Hālau Maui Nui O Kama at Kihei Canoe Club offers “Celebration of Life” / Ashes Memorial Ceremonies to honor your loved ones who have passed, while helping you find meaningful closure to the mourning process. To Hawaiians, even in death, there is a feeling of hope that loved ones will be reunited again — you’ll find the phrase “a hui hou” (until we meet again) shared throughout their cultural practices.
Our traditional ceremony includes hula, Hawaiian oli (chants) and mele (songs), pule (prayer), blowing of the pū (conch shell), and the opportunity to spread your loved one’s ashes from a tropical flower-adorned, double-hull (12-person) outrigger canoe.
Up to 6 guests* will accompany paddlers from our hālau into the beautiful waters of south shore Maui. Additional oli and mele will be performed while releasing your loved one’s ashes and/or scattering of loose flowers from the canoe (no lei or string allowed to help protect our sea life). Once we return to shore, the ceremony ends with a brief song and final pule (prayer).
We are honored to offer a limited number of WEEKDAY morning (Mon / Wed / Fri) ceremonies each month. Because our hālau members volunteer their time, we kindly ask that your date be confirmed with us before any travel arrangements are finalized (if applicable). We appreciate your understanding as we coordinate schedules.
While our hālau members generously volunteer their time, a minimum donation of $500 per 12-person canoe is requested. Your contribution helps support our keiki (youth) and other Kihei Canoe Club programs.
Most days on Maui are perfect for our Ashes Ceremonies, yet sometimes, the ocean is too rough to safely perform this ritual. If the conditions aren’t favorable, our dedication, effort, and aloha will still be present in a shore ceremony that remains both beautiful and meaningful. If conditions are unsuitable and a shore ceremony is not preferred, rescheduling is an option (subject to availability).
Please email contact@kiheicanoeclub.com for more information and to secure your date. Additional details will be provided by our hālau coordinator once a date has been confirmed for the service. We are honored you have considered Hālau Maui Nui O Kama to assist you in providing a meaningful way to honor your loved ones.
* For safety, all guests participating in the canoe portion of the ceremony must be physically able to enter and exit the canoe without assistance while the canoe is moving into the water and back onto shore and at least 12 years old, 48 inches or taller. Outrigger padding is a physical activity and guests will be asked to paddle the canoe as part of the ceremony.