Photo courtesy of Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island Members and guests at Līhu’e Hongwanji’s 125th Anniversary celebration attended an opening service on Nov. 2, officiated by Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani, center. Rev. Tomo Hojo of West Kauaʻi Hongwanji, seated at left, and Līhu’eʻs resident minister Rev. Shawn Yagi, also presided. VOLUME 5...
Screenshot from Bishop Umitani’s talk delivered via Zoom from Japan for the 2025 Lay Convention. VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025 BISHOP’S CORNER Writing Our Shared Dharma Story BY REV. TOSHIYUKI UMITANI BISHOP, HONPA HONGWANJI MISSION OF HAWAI‘I Editor’s note: At this year’s 62nd annual Hawai‘i State Lay...
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Walk in Amida’s Light Aloha kākou! I hope that you and your loved ones are in good health and good spirits as we enter the holiday season and look forward to the New Year of 2026. Our theme and slogan...
Courtesy of Irene Nohara Choral master Nola Nahulu, center, directed altos, left; tenors and basses, center, and sopranos, right, in six gathas before an appreciative crowd at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaiʻi Betsuin. VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025 Choralfest Returns After a Seven-Year Hiatus A hundred singers took part...
See the November 2025 Headquarters Update for the following articles: Bishop’s Message at Waianae Hongwanji’s final service Retired Ministers and Spouses Appreciation Gathering report Condolence Social Concerns: Recent Giving Fall 2025 Tetsuya at BSC (12/14-19, 2025; see flyer) YESS Camp (4/3-5, 2026, Kona; see flyer) YESS Camp fundraiser (12/9/25; see...
See the October 2025 Headquarters Update for the following articles: Message from Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani Tokudo Committee on Social Concerns Archives Workshop (Nov. 16, hybrid) Living Gratitude Grant (see informational document) Condolence Giseikai 2026 (Feb. 20-21) BWA State Membership Conference (Mar. 28-29, see flyer/registration) Choralfest 2025 Music Service Video Now on Youtube...
Our 6th annual Ring Your Bell for Peace Day Zoom event, held the morning of September 22, 2025, on Zoom and at sites around Hawaii and beyond, is now available as a recording. We joined from temples, schools, workplaces, and homes to hear messages and music and to let our...
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...
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...
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....