ALA MOANA — Messages of harmony and peace floated out with the tide at Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday at the 10th annual Lantern Floating Hawai'i ceremony.

The traditional Japanese ceremony had its own local twist with singers Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm performing before the release of 1,600 lanterns at sunset carrying prayers of remembrance and hope.

More than 30,000 people, including thousands from Japan, packed the beach park, lining the shoreline with their paper-and-wooden lanterns. Some cried. Some cheered. Others just stood in awe as the lighted paper lanterns floated out toward the reef.

The floating lantern ceremony is sponsored by the Na Lei Aloha Foundation that annually holds the ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park, which was closed to local traffic. The foundation gave 800 lanterns to the public to float, nearly double the amount given last year.

Jeff Iwabuchi held two lanterns, one for his sister and one for his brother-in-law, both of whom died in their 20s.

"It's our way of remembering them," Iwabuchi said.

Ambrosia Kane, of Manoa, had a lantern to remember her grandfather, who loved to eat Twinkies and drink Budweiser for breakfast. Kane drew a picture of the dessert treat and a can of beer on the side of the paper lantern and wrote her grandpa's name, "Papi" Hansford Davis Farrell Jr.

"He died 16 years ago, but we wanted to remember him," Kane said. "I didn't think it would be this crowded. I'll have to push my way forward."

The lantern festival has its origins in Japan, where the lanterns are used to show respect to ancestors and to help ferry their spirits "from the sea of delusion and suffering to the shore of salvation," according to the Lantern Floating Hawai'i Memorial Day Web site.

Eight lanterns sat ready to be launched on a beach towel representing the Hamasaki family. Four-year-old Rayann Hamasaki pointed out the drawing she made of herself holding a ball, the flowers and grass and a small fish.

"We're going to put it in the water," she said.

Buddhist priest Shinso Ito, head of the Shinnyo-en order, spoke in Japanese, blessing the lanterns. Her image was broadcast on two large screens from a stage that was set up on the diamondhead end of Magic Island.

Not wanting to risk not getting a lantern, Crystal Cook and her friend Jessica Suguitan made their lanterns themselves using notebook paper, bamboo skewers and plastic corrugated board. They decorated their lanterns with watercolors, crayons and markers.

"I'm here to honor my grandmother, who passed away last week," Suguitan said. "It's like your light floats out into the sea to symbolize your release and peace."

Kane made her way to the water's edge, despite the thick crowd. She said she couldn't believe the amount of aloha and respect everyone showed each other.

"It's so beautiful," Kane said. "This blew me away. People were so kind."

Afterward, volunteers in canoes were stationed offshore to collect the lanterns.