A gathering for the community

Fri 08 Aug
Sat 09 Aug
Sun 10 Aug
Puʻunoa Beach
4:00pm – 5:30pm

Arrival, lantern-making, and music

Host

Taylor Kim

Details

Guests are welcomed to the beach, with lantern-making stations, local food trucks, and live Hawaiian music. Supplies and guidance are provided for all ages.

Puʻunoa Beach
5:30pm – 6:15pm

Opening ceremony and prayer

Facilitator

Jordan Lee

Details

Bells ring across Lahaina, followed by a traditional Hawaiian chant and a moment of silence. Community leaders and cultural practitioners offer words of remembrance.

Puʻunoa Beach
6:15pm – 6:45pm

Lantern release

Guide

Morgan Rivera

Details

Participants gather at the shoreline to release lanterns into the ocean, honoring loved ones and sharing messages of hope. All are invited to join in reflection.

Puʻunoa Beach
6:45pm – 7:00pm

Circle of Illumination

Coordinator

Avery Chen

Details

A unity circle forms on the sand, with candles and soft music. Attendees are encouraged to connect, share, and support one another in a peaceful setting.

Puʻunoa Beach
7:00pm – 8:00pm

Lantern recovery and cleanup

Lead volunteer

Casey Tran

Details

Volunteers and guests help collect lanterns and clean the shoreline, ensuring the beach remains beautiful and safe for all. Supplies are provided.

Puʻunoa Beach
All evening

Community gathering

Support team

Riley Park

Details

Enjoy time with friends and family, connect with local organizations, and learn more about ongoing recovery efforts. Everyone is welcome.

Join us as we reflect on Lahaina's past, celebrate its enduring spirit, and imagine a brighter future, together.

Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 4 PM–9 PM | Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, Lahaina

Join us for an evening of remembrance, connection, and aloha as we honor Lahaina’s enduring spirit. Held under the Full Harvest Moon on the grounds of Maria Lanakila Catholic Church—one of Lahaina’s cherished historical landmarks—this free community event features cultural and reflective activities, live entertainment, keiki performances, and a moving sunset procession to Puʻunoa Beach led by cultural practitioner Kamaunu Kahaiali‘i. As we gather in the heart of Lahaina, we honor the past and hold space for healing, hope, and resilience.

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A free community event presented by Aloha Amplified, a 501(c)3 organization, in coordination with Kumu Kamaunu Kahaiali‘i from Mālama Maui ‘Ohana Foundation and the community.

Event Activities

Live Entertainment & Talk Story

Sponsored by: Maui Pono Foundation & Paul and Jillina Dinletir

Throughout the evening, attendees will be uplifted by the sounds and stories of Lahaina. Entertainment will feature local musicians and hālau hula, while cultural practitioners and storytellers share moʻolelo that bring Lahaina’s history and spirit to life. These performances celebrate Lahaina’s cultural richness, resilience, and enduring spirit of aloha. Featuring:

MC: DJZ

4:15 - 4:45 pm

Music: Maui Music Mission

5:00 - 5:30 pm

Performance by Sacred Hearts School “HEARTS Dance Program” & "Sacred Hearts School Hawaiiana Program

6:30 - 7:15 pm

Music: Kahoma Stream Band

7:15 - 7:45 pm

Talk Story: "Ulana Lahaina" (weaving Lahaina together) guided by Auntie Nettie Aquino

7:30 - 8:00 pm

Music: Nestor Ugale & Garrett Probst

8:15 - 8:45 pm

Music: Steve Grimes

8:45 - 9:00 pm

Closing

Light March

7:00 - 8:30 pm
Kumu Wilmont Kamaunu Kahaiali‘i

This meaningful procession invites participants to walk together from Maria Lanakila Catholic Church to Puʻunoa Beach—lanterns in hand—guided by reflections from Kumu Kamaunu Kahaiali‘i and other cultural and historical voices. Along the way, participants will pause to hear moʻolelo (stories) and memories that honor the people, places, and legacy of Lahaina. Portions of the path will be softly lit, creating space for quiet reflection—not only on what was lost, but on the memories we carry and the strength that leads us forward.

Route Details: The walk is approximately 0.5 miles each way and will take about 20–30 minutes at a gentle pace. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as part of the route includes walking on sand at Puʻunoa Beach. At the shoreline, the community will gather for a shared moment of light and remembrance.

Lantern Illumination Activity

All are welcome to reflect and decorate their lanterns to take home.

Guests of all ages are invited to decorate and dedicate their own lanterns—symbols of light, love, and healing. Whether honoring someone lost, expressing gratitude, or offering a wish for Lahaina’s future, each lantern becomes part of a collective installation glowing across the church grounds. Lanterns and markers will be provided on site. Guests are welcome to take their lantern home as a meaningful keepsake of the evening.

Keiki of Lahaina Activity

Sponsored by: Pacific Media Group

Lahaina’s youngest voices are honored through this uplifting art and story project entitled “My Wish for Lahaina.” Keiki are invited to reflect on what Lahaina means to them and share their hopes for the future.

Submissions can also be made after the event. Entries will be featured in an online tribute to be released on the LightsforLahaina.org website in December 2025. Parents or guardians are encouraged to participate alongside their keiki.

Lahaina Time Capsule: Messages for the Future

The Lahaina Time Capsule invites the community to pause and put pen to paper—capturing this moment in history not just as a memory, but as a message to the future. Maui’s ‘ohana from keiki to kupuna are encouraged to contribute letters, poems, drawings, or reflections addressed to a future Lahaina, loved ones yet to be born, or even their future selves. Submissions will be sealed in an archival-grade capsule to be buried on the grounds of Maria Lanakila Catholic Church and opened on August 8, 2043—the 20th anniversary of the wildfire.
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Contribute to the Time Capsule at the September 6 event or upload online at LightsforLahaina.org starting from September 6 thru 30, 2025. More details to come.

Hā Moments: Breathing Space for Reflection

5:30 - 6:30 pm 
‍Malia Davidson of Punawai Healing

Inspired by the Hawaiian value of hā—the sacred breath of life—this quiet space invites guests to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with their inner calm. Through simple breathing exercises and mindful stillness, Hā Moments offer attendees a chance to slow down and ground themselves in the present. Held just before the Light March, this activity helps prepare those who choose to participate in the walk, while offering a peaceful space for all guests to reflect and recharge.

Informational Tables

Spotlighting Community Resilience

Located in a designated area of the church grounds, Informational Tables offer opportunities for learning, connection, and reflection. Guests are invited to engage with organizations that have been instrumental in Lahaina’s recovery and cultural preservation efforts. Through heartfelt conversations, visitors can learn about initiatives supporting survivors, protecting sacred spaces, rebuilding homes, and strengthening community ties. This activity reminds us that healing doesn’t happen alone—it happens together.

  • Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Disaster Long Term Recovery Group
  • Lahaina Community Land Trust 
  • Lahaina Restoration Foundation
  • Maui Humane Society
  • Na Kia‘i O Maui / Auntie Nettie Aquino
  • Treecovery Hawai‘i

Mālama Lani Stargazing

7:30 - 9:00 pm: John Hughes & Lori Venus-Hughes

Mālama Lani—“to care for the heavens”—invites guests to pause, look to the skies, and reflect on the deep connection between earth, ancestors, and the universe. This guided experience under the stars explores Hawaiian celestial constellations that have long guided our past and continue to inspire us today. With telescopes and gentle lighting to enhance the experience, this peaceful moment under the stars offers space for wonder, reflection, and connection.

Activities subject to change.

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