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The Southeast Asian Floating Lantern Festival 2005
Lighting Candles for a Good Cause
 Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park, Saturday, November 19th, 2005 12:00pm - 7:00pm.
Presented by: The Thai Association of Hawaii, Myanmar (Burma) Association
of Hawaii, Lao Community in Hawaii, and Cambodian Community of Hawaii
This festival is the first time ever that the descendants from Southeast Asian
countries are combining their effort to give back to America and Hawaii.
Ethnic groups will be displaying the richness of their culture with
dance, songs, sports, and food. Everyone is encouraged to join in a
candle lighting festival to give support to our nation. Candles will
be lit and lanterns to be set afloat in the Magic Island lagoon. One-hundred
percent of the donations for lanterns and beverages will go to the
Hurricane and Disaster Relief for Katrina/Wilma Victims.
The Float and Light Festival that will be held is similar to those
held in Southeast Asia. In general the Float and Light Festival is
held during the full moon of the 12th lunar month (November) to float
lanterns of wishing thanks, luck, hope, and renewal. The program begins
at 12:00 noon. Ethic food of Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand will be
available; there will be a live band performing, various cultural performances,
and cultural sports open to participation.
Lanterns for the light festival will be distributed to donors during
the event and the Floating Ceremony will begin at about 5:30 pm lanterns
will be set afloat in the lagoon of Magic Island at sunset around 6:15
pm, and end at 7:00 pm. One hundred percent of the donations for lanterns and beverages
will go to aid victims of recent Hurricane Disasters Relief Fund. Mahalo
for your generous donations.
 The Story of the Festival
The Cambodian Water Festival: (Courtesy of Ms. Christine Su)
Bon Om Tuk is one of the largest and most significant festivals in Cambodia. Traditionally lasting for three days in November, Bon Om Tuk commemorates the centrality of water in Khmer (Cambodian) life-in fact, the Khmer are sometimes called the Children of the Water. The Khmer depend upon the Tonle Sap, a vast lake and river system, for fish, a staple of the Khmer diet, and for irrigation of their cherished rice fields. During the rainy season (May to October), the Tonle Sap river, which ordinarily flows from north to south, actually reverses direction, increasing the Tonle Sap Lake to ten times its normal size and flooding the surrounding terrain. In late October or November, the river returns to its normal course and the swollen lake eventually recedes, leaving behind an abundance of fish and fertile soil. Bon Om Tuk celebrates this abundance. Hundreds of thousands of Cambodians from throughout the provinces flock to Phnom Penh, the capital city, to celebrate and participate in the hundreds of boat races that take place in front of the Royal Palace.
Thai Culture of Hope Float and Lights Festival: The Loi Krathong is the
most picturesque of all the festivals in Thailand. It is a festival of Hope and
Lights held annually on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (November). The
festival originated in Sukothai, the first capital of Thailand about 800 years
ago as a sort of Thai Thanksgiving. The word "Loi " in Thai means "to float" while "Krathong" refers to "a cup" which is traditionally made from banana leaves and is an origami-sequel craft. Each float is decorated with joss-sticks, flowers, small amounts of money or coins, and a lighted candle. Decorated floats are then set on the water as an offering in thanks to Mae Khongka or the "Goddess of Water" for
providing life-sustaining water throughout the year and in asking for forgiveness
for polluting the water.
A mystical silence hangs as each person prays and reminisce in their private
thoughts while watching their offerings drift out of sight. It is held in belief
that the longer the candle burns, the better the next year will be. For others,
floating the Kratongs may represent floating their sins away and wishing for
a better and new beginning. Couples and lovers on the other hand may take this
occasion to launch a Krathong together in hopes that they will remain together
in this life and/or the next.
The Lao Culture: (Courtesy of Mr. Deth Soulatha)
Lai Heua Fai festival "The Lighting Floats" is organized at the end of Buddhist Lent. It is a river ceremony in which small hand-made boats made of bamboo, and banana tree bark are floated. On these boats are decorations of edible items, sweet, rice, lighted candles, incenses and flowers which are floated down the river while people were pray and make vows. The candlelit boats (rafts) bob away into the darkness, symbolizing the dismissal of bad luck, disease, and bad deeds to make room for the good. Temples, shops, and houses are also lit up with a display of thousands of lanterns and candles in honor of Buddha.
Burmese "Tazaungtaing" Festival: (Courtesy of Mr. Than Htut Aye)
The word Tazaungtaing is made up of 2 words, "Tazaung" means light and "Taing" means
festival. The Light Festival is celebrate on the full moon in November. Thousands
of lights such as candles and oil cups are displayed at pagodas and outside of
homes. Local food, music and dance are another part of the festivities in all
cities and villages. At night, the entire village will come out to see the clear
sky and shining stars, as November is the best time to observe stars in
Burma . The Burmese also believe that when it is exactly midnight on full moon
in November, the Mezali tree is spiritually very healthy and people may eat its
leaves at that time to increase their own spiritual health. Young boys are very
happy and traditionally are allowed to play some tricks that night.
The Southeast Asian Performers:
The Cambodian Community of Hawaii (CCH): Ms. Narin Phon, Mr. Pen Phirum, Mr. Sea Samnang, Mr. Seng Sihuot , Ms. Bonita Ty , Ms. Shellie, Ms. So lean, Mr. Koim Tol, Ms. Carolyn Rom, Mr. Jeff Stewart , Mr. Rob Heintz, Ms. Sonita Duong, Mr. Serey Kong, Ms. Hollie
The Lao Community in Hawaii:
Mr. Phonexay Louangrath, Mr. Deth Soulatha
The Myanmar Association of Hawaii:
Ms. Wut Hmone Thant, Ms. Yu Mon Min, Ms Khinza Han, Mr. Maung Maung Kyaw
The Thai Association of Hawaii:
Ms. Sakunpan Photijak, Mr. Daoden Laopha, Ms. Kantom Murakami, Ms. Chatchalee Foster, Mr. Manoraj Thaweesri, Mr. Wirasak Saakha, Ms. Kaneeworn Opetagon, Ms. Songrot Kitsawat, Ms. Arisara Watanawiboon, Ms. Lynna Pornintra, Ms. Nantikorn Kitratporn, Ms. Phiradi Intrajan, Ms. Narumol Phetdermpun, Ms. Candy Malinda, Ms. Kunakorn Kanakorn, Ms. Crystal Pond, Ms. Daphne Morlan, Ms. Kristina Folsom, Ms. Cassie Coppinger, Ms. Mary Taitai, Ms. Nobuyasu Watanabe
Event Poster:
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