photo Joshua T. Bekerman

The New York Aloha Memorial Ceremony began as a way of bringing healing and the spirit of Aloha to New York City in the devastating wake of 9/11.

The 1st Annual New York Aloha Memorial Ceremony-October 14, 2001

Three months before the attacks, Renee L. Kealohapau'ole Eastabrooks, a long-time New York City resident with degrees from both Hunter College and Fordham University School of Law, returned to New York with her family after spending five years in the Hawai'i.  Ms. Eastabrooks is the Executive Director of the Pohala Foundation, and had returned to NYC to begin a capital campaign for her work providing healing and recovery services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

On September 11, 2001 Ms. Eastabrooks lost five friends and peers.  She had worked in Windows on the World booking department in the late 70's.  Wanting to do something to help people begin healing from the trauma of the tragedy, Ms. Eastabrooks decided to organize a "paddle-out": a flotilla of surfers, kayakers and outrigger canoe paddlers to go out into the Hudson River and release leis in memory of all those lost on 9/11.  Waterfront lei tributes are a common tradition in Hawai'i and Polynesia, offering friends and family a chance to honor the spirit of their loved ones.  The release of fresh flower leis symbolizes the soul's journey to its next destination, the tide taking the blossoms in a rainbow of colors and emotions.

With the help of Roger Meyer of New York Outrigger, the Ceremony came to life in just three weeks and was attended by over 400 people.  More than 100 people participated in the paddle-out, while over ninety people spent the Saturday afternoon prior to the Ceremony making leis at Fordham Law School from 9,000 fresh flowers donated by local merchants including a generous gift of 6,000 flowers from John Kantakis at Associated Cut Flowers Co. Inc. in NYC.

Halau Hula 'O Na Mele 'Aina 'O Hawai'i, led by Kumu Hula Luana Haraguchi, performed haunting, ancient Hawaiian Kahiko Hula and Auwe chanting, in both mourning and celebration of the lives lost in the Towers, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania.  The sunset on the Hudson and the tropical quaintness of the Lackawanna Barge on Pier 63 gave everyone in attendance a feeling of Hawai'i.  The Aloha spirit of love, acceptance and friendliness filled the air.  Many smiles and tears were shared.     

The 2nd Annual New York Aloha Memorial Ceremony

September 8, 2002

The 2nd Annual New York Aloha Memorial Ceremony reunited many of the participants who took part in the first ceremony and welcomed hundreds more.  The weather was stunningly beautiful, with warm sun and soothing breezes.  We were grateful to have another lovely performance of ancient Kahiko Hula and modern Auana by Halau Hula 'O Na Mele 'Aina 'O Hawai'i and everyone in the large crowd was treated to live Hawaiian music from the Tiny Bubbles Band.

The paddlers and spectators were all draped in gorgeous, exotic orchid leis for the dedication and dancing segments.  The crowd of over 700 people on the barge released their leis into the Hudson with the flotilla paddlers in a solemn and touching moment.  Many folks stayed to "talk story" and visit with the dancers and paddlers.

Several camera crews were on hand to record the Ceremony, including NBC News Hawai'i which featured us as the lead-in story on the six o'clock news in the Islands, and NYC WildFlowers Productions, Inc. in association with Soho Media filming for their documentary entitled, "Healing Ground Zero".

Some of the surfers who joined in the flotilla.