Young was a tireless volunteer at the cemetery and championed the revival of Ching Ming in Manoa, drawing hundreds of people to elaborate ceremonies and banquets. For 13 years, Young was president of the Lin Yee Chung Association, the group that manages the cemetery.

Young died in November 2001; shortly thereafter the association discontinued the Ching Ming event, saying it no longer could organize the celebration and raise enough money to pay the expenses without Young's leadership.

This year, under the guidance of the United Chinese Society, the event will continue in grand style as Young envisioned it, with a performance by the Guang Zhung Chinese Music Club, a procession to the Grand Ancestor's Tomb, music by the U.S. Marine Band, a 21-gun salute and a release of pigeons, with a big luncheon to follow.

Ching Ming has been observed in China for about 3,000 years. Every April 5, tradition calls for families to put out food and drink for the spirits of ancestors who return to visit the world of the living.

Young's widow, Jeanette, said the cancellation last year divided the Chinese community but people have come back together to continue the celebration.

"George always believed in it and loved to pass the culture on to the next generation," she said. "He always enjoyed teaching, and the young ones really enjoy it. They will be up there lighting firecrackers and burning incense."

Winfred Lum, a trustee for the Lin Yee Chung Association, said the group is happy to accommodate the community by allowing the use of the cemetery and pavilion. The association will hold its own ceremony tomorrow.

"We're not part of that group," Lum said of the organizers for this year. "They asked to use it and we said go ahead."

Lum said the association has been spending its money on much-needed repairs, including work on the pavilion, which has termite and roof problems.

"It's still in bad shape," Lum said. "We've just started and have spent a substantial sum of money but it hasn't made too big a dent. We have a lot more work to do."

Lei Ahu Isa, a former state House representative and organizer with the United Chinese Society, said more than 150 Chinese benevolent societies got together and raised more than $8,000 to pay for Sunday's ceremony.

"They really wanted to see it done again," Ahu Isa said. "Last year we didn't know what to do. It was too late to plan it by the time we found out. This year we got everybody together starting in October."

Ahu Isa said George C.K. Young, who is buried in the cemetery, would be happy with the way things have turned out.

"His spirit will be with us," she said.