Our Interdependent Lives: Food Waste and Sustainability (Zoom)

Event details

April 16, 2022
10:00 am - 11:45 am
Online via Zoom; option for in-person at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin

Food Waste Zoom event header

Our Interdependent Lives:
Food Waste and Sustainability

An educational Zoom event on food waste reduction, composting with worms, and “going compostable” at Obon.

Saturday, April 16, 2022
10 AM HST / 1 PM PDT
Event duration approx. 1 hr. & 45 min.

Jointly sponsored by:

Buddhist Churches of America, Social Welfare Committee
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Committee on Social Concerns

Two speakers will address different aspects of food waste reduction with an emphasis on what we can do in our homes, temples, and organizations.

A Q&A will follow.

An opening and closing by Buddhist ministers — Rev. Blayne Higa of Kona Hongwanji and Rev. Don Castro of Seattle — will help make the connection to the dharma. Brief remarks by Koichi Sayano will provide some big picture context. Koki Atcheson will serve as emcee.

(goes to a Google form at http://honpahi.link/foodwaste)

Registering allows us to send you the Zoom link and an event reminder.

About Our Speakers

Mindy Jaffe
Co-founder and Coordinator, Windward Zero Waste School Hui
Owner, Waikiki Worm Company
Mindy Jaffe is a longtime champion of waste reduction through composting for homes and institutions. She is the co-founder and coordinator of Windward Zero Waste School Hui, a partnership of Windward Oahu schools working cooperatively in the pursuit of waste reduction, soil restoration, and applied environmental education. She is the owner of Waikiki Worm Company, founded in 2004, which provides worms for home vermicomposting.

Ron Hamakwa, Seattle Ron Hamakawa
Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple
Ron Hamakawa is a district manager in food and nutrition services, serving multiple healthcare institutions across Western Washington. As chair of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple’s Bon Odori, Ron managed the move to all compostable food containers and utensils for the 2-day festival and other Betsuin event over 10 years ago. The program includes the collection of food waste, food-soiled containers/utensils, PET bottles, aluminum cans & cardboard in designated bins which are sent to local composting or recycling facilities. Ron also advises the year-round composting/recycling/waste program at the temple.

images of Rev. Blayne Higa, Rev. Don Castro, Koichi Sayano, and Koki Atcheson

Rev. Blayne Higa (opening reflection) is the resident minister at Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. His work experience includes over 13 years as a staff person in the Hawaii State Legislature.

Rev. Don Castro (closing reflection) is a retired minister of Buddhist Churches of America and was a long-serving minister and Rinban of the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. He is a founder of the EcoSangha concept.

Koichi Sayano is a member of the BCA Social Welfare Committee, as well as the BCA Evaluation and Planning Committee, Joint Development Committee, and Endowment Foundation. He is also a long-time Dharma School teacher and President of the Federation of Dharma School Teachers League.

Koki Atcheson (event emcee) works in invasive species management on Oahu and is a board member of Young Buddhist Editorial. She is a Pacific Buddhist Academy alumna and a member of the Hawaii Betsuin BWA.

Donations

The organizing committee, made up of members of the Social Welfare Committee (Buddhist Churches of America) and Committee on Social Concerns (Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii), welcomes your donations to defray event costs. The Hawaii Betsuin temple has offered to collect funds on behalf of the committee. All wishing to contribute online are invited to visit:

Food Waste Event Donation Link

Any donations in excess of event costs will be allocated equally to the social welfare / social concerns funds managed by the committees noted above.

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