Dr. Miki Tomita Okamoto, right with microphone, gathered participants into a closing circle, inviting them to share their takeaways from the day-long Dharma Educators Retreat at Buddhist Study Center.
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3 • September 2026
Rethinking Dharma Education for the Future
A statewide retreat encourages temples to embrace lifelong learning and expand Dharma education beyond the old model
BY DEBBIE KUBOTA, CHAIR
COMMISSION ON BUDDHIST EDUCATION
Thirty-three Dharma educators from across the state gathered at the Buddhist Study Center on May 2 for the Dharma Educators Retreat, a day of learning, collaboration and reflection focused on strengthening Dharma education for people of all ages.
Organized by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi’s Commission on Buddhist Education, the retreat brought together ministers, Dharma School teachers and lay educators to share ideas, explore new teaching approaches and build connections among Hongwanji temples.
Participants left with new educational resources, practical activities to use in their own temples and a stronger statewide network of fellow educators.
The program featured presentations by Rev. Blayne Higa, who offered an introduction to Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and Rev. Eric Matsumoto, who discussed the Jodo Shinshu perspective on the “Golden Chain of Love.”
Debbie Kubota highlighted a variety of existing Dharma education resources, including Shin Buddhist media, Dharma-Centered Living 101 seminars by Trinidad Hunt, study guides developed by Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki, and annual training opportunities through the Buddhist Churches of America’s Federation of Dharma School Teachers League.
Educators also shared successful classroom activities from their own temples. Joan Tamori of Wailuku Hongwanji Mission demonstrated an “Enlightenment Escape Room” activity, Prudence Kusano of Windward Buddhist Temple presented a “Grateful Hands” project using onenju, and Stephen Chinen of Mililani Hongwanji shared a mindful eating exercise using Hershey’s Kisses. Each participant received a resource booklet to take home.
The afternoon focused on the future of Dharma education.
Dr. Miki Tomita Okamoto, founder and CEO of Education Incubator and a member of Wailuku Hongwanji Mission’s Buddhist Women’s Association, facilitated small-group discussions examining how temples can better serve a wide range of learners, including children, parents, newcomers, inactive members and spiritual seekers.
Participants mapped the educational journey of each group and identified resources that could better support their engagement with the Dharma.
The retreat concluded with a renewed understanding that Dharma education extends far beyond the traditional Dharma School classroom.
Attendees left with new ideas, new resources and a shared commitment to making the Dharma more accessible to learners of every age.
They expressed enthusiasm for expanding educational opportunities for all and for developing new ways to support temples throughout the state.
The feedback will help guide future initiatives, including subcommittees focused on children’s, adult and online education, greater collaboration with Buddhist Churches of America educators, expanded digital resource sharing and future Dharma educator retreats.