VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025

Choralfest Returns After a Seven-Year Hiatus

A hundred singers took part in intense rehearsals directed by a conducting legend

Editor’s Note: The following appeared in “Musical Notes,” Honpa Hongwanji Mission’s Music Committee newsletter, as well as in “Goji,” Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin’s monthly newsletter. It is reprinted with permission.

BY FRANCIS OKANO, CHAIRMAN
HONPA HONGWANJI MISSION MUSIC COMMITTEE

After seven years, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i’s Music Committee ended its long Covid pause to stage a Choralfest at Hawai‘i Betsuin on the weekend of Sept. 2021, 2025.

Eager for music, 100 brave singers from as far east as Denver, Colorado and as far west as Kanazawa, Japan — not to mention the islands of Hawai‘i — settled into the Social Hall at noon on Saturday to harmonize in the celebrated tradition of the Midou Ensoukai at the Honzan in Kyoto every fall.

And ready to whip them into shape was none other than Hawai‘i’s foremost choral conductor, and Waianae Hongwanji’s very own, Nola Nahulu, director of Hawai‘i Opera Chorus.

Over four intense hours, interrupted once for sumptuous refreshments, the singers rehearsed a total of six choral gathas.

They included “Where, Oh Where?” (Hotokesama wa); “To My Daughters,” (Musume tachi yo); “To All We Owe,” (Ikasarete); “Surely, We Will Meet Again Someday” (Kitto mata aeru ne); “Upon Clouds,” (Nagareyuku kumo ni,) and “Gratefulness II,” (Ondokusan II).

After a gracious welcome speech by Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani, attendees were treated to an accomplished sanshin vocal and an Okinawan dance by Rev. Blayne Nakasone Sakata now with Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin.

Sunday morning buzzed in anticipation of choral singing at the Music Service.

To prepare for the first-ever live-streaming of Choralfest, the Betsuin’s technology team discreetly dotted the hondo with microphones and camera while working intently from a corner in the back.

Ever the innovator, conductor Nahulu this year had singers introduce each gatha by reading excerpts from the program notes that were printed in handouts for the congregation.

This public reading was sure to have encouraged the audience to read the program notes for a better understanding and appreciation of each choral work.

In her message to the assembly, Rimban Yuika Hasebe referenced the description, in the Amidakyo Sutra, of jewels in the Pure Land gleaming and resonating in Amida Buddha’s gentle breeze.

She noted that we are like jewels that produce a wondrous harmony of sounds because the breeze of Amida’s wisdom and compassion touches our lives. She reminded us that we cannot create harmony without listening to others’ voices and we cannot create harmony without offering our own voices.

We receive and we give.

The emcee presided graciously.

The conductor was, as always, in her element.

The Festival Choir sang beautifully.

The piano voiced its support.

The congregation applauded.

And, at the concluding lunch, friends mingled in warm fellowship and joy over savory delights.