HAWAIIAN MEMORIAL
ASHES TO SEA AND CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONIES
Hawaiian Memorial Ashes to Sea and Celebration of Life Ceremonies are beautifully intimate, loving, and a positive and meaningful way to memorialize your lost loved one and find closure to your mourning process.
Experienced paddlers will accompany you and up to 4 guests in our safe, stable double-hull canoe adorned with tropical flowers. We cannot take children under 12 years old in our canoes. A Hawaiian Kahu will accompany you to chant, blow the pū (shell), say prayers and lead the family in sharing as we spread your loved one's ashes into the sea.
On rare occasions the ocean is too rough for safety and in that case, we perform the ceremony on shore. The phrase ʻAʻohe waʻa hoʻoholo o ka lā ʻino, meaning “No canoe is defiant on a stormy day,” reflects the unpredictable nature of the sea. If the sea doesn’t cooperate, our commitment, effort, and aloha will remain for a shore ceremony that is still beautiful and meaningful.
The most beautiful and powerful way to scatter ashes is directly on the waves with floating flowers. Please bring ashes in a biodegradable paper or plastic bag. Or Bamboo Tubes are a perfect choice and available on Amazon. If you prefer to use an urn, it must be water biodegradable and compact due to limited space in the canoe.
See a video of ceremony here http://www.mediaflowproductions.com/ashestosea/
Mana'olana is a nonprofit organization supporting cancer survivors, and we provide a tax letter for your donation. Please email admin@mauipinks.org for further information on donation and availability. We only offer two ceremonies per month and our Kahu is busy, so we need to confirm his availability and ours before confirming your ceremony date.
Here is what families say about our services:
Above and Beyond Our Expectations - “I was carrying a burden. My mother had wanted her ashes scattered off the coast of her beloved Maui, and I had yet to fulfill one of her last wishes. Finally, after much research, I decided to go with the Ashes to Sea Celebration of Life Ceremonies with the Mana’olana Pink Paddlers in Maui. I am more than grateful that I made this important decision. The ceremony went above and beyond my husband’s and my expectations. Everyone there was so understanding, kind, and respectful. The Hawaiian Kahu started us with a spiritual prayer and intention, which made me feel as if my mother’s spirit was smiling down at us from the warm Hawaiian sky. Once we were on the ocean, we sprinkled a circle of flowers on the water as the Kahu continued his prayers. I will never forget the sense of calm and peace upon that beautiful pink canoe after I scattered my mom’s ashes into the deep blue sea. The burden I’d been carrying had been released. My mother had been released. And I could finally say good-by, knowing that she was finally at peace.”
*****
Aloha: I want to express my immense gratitude for your professionalism and service. I was afraid the ceremony was going to be a sad day for me, but I have thanked God every day that I came to Mana'olana for my ceremony. It was perfect, and I truly treasure the very reflective, peaceful, and yes joyous fulfillment of my husband's wish. I am forever grateful for the sense of peace that the paddle out has given me. Your team of volunteers is so amazing. The Kahu really pulled it all together and made the service awe inspiring. Thanks for putting together a true “A” list team for me. It was a true celebration of life. Thank You!!
Aloha: Thank you so much for all your work with our photos! They are just wonderful! My mom and I were just talking and she shared just how healing that morning was for her and I think we all felt that in one way or another. I can't tell you just how much it meant to have your team help us release them in that way. It was really exactly what my sister wanted for our dad and the fact that she got to be with him that way made it that much more special. I hope you will pass along just how special it was for us and how much we appreciate you all!!!