Haw aii Kotoh ira Jin sh a
Haw aii Dazaifu Ten m an gu

Jun e 2024

The annual Chinowa for People & Pets was held on June 2. The Chinowa event began 19years ago and still attracts animal lovers from all over the island.

DONATIONSCALENDAR

Bill & Keiko Doughty

Shinken & Marlyn Naitoh

JULY

Bryson & Reiko Goda

Craig & Diane Nishida

1-7

Hawaii Doggie Bakery

Akiko Sanai

8:30 am - 4 pm
Tanabata Wish Tags available in the shine

Art Isa

Gary & Linda Shinsato

7Arthur & Becky Isa

Robert Stallings

2 pm
Tsukinamisai Monthly Service

Juston Isa

Takizawa Ohana

Rodney & Sharon Isa

Sharon Tanigawa

AUGUST

James & Melba Kurashige

Lena Yafuso

3

Yae Miko

Lena Yafuso

1 pm
Clean up and preparations

4

10 am - 1 pm
Back-To-School Blessing

Steve Miwa

501(c)(3) nonprofits are a
specific class of nonprofit
organizations recognizedby the IRS, including mostchurches that operates
solely for religious
purposes.
MAHALO for your mostgenerous donations tothe shrine, which aretax-deductible up tofullest extent allowed bylaw as long as you itemize
your deductions.
Shrine's tax exemption
number: 99-6007158

SEPTEMBER
1

8:30 am (ONLINE ONLY)
Reservations accepted for Shichigosan,
Totose no Oiwai and Jusan Mairi
On lin e r eser vat ion s at w w w.jin ja.u s
2 pm
Autumn Thanksgiving Festival

CHINOW A for People & Pets
A procession of people, dogs and cats
went through the Chinowa Ring onSunday, June 2 for the annual
Chinowa for People & Pets Blessing atthe shrine.
The event began 19 years ago in 2005,
with a 3-year hiatus during COVID-19.
For the 6th year, Hamada Financialoffered free Keiki IDs in their booth.
Some pets hung around for "Yappy
Hour " while others slurped Pet Shave
ice in the "Barking lot."

MAHALO VOLUNTEERS
Keng Hsien Chao
Jeff Fujioka
Art Isa
Arthur Isa

Becky Isa
Juston Isa
Tom Jannuzzio
Marilyn Naitoh

Craig NishidaDiane Nishida
Stuart Pang
Jasmine Umeno

CHINOW A PREPCHINOW A RING

Chinowa making
and prep wasdone on 6/1.

The Chinowa ring ritualis observed as part of
the Nagoshi noO-oharae (Summerpassing) ritual ofsurviving the hot humid
summer in good health.

M AHALO to:
Keng Hsien Chao
Art Isa
Arthur Isa
Becky Isa
Juston Isa
Craig NishidaDiane Nishida
Marilyn Naitoh

In Japanese legend,
Susanoo-no-mikoto
asked for a night ofshelter to somevillagers heencountered during atrip.
A rich villager named
Tanshorai denied him
shelter, however hiselder brother Somin
Shorai warmly hosted
Susanoo-no-mikoto.
Susanoo-no-mikoto wasactually the Kami ofprotection from natural
disasters andepidemics.
As a reward, Susanoono-mikoto instructed
Somin Shorai to protect
his family against
epidemics by wearing aring made of kaya grassaround the waist.
Somin Shorai and hisfamily are said to havesurvived pandemics
and the sweltering heatof summer.
Since, walking througha ring made of grasshas been observed inJune in hopes ofsurviving the sweltering
heat of Japan.

CHINOW A Breakdow n

TI LEAVESMAHALO VOLUNTEERSThe Ti plant, originally called Ki
and was considered sacred to theHawaiian god Lono and thegoddess of Hula, Laka.

Larry Bautista

Arthur Isa

Marilyn Naitoh

Kengyuio Hsien Chao

Becky Isa

Craig Nishida

Jeff FujiokaJuston Isa

Diane Nishida

Art Isa

Tom Jannuzzio

Jasmine Umeno

In ancient times, the Ki plant wasused as material for clothing, rain
gear, roof thatching, religious
ceremonies and making Okolehao
from its roots.
Kahunas use the leaf to sprinkle
holy water to bless and leis are
woven to use in rituals such as
openings of new sites andbuildings.
The shrine's Chinowa ring is madeof Ti leaves in honor of ourHawaiian host culture which
believes that Ti leaves have great
spiritual powers.

KOTOHIRA DOGS
Kotohira-gu, in Japan isdocumented as being
established about 3,000years ago. Since, it has been
affectionately known as"Konpira- san."The Hawaii branch ofKotohira-gu was establishedin 1920 and named Hawaii
Kotohira Jinsha.
During the 17th century
when Konpira pilgrimage
was very popular, those who
were not able to make thepilgrimage themselves, sent
their dogs to Konpira-san on
their behalf.
From one traveler to anotherthe dogs were cared for andguided in the right direction
until they eventually arrived
at Konpira-san.

Tanabata is one of Japan'sfive ancient festivals andis observed annually on
July 7.

Offerings to Konpira-san
along with the name andaddress of the owner andmoney to purchase foodwere placed in a bag with
"Konpira Mairi" written on it
and tied around the neck ofthe dogs.

The five festivals are:
New Years Day, Girl's Day,
Boy's Day, Tanabata andChoyo Chrysathemum Festival.

Upon the dogs arrival at
Konpira-san, prayers wereoffered for the donor andofuda were placed in a bag
and tied around thedog's neck.

Originating in China as Qixi and firstobserved in Japan in the 8th century,
Tanabata marks the annual meeting of
two star-crossed lovers - Orihime (Vega)the weaver star and Hikoboshi (Altair)
the Cow herd star.

The dogs werethen fed, givena good night's
rest and sent
back to theirowners in thesame way.
they came.

Tanzaku tags and pens will be available
in the shrine from Ju ly 1 - Ju ly 7
between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm .
Wish upon a star by writing your wishes
on one of the tanzaku tags of various
shapes and hang them on
the bamboo branch in theshrine.

GOKITO Private Blessin gs
A renovation blessing wasperformed for shrine friends onJune 19.

opened up the space, making
the bathroom feel large, lightand airy.

Bathtubs, while a common
feature, doesn't always get a lotof use.

The previous shower wasingeniously converted into alinen closet.

The enormous bathtub wastaken out and replaced with aroomy shower with a built-in
seat and large glass doors that

A sophisticated mix of materials
turned a traditional bathroom
into a dream bathroom!

A 50th day memorial service wasconducted for Rev. Takizawa'sfather, Takashi on June 5 who
passed away suddenly in Japan at
the age of 99.

Japan has the highest number ofcentenarians in the world andoffers broad prevention efforts
with comprehensive social andmedical care.

Takashi was healthy and active - riding his bicycle to go to thesupermarket and tended to hisgarden daily.

Takashi's Reiji memorial tablet will
be kept at the shrine along withthe many shrine friends who haveleft this world before us.

View event photos at: www.flickr.com/kotohira-dazaifu