The ninth remembrance service for 667 patients who died at the Hawai'i State Hospital and were forgotten from 1930 to 1960 will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe.

The service is open to anyone living at the hospital and in the community with mental illness, hospital staff, former patients and staff, and community members.

From 1930 to 1960, law prohibited using taxpayer funds to bury indigent patients who died while residing at the then-named Territorial Hospital. If unclaimed by family members, their remains were cremated at the hospital and the ashes stored in the basement of the administration building.

In 1960, public pressure on the first state Legislature resulted in money being appropriated to properly bury the 667 patients at Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Two bronze plaques memorialize the names of 540 known individuals. In addition, 127 "unknowns," whose identification labels had become unreadable, were laid to rest as well.

The Rev. Sam Domingo will deliver the meditation and the Rev. Shoken Takekoshi will offer a prayer. Other highlights will include the blowing of a pu (shell trumpet), music, hula and the recitation of a Metta Sutra blessing.