Stadium
4:00 p.m. to closing
Time for Ferris wheels and circus shows! Your children will love the games and rides provided, and you will love the price: cost is free for children under 40", and at most you will pay $5.

And let's not forget why we celebrate Memorial Day: Time for Kids offers this great explanation of the holiday:

"The holiday got started on May 30, 1868, when Union General John A. Logan declared the day an occasion to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Twenty years later, the name was changed to Memorial Day. On May 11, 1950, Congress passed a resolution requesting that the President issue a proclamation calling on Americans to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. President Richard M. Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday in 1971. Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday of May. It is an occasion to honor the men and women who died in all wars."