Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Kokua Line
Question: My father-in-law passed away recently. He had spent many years in Hawaii after he retired and loved it. His final wish was to have his ashes spread off the beach at Waikiki. Do you know of any businesses that can provide a full-blown funeral off Waikiki Beach? Some options for
scattering ashes at seaAnswer: We looked in the phone directory Yellow Pages under funeral services and saw three advertising such services: Ash Scatterings At Sea, 592-5200 (or toll-free, 1-800-400-7300); Ashes to the Sea with Aloha, 596-0918; and Ashes At Sea, 235-6966. Call them for details and prices.
Ash Scatterings at Sea is a subsidiary of Dream Cruises. A typical package offers an hour of exclusive yacht time for as many as 225 passengers, Hawaiian background music and refreshments for purchase.
Additional services that can be purchased include flower leis for guests, although the family is encouraged to toss loose plumeria blossoms instead of leis into the water because of environmental concerns, said Katherine Alexich, marketing manager with Dream Cruises.
At the other end of the spectrum is G.H. "Pax" Paxton's Ashes to the Sea with Aloha. He's a fisherman, who simply offers the services of his boat, usually in the evenings.
"We just take (the family) off Diamond Head and scatter the ashes and bring them back," he said. You would arrange for everything else.
Ashes At Sea offers you both options.
With the no-frills, unattended service, you bring the ashes, with a certificate from a crematorium, and the ashes are then scattered at sea.
"We usually go out once a week, have a small ceremony, then give (the family) a certificate afterward," said the Rev. Toni Baran.
You can also arrange for a more elaborate ceremony with yacht, captain and minister, that usually goes out at sunset, she said.
Generally speaking, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, no environmental permit from the Health Department is required to scatter cremated ashes on land, sea or from the air, but it should be done discreetly and some distance away from the general public.
Ashes are not allowed to be scattered within a state forest preserve or watershed area, or on state or federal property. Scattering on private property can be done with the owner's permission.
For more information, call the Health Department's current registration section, 586-4540.
For burying corpses at sea, the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation says disposal should be beyond the three-nautical-mile limit from land and that "all measures should be taken to ensure that the remains sink to the bottom rapidly and permanently," in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
Mahalo
Oklahomans have the aloha spirit, too! A big mahalo to Army service member Rick and his family for stopping to aid a woman and her elderly parents when they had a flat tire on the H-1 near the Pearl Harbor/Hickam exit. He gave polite and friendly assistance and then refused to accept a token of appreciation. One day, I'll return the kindness to a stranger in need. -- No name
Auwe
It will be getting darker soon early in the morning, when many people walk for exercise. Please caution them to walk on the sidewalks, not in the streets, for their safety and the safety of drivers. -- No name
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com