Mānoa Walkabout: The Mānoa Chinese Cemetery at Halloween

Choose one 1-hour tour: 4:30 or 5:45 PM. Explore the history and burial customs of Hawaiʻi's oldest Chinese cemetery. Join Mālama Mānoa for a Walkabout through the Mānoa Chinese Cemetery, the oldest and largest Chinese cemetery in Hawaiʻi, this year timed for the Halloween season. The cemetery was founded in the early 1850s by the Lin Yee Chung Association, whose name means “to bury in fellowship and honor.” Lum Ching chose this hillside for its ideal feng shui: a slope that cradles the graves like an armchair, looking out toward the ocean. Our guides will share how Chinese burial customs shaped these grounds, from where and how graves are placed to Ching Ming, the spring season when families return to tend the graves and honor their ancestors. We’ll also stop at the Tomb of the Grand Ancestor, where Lum Ching is honored. It’s a chance to learn about a proud piece of Chinese history in Hawaiʻi, right here in our valley. Expect stories, not scares. Choose one tour (about an hour each): Group 1: 4:30 to 5:30 PM Group 2: 5:45 to 6:45 PM Each group is limited to 15 people, so please register for just one. We'll meet at the Lion Gate, the bottom entrance to the cemetery on East Mānoa Road. The walk goes rain or shine, and the ground is uneven, so please wear closed-toe shoes. Sunset is around 6 PM, so Group 2 should bring a flashlight. This is an active cemetery and a place of remembrance for many families, so we ask everyone to be respectful. Questions? Contact Veneeta Acson at [email protected] or Brenda Lam at [email protected]. We hope to see you there!