JOINT CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP September 2, 2018 Presented by Pieper J. Toyama President, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Embrace Change – Harmony (Accept Differences) Good afternoon.  As I look out over this distinguished gathering, I can see what is on your minds.  Many of you here today, and I am one of them, are thinking, […]

A message from Bishop Eric Matsumoto June 8, 2018 On behalf of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, I would like to commit my thoughts to words and express our concern for the welfare of Big Island residents and visitors who are being affected by the eruption of Kilauea (Volcano), especially those who live in […]

Mayor’s (City & County of Honolulu) 69th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific May 28, 2018 Benediction by Bishop Eric Matsumoto Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Please join me in a gesture of reverence and respect of your choosing for a closing reflection. Today, on the occasion of the 69th Annual […]

Moiliili Hongwanji Mission Sunday Dharma Message March 4, 2018 Rev. Toshiyuki Umitani Today, I would like to share my thoughts on the shooting rampage that happened at a high school in Florida about two weeks ago.  Needless to say, it was such a sad incident and we extend our thoughts and condolences to the victims, […]

The Gomonshu is the spiritual head of our denomination based in Kyoto, Japan. The current Gomonshu is His Eminence Monshu Kojun Ohtani, the 25th-generation descendant of Shinran Shonin to head the Hongwanji. Here is his New Year’s message.   See Also 2018 New Year’s Message from Bishop Eric Matsumoto 2018 New Year’s Message from President […]

Happy New Year! “The Value of Harmony” Please let me express my warmest Aloha and best wishes to you for a joyous and harmonious new year! At the start of the new year, let me share some Dharma sayings which have a special place in my heart. First, (slightly adapted) from The Teaching of Buddha: […]

Embrace Change: Harmony Accept Differences Our theme for 2018 calls us to walk the path of change in harmony by accepting differences. It is a particularly difficult time for us to walk this path while the world seems to be dissolving into divisive fragments. As we are swept by world events that seek to divide […]

Bishop Matsumoto delivered this invocation at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii on the eve of the opening of a national, traveling exhibit entitled Courage and Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American WWII Experience. Oh, Immeasurable Life and Infinite Light (AMIDA), as we gather for the opening of the Exhibit “Courage and Compassion, […]

A Tribute to Queen Lili’uokalani on the Occasion of Her 100th Anniversary at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, October 29, 2017   Dharma Message by Bishop Eric Matsumoto (A PDF version of the message is also available. For a news item with photos, see Hongwanji in Hawaii pays tribute to Queen Liliʻuokalani.)   Please join in […]

The following message by Bishop Eric Matsumoto was distributed within the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii community and beyond on August 19, 2017. In this time of uncertainty brought about by nuclear threats, racism, hate, and violence, let us go to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha for guidance. The Buddha of All-Inclusive Wisdom and All-Embracing […]