Nola Nahulu conducts at the Choralfest 2025 Music Service

Choralfest Returns!

By Francis Okano After seven years, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Music Committee ended its long COVID pause to stage a choralfest at the Hawaii Betsuin on the weekend of September 20-21, 2025. Eager for music, one hundred brave singers from as far east as Denver, Colorado, and as...

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Headquarters Update, Sept. 2025 (thumbnail image)

September 2025 Headquarters Update now available online

See the September 2025 Headquarters Update for the following articles: Message from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani 39th Ministers’ Spouses’ Association Seminar (report) Minister’s lay assistant retreat (10/25, registration form available) Committee on Social Concerns (report) CBE: Poster Contest & Dharma School Gathering Shining Spirit Award (11/15 nomination deadline) PBA Lighting Our...

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two photos of people on the Hawaii Betsuin steps for a group photo

Photos: 62nd Annual Lay Convention

The Hawaii State Lay Association (HSLA) is the successor to the Hawaii State Federation of Honpa Hongwanji Lay Associations. The organization held the 62nd annual Lay Convention from September 12 to 13 on Oahu. Delegates and observers from Hongwanji districts throughout Hawaii converged for business meetings, services, presentations, and fellowship....

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Ministeres and officials gathered with compassion at Wailuku Hongwanji

Resilience and Hope Lives On in Lahaina

Photo courtesy of Carol Yamamura Gathered with compassion at Wailuku Hongwanji, from left: Rev. Kerry Kiyohara of Makawao Hongwanji, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani, Rev. Shinkai Murakami of Wailuku Hongwanji, Rev. Gensho Hara of Lahaina Jodo Mission, Lahainaluna High School principal Richard Carosso, State Senator Troy Hashimoto and...

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Ms. Sadae Kasoka speaks at Hawaii Betsuin on 8/14/25

80 Years Later, Hiroshima’s Horror Still Haunts the World

Photo courtesy of Irene Nohara Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Sadae Kasaoka, right, addressed those gathered at Honpa Hongwanji Hawai’i Betsuin, assisted by translator Mayumi Miyahara, left, and Ai Nishimoto of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • September 2025 80 Years Later, Hiroshima’s Horror Still Haunts...

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final Obon at Wai‘anae Hongwanji

121-year-old Waiʻanae Hongwanji holds its last Obon

Courtesy of Alan Kubota Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club members Ann Inouye, left, Gail Yabuki and Chihiro Okawa, right on taiko, perform at Waiʻanae Hongwanji’s final Obon. VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • September 2025 ‘It’s So Sad to See This All End’ 121-year-old Waiʻanae Hongwanji holds its last Obon...

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Francis Okano

Choralfest Returns to Hawaiʻi Betsuin

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • September 2025 Choralfest Returns to Hawaiʻi Betsuin Singers from Colorado to Kanazawa will perform at the biennial event for the first time since 2020 BY FRANCIS OKANO HONPA HONGWANJI MISSION MUSIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN With the pandemic shutdown of 2020 behind us, Choralfest will resume...

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