Ash Scattering at Sea

Scattering a deceased loved one’s ashes at sea has a deep meaning and significance for many people. This type of sea funeral or burial at sea is symbolic. It indicates the return of the departed person to the ocean.

When we started Pau Hana Sailing, I had no idea how many people would contact us about ash scatterings and how important it would be for us to create a sensitive and meaningful experience for people looking to say goodbye.  My husband and our main captain Jason Rose, has conducted SO many ash scatterings over the years on the various vessels he has captained on O’ahu.  His experience provided us a great launch pad to think through all the details of what we wanted to offer.

The amount of people choosing to be cremated in the U.S. has significantly increased over the past few decades. A few reasons for this shift is the lower cost of cremation, the desire to leave less of an impact on the earth as well as more and more families that are less traditional. In line with this major shift towards cremation, many families are interested in doing a water burial, or scattering ashes at sea.  It really is a beautiful and powerful moment to watch someone release their loved one back to Mother Nature.

So what is a Sea Scattering?

A sea scattering involves scattering cremated ashes of a person or pet in the ocean.  Some groups bring an officiant with them to have a more formal service with the sea scattering, but most groups come without an officiant and are looking for a more informal experience.    

Many families prefer to be present on the boat during a sea scattering, which are referred to as attended scatterings.  For attended sea scatterings it is important to get a boat large enough to accommodate the size of the group.  We are able to accommodate parties of up to 12 people.  In addition, if you have a specific place in mind for the scattering, it is important to let us know of your desired location at the time of booking so we can be prepared to accommodate your request the day of your cruise.  

In some instances, family and friends may not be able to attend the scattering of a loved one at sea. We can perform unattended scatterings at sea and will even accommodate special requests such as certain music being played during the scattering, saying a prayer or reading a poem. 

Some groups include a ceremony with their loved one’s sea scattering.  Others choose to just come together as friends and family and share some good memories to say goodbye. Ceremonies can include specific music, eulogy by a family member or close friend, people reflecting on the loved one who passed and the memories they shared, and then releasing the ashes.  If you're a Hawaiian family, once the ashes have been released, everyone will get in the water for one last swim.  Others will toss flowers and leis out into the water during the scattering to show love.

We try to learn as much about your preferences at the time of your booking so we can provide the best possible experience for your group.  If you are bringing an officiant, we can blend into the background and make sure to get to the specific location you requested or if you don’t have a requested location to a spot that we think will be optimal for your group.  If you don’t have an officiant, we will be sensitive to the needs of your group and provide a bit of context and structure based on our experience to help ensure a memorable ash scattering. 

Planning an Ash Scattering

When you start planning your ash scattering, there are several things you will want to consider….

Time of day - Typically early morning and close to sunset are the serenest times of day on the water here in Hawaii.  The lighting can be especially beautiful when the sun is coming up and again when it is setting.

Location - On the sourth shore of Oahu, we are typically going to head out the marina toward the east so that Diamond Head will be the backdrop for your ash scattering. We are also able to accommodate any special requests on location, just let us know at the time of booking so we can confirm your request is possible and matches well with the length charter you would like to book.

Group Size - We will want to confirm the number of people in your party to ensure that your group is a max of 12 people.

Eco Wrap for Ashes - We offer a ti leaf ashes wrap that is topped with tropical flowers.  This is an add on service that must be coordinated prior to your charter.  What’s nice is that you can show up the day of your cruise and we are able to prepare the ashes on the boat before we head out to sea.  When it's time to release the ashes, you are able to release the ashes or the captain can do for you.  Our method of wrap for the ashes allows the ashes to disperse with ti leaf and tropical flowers.  It is really beautiful!  We will mark the coordinates where the ashes are released and provide that information to you in a photo. Here is a video of an ash release.

Flowers - We are able to provide additional flowers if you would like.  This is an add on service where we can provide baskets of flowers and/or leis.  The leis can be worn during the ceremony and then kept.  Or, you can cut the string and release the flowers one by one to sea.  Releasing additional flowers with the ashes can be really meaningful and beautiful.

Food and Beverage - We have a curated food and beverage menu if you would like to order food through us.  This is an add on service and must be coordinated in advance of your charter.  We will have a cooler with ice in the cockpit and there is additional refrigeration inside the salon if you prefer to bring your own food and drink.  We are happy to accommodate either.  We will have a pitcher of filtered ice water with glasses for you at all times during the trip.  We provide all the plates, glasses, silverware and linens.  We also have kleenex on board.

How do I Travel with Cremated Remains? - This is a question I get from almost everyone looking to book an ash scattering.  How do I get the ashes to Hawaii? Each airline sets its own policies regarding transporting cremated remains. Some allow the remains in checked luggage, but that brings up the concern for the potential of lost luggage. Others, like Southwest, only allow ashes as carry-ons, but then you are left dealing with security issues.

TSA states that the remains must pass through standard X-ray screening and that the container will not be opened by screeners. If there are any issues regarding the contents of the container, there is the possibility that it might not be permitted onboard a flight. Because of this, it is important that you travel with a copy of the death certificate when traveling by any means with cremated remains.

We hope this gives you a little more information about what an Ash Scattering at sea is all about.  Many people come to Hawaii to release ashes at sea. It’s a truly beautiful and memorable way to say goodbye. We hope you will reach out if you have any questions.