The first-place poster submission from Linda Nagai of Kona Hongwanji Five winning entries for the Hongwanji’s 2026 theme/slogan poster contest were announced at the December meeting of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Board of Directors meeting. The poster contest aimed to engage participants in a creative exploration of the...
Links in the article list below go right to posts formatted for online viewing. You can also view the full, print-style layout of the December 2025 edition of Ka Leo Kāhea (2.4 MB) as a PDF file. Contents: Messages Minister’s Message: Mourning for America Bishop’s Corner: Our Shared Dharma Story...
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025 MINISTER’S MESSAGE Mourning for America BY REVEREND BLAYNE HIGA KONA HONGWANJI MISSION Editor’s Note: The following Dharma message was delivered at Kona Hongwanji Mission on Sept. 14, 2025, after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. This morning I...
Photo courtesy of Rev. Tomo Hojo Rev. Shawn Yagi explained the elements that may be part of an altar on special occasions during a Minister’s Lay Assistant Retreat held at Līhu’e Hongwanji on Aug. 23. VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 4 • December 2025 Helping Ministers While Strengthening Our Temples The...
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...