Hawaii Buddhist Council
Buddha Day Service 2023
“Hanamatsuri” – Celebrating the Birth of Shakyamuni Buddha

Sunday, April 2, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.
Jodo Mission of Hawaii, 1429 Makiki Street, Honolulu (see map)
Phone: (808) 949-3995

Speaker: Dr. George Tanabe
“Why We Tell Stories”

Feature Show: JATAKA TALES at 10:45am
by Jeff Gere (storyteller) with Lesley Kline (violinist)
(co-sponsored by BDK Hawai’i)
Tea & Refreshments

About Dr. George Tanabe

Born and raised in Waialua, George Tanabe graduated from Willamette University (B.A.), Union Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Columbia University (M.A. and Ph.D.). From 1977 to 2006, he taught in the Department of Religion at the University of Hawaii and retired as Professor Emeritus. He currently serves as president of BDK (Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai) Hawaiʻi and BDK America (Berkeley). His books about Japanese religions are published by university presses at Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and include Japanese Buddhist Temples of Hawaiʻi (UH Press). In 2012, the Japanese government honored him with the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun. He still lives in Waialua.

About the Feature Show

Jataka Tales are Buddhist Teaching Tales in which the Buddha appears as an animal with life lessons. In this delightful family-friendly performance, popular Oahu storyteller JEFF GERE tells these simple profound ta-les in his animated dramatic style, and with shadow puppets. Innovative violin wizard LESLEY KLINE adds her rich musical textures.

Jeff Gere is among Hawaii’s top storytellers. He created and produced Talk Story Festival, Hawaii’s largest storytelling cele-bration for 27 years, a Story TV Series and Talk Story Radio. He constantly performs (for all ages) throughout the state & internationally, sometimes with shadow puppets. He will tour India in July (3rd trip.)

Lesley Kline is one of the finest violinists in Hawaii. She came to Oahu from Paris. She has performed in Hawaiiʻs finest Irish & Appalachian bands, cut-ting edge drum & bass, and currently Martin & Kline, a swing era duet. Make a point to come hear her with Jeff.

About Buddha Day

Buddha Day (Hanamatsuri / Flower Festival) commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini Garden.

Temples hold Buddha Day services on or near this date. Services often featuring a hanamido, a miniature floral altar with a figure of the baby Buddha. Attendees use a dipping cup to bathe the figure in sweet tea (see image).

Each year, the seven denominations that make up the Hawaii Buddhist Council (HBC) hold a joint Buddha Day Service in Honolulu at one of the member temples. This year the HBC Buddha Day Service will be hosted at Jodo Mission. Arriving is early is recommended as temples often fill up on joint service days.

Free and Open to the Public
For more information, please call (808) 949-3995 or email mail@hawaiibuddhistcouncil.org.

YouTube Live is also available from the HBC YouTube channel.