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.
The Friday evening session was hosted at Jikoen Hongwanji in Kalihi and Saturday’s sessions were held at Hawaii Betsuin on Pali Highway. The theme of the convention was “Let’s Be the Authors of our Future!” The keynote speaker was Hawaii Insurance Commissioner Scott Saiki.
Check out the photo carousels below to see who else spoke and other convention activities!
2025 Lay Convention Day 1: Jikoen Hongwanji
Use arrows at the right and left edges of the photos to go to the next photo. Photos courtesy of Rick Tabor, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.
The storied, inscribed stone at Jikoen Hongwanji -- search "brotherhood jikoen" on YouTube for more info. (Lay Convention 2025)
The Farrington High School Governors' Guard members did the table setup at Jikoen. (Lay Convention 2025)
The food got rave reviews! (Lay Convention 2025)
Hawaii State Lay Association board meeting in the Jikoen hondo prior to the Lay Convention business meeting. (Lay Convention 2025)
Russell Nonaka, Hawaii State Lay Association President (Lay Convention 2025)
The business meeting commenced in the Jikoen social hall. Here Cindy addresses the delegates, with Russell Nonaka and Rene Mansho at the head table. (Lay Convention 2025)
Pieper Toyama gave a presentation to delegates awaiting the return of Hawaii State Lay Association board members from their pre-convention meeting. (Lay Convention 2025)
Headquarters lent the voting numbers used at the annual Legislative Assembly (Lay Convention 2025)
Miles Tamura (Pearl City) and David Atcheson (Hawaii Betsuin) provided AV support for the hybrid sessions on Friday. (Lay Convention 2025)2025 Lay Convention Day 2: Hawaii Betsuin
Use arrows at the right and left edges of the photos to go to the next photo. Most photos courtesy of Rick Tabor, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. (Photo from back of social hall by David Atcheson.)
Delegates in the Hawaii Betsuin social hall. (Lay Convention 2025)
"Lei Convention"? Quite a few beautiful lei were presented! Here Rick gives lei to Rimban Yuika Hasebe and Rev. Charlene Kihara. (Lay Convention 2025)
Reverends Kihara, Hasebe, and Furusawa at the time of the morning service. (Lay Convention 2025)
Rene Mansho, co-chair of the 2025 Lay Convention, at the podium for the closing service. (Lay Convention 2025)
Gail Taira played the organ for the two services. (Lay Convention 2025)
Insurance Commissioner Scott Saiki was the keynote speaker. (Lay Convention 2025)
Insurance Commissioner Scott Saiki was the keynote speaker. (Lay Convention 2025)
Derrick Inouye, HHMH Business Manager, asks a question while keynote speaker Scott Saiki, Hawaii Insurance Commissioner, listens. (Lay Convention 2025)
Russell Nonaka, Hawaii State Lay Association President, holds up a copy of "The Faith of Leadership" by Robbie Alm
Bento lunches in the Hawaii Betsuin social hall on Saturday. (Lay Convention 2025)
Emi Hashi, HHMH Youth Coordinator, gave a talk entitled "Growing Our Youth Programs." (Lay Convention 2025)
Hawaii Kupuna Resource Panel: Norma Kop, Director of Senior Medical Patrol (SMP); Candace Nakamoto, Volunteer Coordinator for the State Hawaii Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP); and Michelle Cordero-Lee, Executive Director of Hawaii Meals on Wheels. (Lay Convention 2025)
Michelle Cordero-Lee, Executive Director of Hawaii Meals on Wheels, gestures at a slide showing menu customizations as fellow panelists look on. (Lay Convention 2025)
Jaimee Yokoyama of Jr. YBA and Emi Hashi, Youth Specialist, address attendees in the Hawaii Betsuin Social Hall. (Lay Convention 2025)
Left photo: Project Dana's Madisyn Sim, Community Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, and Maria Morales, Executive Director, present to the attendees. Right photo: Emi Hashi and Jaimee Yokoyama. (Lay Convention 2025)
David Atcheson and Darren Cantrill (Hawaii Betsuin) provided audio-visual support for the hybrid services and meetings on Saturday. (Lay Convention 2025)
Hawaii Betsuin altar at the installation service. AV area at left, Rene Mansho (emcee) at right. (Lay Convention 2025)
Installation service with Hawaii Betsuin Rimban Yuika Hasebe and convention co-chair Rene Mansho (emcee). (Lay Convention 2025)
Installation ceremony for the 2025-2026 Hawaii State Lay Association board of directors (Lay Convention 2025)
The 2025-2025 Hawaii State Lay Association Board of Directors after the installation ceremony. (Lay Convention 2025)Group photos at the conclusion of the Hawaii State Lay Association's 2025 convention.
Some of the delegates remain on the stairs after a group photo while Rick gets a wide shot of Hawaii Betsuin. (Lay Convention 2025)See Also
Bishop Umitani’s message to Lay Convention participants (video and text), as delivered via Zoom from Japan.
The HSLA is an affiliated organization of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii with its own board of directors. Its purpose is to serve the needs of the temples, complementing (not duplicating) support provided by the Bishop’s Office and HHMH statewide committees.