HONOLULU (KHON2) — With Memorial Day quickly approaching, one volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council and Girl Scouts of Hawaii wants to make sure every grave at veterans cemeteries is decorated with an American flag and lei for their service and sacrifice.

Gary Hashimoto said for the first time since the tradition began decades ago, 2020 did not happen, and 2021 had a very limited effort. This year is scheduled to happen in full swing, but there’s a shortage of lei.

Hashimoto is with Boy Scout Troops 181 and 201, and Girl Scout Troop 201. His father served the country for 35 years, and he has two uncles buried at the Punchbowl cemetery. He’s asking people who have a flower lei that they won’t need after graduation or “moving up” ceremonies to donate them.

“We’re so honored to be able to perform our duty, to pay our respects to those who wrote a blank check to the United States of America,” Hashimoto told KHON2 on Thursday. “We may not know any of those buried there, but we owe them all for our freedoms.”

Hashimoto said he will be at the Nuuanu Elementary School gym on Friday, May 27, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. But if Friday doesn’t work, the Girl Scouts will be at Windward Mall center stage on Saturday, May 28, at 10 a.m. Hashimoto is asking for flowers or fresh lei only, no plastic.

Hashimoto said Don Murphy from Murphy’s Bar & Grill has arranged for a $1,000+ donation and is collecting donations at his establishments that he’ll be matching for them.

The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is also showing their appreciation by hosting their Sew Lei for Memorial Day events. If you can’t volunteer, they will be taking flower donations, particularly plumeria. Drop them off at any of their May 27 lei-sewing sites listed below.

Lei Sewing Sites:

DATE	SITE	PHONE	TIME
May 10	Foster Botanical Garden (Ti Leaf Lei)	(808) 768-7139	10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
May 13 & 14	Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden (Ti Leaf Lei)	(808) 233-7323	10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
May 26	Kāneʻohe Senior Center (Adults Only)	(808) 768-6847	10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
May 27	Kailua District Park	(808) 768-6832	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Kīlauea District Park	(808) 768-6713	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Makua Aliʻi Senior Center	(808) 768-6893	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Waiʻanae District Park	(808) 696-5039	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Waiau District Park	(808) 768-6795	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Waipahū District Park	(808) 768-6798	9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 27	Honolulu Hale	(808) 768-7139	10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
May 27	Kapolei Hale	(808) 768-3003	10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Lei Drop-off Sites:

If you’re making your own lei, drop it off at one of the locations below. The lei needs to be 10-11 inches, tied, and flower lei are preferred. Ti leaf lei, however, will also work.

LOCATION	TIME
Pāhoa High School	May 25 by 1 p.m.
Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa District Office	May 25 by 1 p.m.
Hilo-Waiākea District Office	May 25 by 1 p.m.
Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School	May 26 by 9 a.m.
Kailua Intermediate School	May 26 by 9 a.m.
August Ahrens Elementary School	May 26 by 9 a.m.
Kainalu Elementary School	May 26 by 9 a.m.
All Honolulu Fire Department Fire Stations	May 27, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Federal Fire Stations: Headquarters at 650 Center Drive, Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, Schofield Barracks	May 27, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Frank Fasi Municipal Building	May 27, 8 a.m. – noon
Ala Wai Community Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kailua District Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Makiki District Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Makua Ali‘i Senior Center	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Waialua District Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wai‘anae District Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Waipahū District Park	May 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Honolulu Hale	May 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kapolei Hale	May 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Punchbowl / Pūowaina Cemetery	May 28, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

It’s been a longstanding tradition to place lei on every gravesite at Punchbowl on Memorial Day. Every year, the community works together to make about 38,000 lei.