Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

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In this issue of WA...

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Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

10
October 2016

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER

10/2 Sun 10 am Perpetual & Shotsuki memorial service/
Sunday school
10/2 Sun 12 pm
現代語で仏教を聞こう
The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/9 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/9 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
10/11 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/13 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/16 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/16 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/18 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/23 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/23 Sun 12 pm Omigaki - polishing of altar ornaments
10/25 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/25 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/28 Fri 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
10/30 SunNo Sunday service at Betsuin(Kaneohe Ho-on-ko)

6

NOVEMBER

11/4 Fri 1 pm Goenki rehearsal
11/5 Sat 10 am 750th Goenki/Centennial panel
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Otani Center
11/5 Sat 5:30 pm 750th Goenki/Centennial banquet
Ala Moana Hotel Garden Lanai Room
11/6 Sun 10 am Shinran Shonin 750th memorial service
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Betsuin main hall
11/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/10 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
11/13 Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service/
Sunday school
11/13 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
11/15 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
11/19 Sat 1 pm Fujima-ryu performance
11/20 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/20 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
11/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBD
11/27 SunNo Sunday service at Betsuin(Palolo & Hilo Ho-on-ko)
11/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

12th World Dobo Gatheringoon after the Dobo gathering was announced, I signed up, looking forward
to meeting many others from Hawaii temples like I did three years ago in
Kyoto. Maybe even more would join the group, I thought, since the Los Angesles
venue was closer, plus an optional Vegas side trip dangled as a carrot.
I was surprised—make that more like disappointed—to find out that only sixof us, other than ministers and their family members, were representing the entire
Hawaii District. One temple alone in Nagoya brought 15 to L.A.
On the bright side, the small group allowed each of us to get closer andfind out a lot about each other. Now I know what village in Hiroshima Sharon
Kawagoe’s grandfather emigrated from and Eleanor Tokunaga’s favorite stocks
on the NYSE (hint: she wears an Apple Watch). Lena Hamakawa knows about
my #12 tooth implant and everyone now knows who starts snoring the minutehis head hits the pillow. Maybe now we know too much about each other.
Gathering attendees were deliberately split up into teams, which had meals,
held discussions and even rode the bus together, to encourage meeting new
people from other places instead of sticking with the same circle of friends. Groupsessions focused on trying to resolve specific temple challenges and what eachof us can do to ensure the future of our individual temples. We had some realmeat to chew on within our small groups, with diverse opinions heard.
Panelists and speakers shared their views on the main theme, “Seeking
unity in the midst of diversity,” presciently relevant in today’s caustic politicalclimate. Three young university scholars not only gave impressive speeches but
also presented them in Japanese, as more than 200 of the 350 delegates had
traveled from Japan. Rev. Dr. Mark Unno of the University of Oregon, alternating
between English and Japanese, enthralled the audience with his impassioned
keynote address. Even Rev. Billy Graham might have learned a thing or two about
sermonizing from observing Dr. Unno deliver his powerful message.
In comparing progress reports from all the Higashi districts, it appears Hawaii
might still have some catching up to do in spreading the teaching to other thannext generations of original immigrants. We may need to implement different
approaches, such as training
our own local ministers anddoing more in English to
help attract more people
in Hawaii from different
backgrounds, especiallyamong younger people.
While some folks may
imagine a country like
Brazil to be a Third World
technological backwater,
the South America District
has been taking advantage
Hawaii District was represented by Bishop Ken Kawawata, Rev. Hidesato of the Internet’s potential
Kita, Rev. Marcos Sawada, Kevin Kawawata, Sharon Kawagoe, Roy to greatly expand its reach
Hamakawa, Lena Hamakawa, Rev. Noriaki Fujimori, Jeanne Kawawata, in remote areas to people
Kei Tsuji, Eleanor Tokunaga, Rev. Hiroko Maeda and Ken Saiki.
eagerly seeking Shinran’steaching, with Dharma discussions via Skype and on social media.
For me, this World Dobo gathering was a valuable educational experienceand an inspiring reminder of the healthy state of our Jodo Shinshu denominationworldwide. It was an opportunity for all of us in attendance to deepen ourappreciation of the teaching of the nembutsu as clarified by our founder, Shinran
Shonin, and motivation to share Jodo Shinshu with the diverse local and global
community by being living examples of the teaching.
I hope more from the Hawaii District will have the opportunity to attend thenext worldwide gathering to help share our aloha spirit with others.
— Ken Saiki

News on the

Betsuin Wireless%POUNJTTPVUPO%JTUSJDU(PFOLJ
BOE#FUTVJO$FOUFOOJBMFWFOUT
If you haven’t signed up by now, doso quickly—by the Oct. 7 deadline— toregister for the Nov. 5-6 weekend
observance of the 750th Memorial for
Shinran Shonin and the Hawaii Betsuin
Centennial celebration.
Planned events include a Saturday
morning discussion on overcoming
adversity, with guest panelists sharing
their experiences with us.
Saturday evening’s gala features a
Betsuin 100th anniversary celebration
dinner, with exciting entertainment
headlined by the sensational ukukule
duo of Honoka & Azita on stage. Also
on tap during the evening are a hulaperformance by Masago Asai and achance to score $5 bargains at A Tasteof Dana, our version of the popular
Japanese “one-coin” (¥500) market.

Honoka & Azita, with their exciting duelingukulele, will be performing Saturday evening.
The entire memorial service on
Sunday marking the 750th
anniversary of Shinran Shonin’s
death— including chanting andgathas— will be conducted in English
and will be followed by a kikyoshiki
confirmation ceremony.
This auspicious occasion will be agreat opportunity to meet people
from here and abroad. So be sure tosign up by the Oct. 7 deadline!
Also, we’d appreciate your help
with donations of non-perishable
items to be sold at A Taste of Dana
for $5. Please drop off items at the
Betsuin office by 10 am Saturday,
Nov. 5. Mahalo for your kokua!

2(Shima Iwashita), is looking for loveherself, but feels obligated to run
Shuhei’s household and care for his
youngest child, teenaged Koichi (Keiji
Sada), who can’t connect with his father.
Roger Ebert placed this Yasujiro Ozu
classic in his “Great Movies” collection.
Showtime: 6:30 pm, Tues., Oct. 25.
113 min. Released in 1962. Color.
Japanese audio, English subtitles. Free
admission. Light refreshments.
Rev. Makino explained that when we build ashell around us to protect ourselves, we
struggle because of the darkness.

'BMM0IJHBOTFSWJDFGFBUVSFE
3FW.BLJOPBTHVFTUTQFBLFS

Rev. Shigenori Makino, former
rinban at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii
Betsuin, delivered the Sept. 18
dharma message at our Fall Ohigan
service.
After explaining what Ohigan is,Rev. Makino described some humanfailings. To protect ourselves we tend
to build a shell around us and cut theconnection with others. Because it’sdark inside, we end up struggling.
When one thinks this physical life
is most important, living is nothing
but suffering. When one recognizes
that there is a life more important
than this physical life, then one cancome to realize that living is sodelightful, full of joy and energy.
If you missed the service and areinterested in hearing what Rev. Makino
had to say, please contact the temple
and arrangements can be made forlistening to an audio transcript.
After the service, eveyone enjoyed alight lunch at Otani Center, including
traditional ohagi for dessert.

An Autumn AfternoonFBSOT★★★★
SBUJOHGSPN öMNDSJUJD3PHFS&CFSUIn the wake of his wife’s death, aging
Shuhei Hirayama (Chishu Ryu) struggles
to maintain balanced relationships withhis three children. He tends to spoil his
eldest, the happily married Kazuo(Shinichiro Mikami), who spends moreof his father’s money than his own. The
middle child, 24-year-old Michiko）
妻に先立たれた平山周平（笠智衆）には年頃の娘・路子（岩下志麻）がいる。
路子に結婚はまだ早いと思っている平山は見合いを薦められても気乗りしない。
そんなある日同窓会で中学時代の恩師・佐久間（東野英次郎）と再会。佐久間を家まで送った平山は、佐久間の世話に追われ婚期を逃した佐久間の娘を知る。酔
いつぶれた老父を忌々しく眺める娘の姿に、平山は路子の結婚を真剣に考える。
しかし路子は父親からの唐突な結婚話に怒ってしまう...

MahaloGozaimasu.&.03*"- '6/&3"- */63/.&/5#63*"-4&37*$&

Aileen Ching
Amy Kilauea
Anonymous
Haruno family
Iris Ueki
Jamie Watanabe
Mitsuko Yukutake
Nonaka Family
Peggy Arita
Jeri Sue Ishida Wilson Kenneth Kihara & family,:0%"/%0/"5*0/ (including columbarium, altar supplies)

We gratefully acknowledge the following for theirgenerous contributions and assistance. If we’ve missed
any names, please accept our apologies and let us know
by calling the Betsuin at 531-9088 so we can makecorrections to our records. For donations of $250 or more,
receipts/acknowledgment will be issued in compliancewith current IRS regulations. Thank you.
Dennis /Debra Saiki
Kikue Kaneshiro
Robert Takayama

Eiko Yoshida
Kiyoko Iwasaki
Warren McKeon

Lillian Hara family
Marjory Teruya
Yaeko Iwasaki

Junko Midorikawa

Kiyoko Iwasaki

Rev. Hirotsugu Hojo
Jane Okazaki
Matthew & Mikiko Akamu
Yaeko Iwasaki

Daiganji
Rev.Takeo Maeda

James Hirakawa

Jon Nakamoto

Anonymous
Jody Picanso
Michael Sawai

Bert Kaizuka
Keizaburo Tsuji
Mildred Tashiro

Dennis & Debra Saiki Ed & Diane Nakano
Kendall Shimazu
Mabel Saruwatari
Shimabukuro family James Hirakawa

Gainor Tomokiyo
Matsuzaki family
Ray Jiro Harada

Atsuko Nonaka
Hideo Fukunaga
Paul & Liane Briggs
Toshimasa Arai
Judith Nakata

Bertha Kawada
James Hirakawa
Richard Tamura
Wayne Ishii
Ed & Betty Honbo

Don & Jane Okinaka Milton & SandraYamanuha
Joan Yoshino
Dennis & Yasuko Kawada
Sasayo Okazaki
Ronald & Patricia Hirata
Kenneth & Susan Archer Kimie & Grace Sugimoto
Michael & Bernice Tsutsumi

Karen Igarashi

Larry Tsuchiyama

Marian Tsuji

Atsuko Nonaka
Harold Kudo
Keizaburo Tsuji
Sasayo Okazaki

Bertha Kawada
Iris Kubota
Ken & Gale Shoda
Shirley Nishizawa

0#0/."/50&$&/5&//*"-'6/%

Annie Uyema
Anonymous
Gerald & Linda Gono Hatsuyo Yamashita
Lorelei Fukuda
Marilyn Kobata
Stanley Yamanuha Thomas & Keiko Ida
Roderick Martin /Jane Smith-Martin(0+*,"*

Denis Kawamoto

Juliet Fujimoto

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Alton & Yuri Nishiyama Anonymous
Dorothy Tanaka
Gladys Murakami
James Endo
June Omura
Marilyn Yonekura
Robert Takayama
Tokuo Sakai
Wallace Naito#0/%"/$&70-6/5&&34(cont’d)
Alice Masutani
Judy Greenwald
Susan Higashida

Amy Kato
Pat Davison
Sylvia Gushi'-03"-"33"/(&.&/5
Minako Ito-Song

Joyce Masaki

Carole Iha
Craig & Veda Tokashiki
Patsy Chung
Risa & Kevin Tanaka
Karen & Roy Hatakeyama$"-&/%"3

Larry Tsuchiyama

In Memoriam
We extend our deepest sympathy
to the families of the lateMrs. Mitsue Ikuta (90)August 11, 2016
Mrs. Eiko Yoshida (89)August 13, 2016
Mr. Harry Tatsuo Tagomori (82)August 18, 2016
Mrs. Hilda Hideko Takehiro (74)
August 26, 2016

Shotsuki Observance for OctoberO
1962年度のキネマ旬報ベストテンに第8位にランクインされたほか、毎日映
画コンクールで東野英治郎が男優助演賞、岸田今日子が女優助演賞、厚田雄春が撮影賞をそれぞれ受賞した。1999年にキネマ旬報社が発表した「映画人が選
ぶオールタイムベスト100・日本映画編」では第82位にランクインされた 。
公開 : 1962年、カラー 、言語 : 日本
語、 字幕 : 英語 、映時間 : 11３分、10月25日(火)午後6:30時 、入場無料。

ur monthly shōtsuki service in remembrance oftemple family members who passed away in themonth of October of a previous year will be held thismonth on 4VOEBZ 0DUPCFSThe following list includes temple members whose
deaths occurred this month during the past 25 years.
Please call the office at 531-9088 if you have any
questions about the listing.

Yoshiko Anami
Karen Toshiko Asahara
Tsuruko Asato
Thomas Tamotsu Fujihara
Helen Yukie Fujiki
Ryonosuke Fujisue
Gladys Sakiko Fujiwara
Ted Tsuruo Gono
Clarence Haruo Hanai
Harry Yasumasa Higa
Hisako Hirakawa

Robert Isamu Koyama
Susumu Kunishige
Yoshio Kunitomo
Hideo Matsuo
Kikue Nonaka
Irene Teruko Odagiri
Deann Sanae Oi
Richard Asao Okuda
Helen Hisako Okuda
Yoshito Sagawa
Elton Hiroshi Sakamoto

Tatsuo Hiraki
Myles Kuro Hirata
Kinsuke Hosogai
Patrick Miyao Imamura
Yoshio Inouye
George Toshio Ishii
Thomas Masayuki Ishimoto
Terri Mitsuko Kamihara
Doris Shizue Kaneshiro
Brandon Mitsuo Kawasaki
Taichi Kimura

Makaa Shimabukuro
Toshio Shimamura
Toshio Shinko
Milton Shigeru Shishido
Torao Shizuru
Judith Fumiye Tokunaga
Steven Kenji Uesato
Stanley Takito Ujimori
Mitsuko Uyehara
Hatsumi Yamada
Susumu Yamashita3

Trade Wind

Higashi Honganji Hawaii District Newsletter
Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin / Kaneohe Higashi hongWanji / Hilo higashi hongwanji
Palolo Hongwanji / Waimea Higashi Hongwanji

Hawaii District Shinran Shonin 750th Memorial Service
Hawaii Betsuin Centennial Commemorative Service
I wish this district newsletter findyou in good health and spirits.
As you know, we will observe the
Hawaii District Shinran Shonin 750th
Memorial Service and Hawaii Betsuin
Centennial commemorative Service on
November 5th and 6th. I think you already received our invitation and I hope Bishop Kawawata
I will you see on this wonderful occasion.
This year, we are fortunate to have the opportunity toobserve Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial Service and the
Hawaii Betsuin’s Centennial as we express our gratitude
to Shinran Shonin and his teaching. We also convey our
deepest appreciation to our dharma teachers and friends
who have handed down the Nembutsu teaching to thehere and now.
Our temples in Hawaii were established as a resultof the members’ deepest wish, which is the same as the
Buddha’s innermost aspiration, “Hongan,” the aspiration for awakening to the truth and have a meaningful
life. Therefore, we have been listening to Shinran Shonin’s teachings for the past three years under the themeof “Awakening to Your Deepest Wish.” The Buddha’s

wish has always been working, allowing our temples toexist for over 100 years.
We could feel and see the workings of the Dharma
and Buddha’s innermost aspiration in all of our temple
services, activities, and in our daily lives. “Listening to
the Dharma” means listening and revealing this wish,
Hongan, in our life. This is the tradition that we must
continue and hand down to future generations. Today,
we take our first step towards ensuring this tradition continues for the next 100 years and beyond. This will be agreat occasion to deepen our understanding of Shinran
Shonin’s teaching and make our commitment to listen to
the nenbutsu teachings more diligently.
On behalf of the District and Betsuin, I express my
deep appreciation to all of you who have contributed forthe district and your temple. And I wish that all of you
continuously give us your support and cooperation forthe district temples
Thank you in gassho,
Bishop Kenjun Kawawata
Higashi Honganji Hawaii District

Hawaii District Shinran Shonin 750th Memorial Service
Hawaii Betsuin Centennial Commemorative Service
Schedule of Events
Event

Date & Time

Location

Panel discussion

Saturday, Nov. 5
10:00 a.m.

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Otani Center
1685 Alaneo St. (corner N. Kuakini St.)
Honolulu, HI 96817

Commemorative banquet

Saturday, Nov. 5
5:30 p.m.

Ala Moana Hotel
Garden Lanai, Ballroom Floor

Shinran Shonin Memorial Service

Sunday, Nov. 6
10:00 a.m.

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Main Temple Hall
1685 Alaneo St. (corner N. Kuakini St.)
Honolulu HI 96817

Panelists: Dr. Michael Conway, Glen
Kila, Christophor Oliveira, Masago
Asai & Roberta Fontes
Light lunch after discussion

Guest speaker: Dr. Michael Conway
Otani University, Kyoto, Japan
Otoki lunch after service

Our New Faces
Aloha, I’m Koen Kikuchi, new resident minister at the
Betsuin. It’s nice to meet all of you. I arrived here in Hawaii
on October 14, 2015. As soon as the plane touched downat the airport, I felt as if summer had come again. That’s
because in Japan, it was getting colder and colder, and lastyear it seemed to be especially cold.
There is a Japanese saying, 暑さ寒さも彼岸まで (atsusa samusa mo higan made), which means “hot and cold
only lasts until Higan.” Usually in Japan, the climate andtemperature would be more comfortable until Higan. But
last autumn, it wasn’t as usual. The week or two before
Higan was cold, though it wasn’t a problem for me. I could
sleep well but eventually, I had a difficult time getting up
in the morning.
But coming to
Hawaii, ah...
summer has
returned.
I like summer and warm
weather because
I was born andraised in Akita
prefecture, which
is located in thenorthern part ofJapan. Summers
are very shortand winters are
lo-o-o-ng. And
it snows a lot.
And I mean a lot.
In places near
my hometown,
some people use
a second floor
Rev. Koen Kikuchi
window to enter
their house! Evenin my hometown, overnight it may snow up to our knees
or lower back.
Anyway, I guess you can tell that I really like summer.
I also like your warm and kind hearts. I was greeted at the
airport by both Rinban Kawawata and Bansaka-sensei andthey brought me to the temple. Then when we reached thetemple grounds, a lot of Betsuin members were waiting towelcome me. It was an unexpected surprise. It was a feeling that I don’t experience much nowadays. I’m so happy
to be here, and I would like to meet and talk with a lot of
members in Hawaii.
My English is still a work in progress. Even though I
spent a year in Malta, English words still don’t flow out of
my mouth easily. Well, even Japanese words sometimes getstuck. Maybe there is a traffic jam in my brain. For the past
eight years, I did not have the opportunity to use English
all that much. It isn’t easy for me to speak, write and listen
to English now, but I am trying my best. I’m here with myfamily, which includes my wife Mai, six-year-old son Ren,and daughters Kokoro (4) and Hana (2). Every day the children run and play and shriek around the temple grounds,
so you can find them easily. They’re enjoying themselves
and seem very happy to be here. My teacher left me a saying I can’t forget. “To marry is living.” Recently, the words
came to touch my heart deeply. Marriage is not a fantasy ora dream, but it is a reality that I have to accept, no matter
what happens. Buddha dharma is a teaching of our life.
I’d like to listen and learn together with you. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you soon.
Gassho,Koen Kikuchi

Hello! I am Hidesato Kita, your new Hawaii District
minister, replacing Rev. Takafumi Bansaka. I was born in
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture. I went to Kyoto to attend Otani High School to study Shin Buddhism.
Then I moved further south to Kyushu, to major in sociology at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Of course, to
get to Hawaii, I had to fly south from Japan. So I’m steadily
moving south.
The funny thing isthat my name,Kita, means north!
You’ll remember my name!
I alreadyfeel connected to
Hawaii, as mymother worked
at the Hawaii
Betsuin 30 years
ago. Also,
when my father
was attending
Otani University,
he was friends
with Bishop
Kawawata.
Still, I’m a little
apprehensive
about my new assignment since
I am totally new
Rev. Hidesato Kita
to Hawaii andnot yet confident
about my English language skills. I’ll try my best, though,and hope you will encourage me if you happen to notice
any improvement.
The Betsuin centennial, Shinran Shonin 750th Memorial
Service for Hawaii District and the 12th World Dobo Gathering in L..A. are all being held this year. I will need yourfull support and cooperation and will devote my energy
into working together with you to ensure the events meet
all your expectations. I’m looking forward to learning fromand working with all of you.
Mahalo for your support!
Gassho,Hidesato Kita

Higashi Honganji Hawaii District
Bishop Kenjun Kawawata
Rev. Hidesato Kita
1685 Alaneo Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Telephone/ Fax: (808) 531-1231
Email: adminaloha@higashihonganji.org

Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Reflections:

NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Honolulu, HI
Permit No. 693

Address Service Requested

In this issue of WA...

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Special insert:53"%&8*/%)BXBJJ%JTUSJDURVBSUFSMZOFXTMFUUFS

Higashi Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin
Bulletin

10
October 2016

Higashi Hongwanji
Mission of Hawaii

Temple Activities Calendar
OCTOBER

10/2 Sun 10 am Perpetual & Shotsuki memorial service/
Sunday school
10/2 Sun 12 pm
現代語で仏教を聞こう
The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in Japanese
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/9 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/9 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
10/11 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/13 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/16 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/16 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/18 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Betsuin
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/23 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/23 Sun 12 pm Omigaki - polishing of altar ornaments
10/25 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
10/25 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
Fukuhara Conference Room
10/28 Fri 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service
10/30 SunNo Sunday service at Betsuin(Kaneohe Ho-on-ko)

6

NOVEMBER

11/4 Fri 1 pm Goenki rehearsal
11/5 Sat 10 am 750th Goenki/Centennial panel
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Otani Center
11/5 Sat 5:30 pm 750th Goenki/Centennial banquet
Ala Moana Hotel Garden Lanai Room
11/6 Sun 10 am Shinran Shonin 750th memorial service
Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
Betsuin main hall
11/8 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/10 Thu 7 pm The Larger Sutra study class
led by Rinban Kawawata in English
11/13 Sun 10 am Shotsuki memorial service/
Sunday school
11/13 Sun 12 pm Art of Paper Folding class
11/15 Tue 7 pm O-kō: Dharma discussion at Kaneohe
11/19 Sat 1 pm Fujima-ryu performance
11/20 Sun 10 am Sunday service/Sunday school
10/20 Sun 12 pm Betsuin board meeting
11/22 Tue 3 pm Ukulele class/band practice
11/22 Tue 6:30 pm Movie night: TBD
11/27 SunNo Sunday service at Betsuin(Palolo & Hilo Ho-on-ko)
11/28 Mon 10 am Shinran Shōnin memorial service

Everyone is welcome to join in on our sutra chanting at 7 am daily (except Sundays & 28th day of the month) in the Betsuin main hall.

At Higashi Hongwanji, we remaintrue to our origins
as an open Sangha, welcoming
anyone who wishes to learn more
about the Jodo Shinshu
tradition of Buddhism.
A registered 501(c)3 organization
Rinban: Kenjun Kawawata
Minister: Koen Kikuchi
President: Faye Shigemura
Vice President: Jonathan Tani
Secretary: Debra Saiki
Treasurer: Edmund Nakano
Asst. Sec’y & Auditor: Ken Saiki
1685 Alaneo Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Tel: (808) 531-9088
Fax: (808) 531-3265
Email: betsuin@hhbt-hi.org
Wa is published monthly byHigashi Hongwanji Missionof Hawaii for its members
and friends. Comments,
articles and other items for
publication consideration
are welcomed.
Editor: Ken Saiki

12th World Dobo Gatheringoon after the Dobo gathering was announced, I signed up, looking forward
to meeting many others from Hawaii temples like I did three years ago in
Kyoto. Maybe even more would join the group, I thought, since the Los Angesles
venue was closer, plus an optional Vegas side trip dangled as a carrot.
I was surprised—make that more like disappointed—to find out that only sixof us, other than ministers and their family members, were representing the entire
Hawaii District. One temple alone in Nagoya brought 15 to L.A.
On the bright side, the small group allowed each of us to get closer andfind out a lot about each other. Now I know what village in Hiroshima Sharon
Kawagoe’s grandfather emigrated from and Eleanor Tokunaga’s favorite stocks
on the NYSE (hint: she wears an Apple Watch). Lena Hamakawa knows about
my #12 tooth implant and everyone now knows who starts snoring the minutehis head hits the pillow. Maybe now we know too much about each other.
Gathering attendees were deliberately split up into teams, which had meals,
held discussions and even rode the bus together, to encourage meeting new
people from other places instead of sticking with the same circle of friends. Groupsessions focused on trying to resolve specific temple challenges and what eachof us can do to ensure the future of our individual temples. We had some realmeat to chew on within our small groups, with diverse opinions heard.
Panelists and speakers shared their views on the main theme, “Seeking
unity in the midst of diversity,” presciently relevant in today’s caustic politicalclimate. Three young university scholars not only gave impressive speeches but
also presented them in Japanese, as more than 200 of the 350 delegates had
traveled from Japan. Rev. Dr. Mark Unno of the University of Oregon, alternating
between English and Japanese, enthralled the audience with his impassioned
keynote address. Even Rev. Billy Graham might have learned a thing or two about
sermonizing from observing Dr. Unno deliver his powerful message.
In comparing progress reports from all the Higashi districts, it appears Hawaii
might still have some catching up to do in spreading the teaching to other thannext generations of original immigrants. We may need to implement different
approaches, such as training
our own local ministers anddoing more in English to
help attract more people
in Hawaii from different
backgrounds, especiallyamong younger people.
While some folks may
imagine a country like
Brazil to be a Third World
technological backwater,
the South America District
has been taking advantage
Hawaii District was represented by Bishop Ken Kawawata, Rev. Hidesato of the Internet’s potential
Kita, Rev. Marcos Sawada, Kevin Kawawata, Sharon Kawagoe, Roy to greatly expand its reach
Hamakawa, Lena Hamakawa, Rev. Noriaki Fujimori, Jeanne Kawawata, in remote areas to people
Kei Tsuji, Eleanor Tokunaga, Rev. Hiroko Maeda and Ken Saiki.
eagerly seeking Shinran’steaching, with Dharma discussions via Skype and on social media.
For me, this World Dobo gathering was a valuable educational experienceand an inspiring reminder of the healthy state of our Jodo Shinshu denominationworldwide. It was an opportunity for all of us in attendance to deepen ourappreciation of the teaching of the nembutsu as clarified by our founder, Shinran
Shonin, and motivation to share Jodo Shinshu with the diverse local and global
community by being living examples of the teaching.
I hope more from the Hawaii District will have the opportunity to attend thenext worldwide gathering to help share our aloha spirit with others.
— Ken Saiki