Nola Nahulu, center, conducted singers at the Sept. 25, 2016 Choralfest in the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin hondo. Four members of the Hawai’i Youth Opera Chorus, foreground, wearing green mu‘umu‘u, were among a dozen vocalists asked to sing along with the choir.
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2025
After a Seven-Year Absence, Choralfest Will Return in September
BY FRANCIS OKANO, MUSIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
On Sept. 20 and 21, 2025, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will host Choralfest 2025 at the Hawaii Betsuin in Honolulu.
Announcements, flyers and registration forms have been sent to all temples in Hawaii as well as to a few temples with Buddhist Churches of America.
More than 100 singers are expected to participate in a massed choir presentation of beautiful Buddhist choral works.
The two-day event will begin on Saturday, Sept. 20 at noon in the Betsuin Social Hall for an all-afternoon rehearsal, interspersed with refreshment breaks.
Dinner and fellowship will follow from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the festival choir will perform selected choral gathas at a music service which will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Betsuin Hondo.
The program will conclude with refreshments and fellowship in the Social Hall.
The festival choir conductor will be Nola Nahulu, a Living Treasure of Hawaii recipient who has successfully led the biennial event since its 2005 inception.
Resumption of Choralfest in 2025 follows the long pandemic interruption since it was last held in 2018.
Featured in 2025 will be the following choral gathas, in English translation from the Japanese: “To My Daughters” (“Musume Tachi Yo,”) “Upon Clouds” (“Nagareyuku Kumo ni”,) “Where Oh Where” (“Hotokesama wa,”) “To All We Owe” (“Ikasarete,”),“Surely We Will Meet Again Some Day” (“Kitto Mata Aeru Ne,”) and “Gratefulness II” (“Ondokusan II.”)
Brief program notes will be provided the congregation by way of introduction to each choral piece.
Whether a veteran or first-time choral singer, everyone is welcome to join the festival choir to learn and sing the choral gathas.
And full attendance by the congregation is anticipated for the Sunday music service. For singers, registration and a $35 fee must be received at Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Headquarters by April 1, 2025.
All registrants will receive a booklet and access to recorded singing parts for required preparation.
To register, please contact your temple offices or the Music Committee through Headquarters at (808) 522-9202.