Helping Grads Celebrate on Lanai With an Aerial Shower of Flowers

On May 25, 2020, Paradise Helicopters had the opportunity to celebrate the students of Lanai High, Class of 2020 by showering them with flowers from the air.

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Lanai High School had to adjust their graduation ceremony plans, similar to other schools across the country. Lanai High conducted an outdoor ceremony, virtual to the public and with those present limited to the graduating students and faculty. 

The Class of 2020 Lanai High Graduation ceremony took place on the Northeastern side of Lāna’i in Pineapple Fields, as students commemorated their graduation in separate cars and spread out in the field.

Paradise Helicopters worked alongside Four Seasons Lanai, Pulama Lanai, and Mokulele Airlines to help gather the flowers. Two (2), 70-pound bags of flowers were needed to successfully drop flowers over the graduation ceremony. The majority of the flowers were Plumeria blossoms, which hold a great significance in Hawaiian culture, as they represent love, spring and new beginnings. 

Carl Reynoso, better known as “Mooch”, a nickname he picked up during his 34 years on active duty as a US Marine, piloted this special flight. The mission was flown in a Paradise Helicopters’ Bell 407 aircraft which dropped the flowers over the graduating class of 39 seniors as a surprise gesture of congratulations. A flower drop consists of releasing thousands of flowers over the course of multiple fly-overs, where the helicopter goes back and forth above to release the flowers over the area. 

Paradise Helicopters was honored to be a part of such a special day with Lanai High Class of 2020. As a company, one of our core values is **Adaptability. ***We strive to face challenges with the “Spirit of Bamboo”, to explore creative ways to accomplish the mission while remaining within the guidelines of the appropriate rules and regulations and within the applicable safety parameters. *We are proud of the Class of 2020 of Lanai High for adapting to the challenges of 2020 and finding a creative way to celebrate.  

To the Class of 2020 at Lanai High from the entire Paradise Helicopters ‘Ohana: we are proud and honored to have been a small piece of celebrating this achievement in your life. We thank you and your entire community for allowing us to be a part of your graduation!