VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • September 2026
‘Sangha Means Family’ Theme Guides Jr. YBA State Convention
Annual convention combines community service, leadership development and Buddhist fellowship for members from Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu
BY RIANN SHIRO
HONPA HONGWANJI HILO BETSUIN JR. YBA CONVENTION CHAIR
More than 40 Jr. Young Buddhist Association delegates, advisors and ministers from Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu gathered in Hilo June 19-21 for the 69th Jr. YBA State Convention, where this year’s theme, “Sangha Means Family,” shaped a weekend of fellowship, service and leadership.
Inspired by Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” the convention theme explored the Buddhist meaning of sangha — the community of practitioners who support one another on the path.
Like family, sangha is built not only through blood relationships but also through the bonds of friendship, shared experiences and mutual care.
Throughout the three-day convention, at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin on Hawaiʻi Island, delegates put that message into practice through projects that benefited both the Buddhist community and the wider Hilo community.
One service project supported preparations for the 18th World Buddhist Women’s Convention, which Hawaiʻi will host in 2027.
Jr. YBA members assembled handcrafted onenju that will be sold as a fundraiser for the international gathering. Delegates prepared bead packets, strung prayer beads and packaged completed sets, while each island united took home additional materials to finish before the convention.
The group also partnered with the Buddhist Women’s Association and Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens to make genki balls — mud balls containing beneficial microorganisms that help improve water quality.
After learning about the environmental project, participants tossed pre-made genki balls into the ponds at Liliʻuokalani Gardens, where they fermented before World Genki Ball Day in August.
Former Jr. YBA member Scott Saito also led a sushi-making workshop while reflecting on how his years in Jr. YBA influenced his personal growth.
He encouraged delegates to appreciate the friendships, guidance and sense of belonging they gain through the organization, reminding them that the Buddhist community often becomes a second family that continues to shape their lives long after their junior years.
In addition to workshops and service projects, delegates conducted federation business and elected officers for the 2026-27 term.
The newly elected officers are President Maslyn Kaneshiro Takeuchi (United of Oʻahu), Vice President Wesley Kosaka (United of Maui), Secretary Miyaka Nishihira (United of Honolulu) and Treasurer Riann Shiro (United of Hawaiʻi).
The new leadership team will guide statewide Jr. YBA activities during the coming year as members continue supporting their local temples and preparing for the 70th Jr. YBA State Convention, which will be hosted by the United of Oʻahu next summer.