kywood1955

I've search on the web for boat rides for the scattering of ashes in the waters around Magic Island. The ones I've found are @ $1,000 for the 13 people involved (apparently the boat size and price goes up with over 12 people). Do you think once we arrive that we would be able to obtain boat rides for the scattering at a more reasonable price? Thanks for any/all information.

dusty56438

You can try one of the Waikiki catamarans like Na Hoku II.

Perhaps they can make a special trip for you at 7:30am as there first scheduled trip is at 9:30am.

Or maybe you can just reserve it for only your party for the 9:30 trip.

www.nahokuii.com

There are a couple of other Waikiki catamarans if that one doesn't work.

Or you can probably walk out to the end of Magic Island & scatter the ashes from shore into the water (I have no idea if this is legal).

beachpastor

Aloha Rev. Neal McHenry here. About the scattering of ashes. I have done many. Go to the Mai Tai Catamarn on Waikiki Beach in front of the Sheraton Hotel. Ask for owner George Parson and you can charter his boat in the morning to scatter the ashes. I think its $500 for the charter. Or go to the Beach Boy stand in front of Dukes restaurant on Waikiki Beach and charter 2-3 canoes and you can scatter the ashes off the waters in Waikiki bay. They do it all the time. Good Luck.
Aloha Pumehana

Rusty

Scattering ashes? You mean human remains? Can you legally scatter human remains anywhere that you want?

beachpastor

Yes and No. Honoring the last wishes of family and friends and their cremated remains is a fairly common practice in most counties & states and is allowed with general common sense guidelines and state regulations. Everyone has special places in the world that are in their hearts that were meaningful to them. In most circumstances it is completely legal and is reguarded as a private memorial service. And if in a lake, on a mountain, in the ocean, out of an airplane or at sunset or sunrise somewhere etc this is proper.. Usually it is not in a very public place which would intrude on or offend someone and in some cases is illegal. Case in point, the church I ministered was right on the ocean and it was completely legal to walk out on the reef with family, maybe 50 yards or so and have a memorial service, but it would not be proper to walk down the middle of Waikiki Beach and scatter the ashes among the island visitors; However taking a canoe, boat, surfboard out beyound the waves is completly OK. I do remender a man who was very involved in Nascar and always did the checker flag in the races. When he passed away the family got permission to have his ashes scattered from a race car at 200 mph when the race track was closed. As for me, 1/2 of my ashes will be scattered at my favorite surfspot, Tonggs, in Waikiki along with many friends and family who are there before me and the remaining half at Arlington Cemeteryon on my Father & Mothers grave site. Respect is the key.

dusty56438

Just an added note about Magic Island.

Almost to the tip of it there is a fence. If the surf isn't bad, you can climb over the fence out to the rocks. When you get there, one person could go a little farther & scatter the ashes into the ocean while the others observe. Doesn't cost anything. That's probably what I would do if I had ashes to scatter there.

Go out there first to see the area & you'll see what I mean.

Nobody swims there so you won't be disrespecting anyone.

dusty56438

Also this is the correct name of Magic Island:

Aina Moana State Recreation Area

Rusty

Baechpastor, you have intermingled what is legal with what is proper and acceptable - two different things. I asked if it is LEGAL to scatter human ashes anywhere that you want ?

beachpastor

Rusty. Good question. So I looked around. The short answer is NO, not legal if anywhere means everywhere. Ashes are listed as "Cremains-a sanitary natural substance." Hard to believe that after all these years on planet earth thats what I will be called! Anyway... Scattering at sea is legal worldwide. I found that each state & jurisdiction does have different laws and some have no laws regarding it at all. In each state it IS legal to scatter on public land or on private proberty with the owners permission. Each national and state park has their own conditions but not laws. In Hawaii it IS legal on public land and in the ocean. Hawaii's cremations are the nation's highest and is now at 65% and Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Montana, Nevada, and oregon is about 50 -60 %. Wow.

NeoPatrick

Thanks for the specifics, beachpastor. I plan to scatter some of my partner's remains in Hawaii in Sept/Oct. The whole reason for the trip is that Hawaii is the only state we never got to together. I'm taking small quantities of his ashes wherever I travel and scatter them.

Last week a few "tablespoons" of them were scattered in Queen Mary's Rose Garden in London's Regent Park. Is it legal? Probably not. Is there any earthly reason not to? None that I can think of. In fact if the truth were known, they are probably good for the roses!

Mary2Go

Neo,

I think it is a wonderful memorial to your partner. I hope your trip to Hawaii "together" is a comfort to you. I have always told my husband and kids that is my wish, to be scattered in all of the places that I love to visit. San Francisco, Hawaii, Tahoe, and a favorite campground.

Once again I am reminded of what a great resource this board is for so many things.

beachpastor

Neo. How wonderful to be a citizen of the world. Have a amazing trip to the land of Aloha. Yes your right, Great for the roses.

captken

Aloha,

Capt Ken here from www.HawaiiAshScatterings.com Just ran across this thread and wanted to offer our 25+ years of experience in the Islands to help any of you with questions on ash scattering in Hawaii.