Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu Memorial Day Events 2022

Punchbowl on Memorial Day with grave sites decorated with Hawaiian lei and American flags. Photo by D. Zuls.

We are pleased to report that some in-person, Memorial Day events are back in action for 2022 for the first time since 2019!

With Oahu’s rich military history, the island makes a perfect place to honor Memorial Day. Here’s what’s happening this Memorial Day Weekend around Oahu.

Oahu Events on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022

71st Annual Honolulu City Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony

This annual event is held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl (also known as Puowaina) in Honolulu. The ceremony features color guard, wreath presentation, firearm salute, aircraft flyover and performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band and Sounds of Aloha Chorus. The ceremony begins promptly at 8:30 am. See this link for more information on this year’s ceremony.
This event is free and open to the public. Parking will be extremely limited. Courtesy shuttle service will be provided from two nearby schools: Abraham Lincoln Elementary and Robert Louis Stevenson Middle. TheBus will be providing special service. See this link for details for TheBus. Check this link for more details on parking and transportation.

Local boy scouts from Scouts of Hawaii will be placing a lei and an American flag on each gravesite on Sunday, May 29. Approximately 38,000 leis are made by by the community for this event. Even if you are unable to attend the  ceremony, it’s still special to visit Punchbowl on Memorial Day weekend.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum – Top of the Tour Tour Opens 

After much restoration work, the Ford Island Control Tower at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum will open on Memorial Day for tours. This tower stood as a witness to the December 7, 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor. Tickets for this tour are required and only 120 tickets are available each day. See this link for more information.

Memorial Day Lantern Floating Ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park – Canceled for 2022

The annual Shinnyo lantern floating event at Ala Moana Beach Park will not be held for Memorial Day 2022. Instead, they are offering alternative activities. See this link for more information.

Other Oahu special events taking place on Memorial Day Weekend

50th State Fair

The 50th State Fair kicks off this weekend at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. It features rides, games, food and entertainment as it runs this year from May 27th through July 4th. For Memorial Day weekend, the main event will be the Queen Lili’uokalani Keiki Hula Competition. This hula competition was created in 1976 in honor of the Queen of Hawai’i. Hundreds of children compete annually with thousands in attendance at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena. For more information, see this link.

The Music of Def Leppard at the Waikiki Shell

The music of Def Leppard will be performed by the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Windborne at the Waikiki Shell on Friday, May 27th. See this link for more information.

The Music of The Rolling Stones at the Waikiki Shell

The music of The Rolling stones will be perfomed by the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, May 28th at the Waikiki Shell. See this link for more information.

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We wish you a very safe and meaningful Memorial Day!