Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha
Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu

October 2023

Shichigosan 2023

Shichigosan, Totose no Oiwai, Jusan Mairi, Seijinshiki 10/22 - 11/19

DONATIONS
Kimberly Aina
Margret Arakaki
Manami Barnes
Megumi Blanton
Yuika Branyord
Bill & Keiko Doughty
Chiyo Ferguson
Erin Fukumoto
Kaori Galla
Bryson & Reiko Goda
Rhonda Hayashi-Simpliciano

Saori Heal
Rodney & Sharon Isa
Shizuko Isobe
Dayna Itano
David & Masako Jimenez
Maiko Jomi
Dean & Carlyn Kagawa
Lehman Kaneshiro
Shelby Kaneshiro
Yoko Kaneshiro
Shelley Kochiyama
Toshiko Kondo
Toshiki & Bondy Kubo

James & Melba Kurashige
Lino Kuzuta
Mayumi Light
Sian Yik Lim
Debbie Lum
Eileen Maeda
Kylee Makaya
Yae Miko
Steve Miwa
Darcy Motoda
Alison Mukai
Melody Murray
Meaghan Nagaji
Kristina Naka
Shinken & Marilyn Naitoh
Craig & Diane Nishida
Esther Nishio
Marc Nishio
Eri Ocenar
Akane Ohta
Rie Okamura
Kelly Okazaki
Izumi Olsen
Yoko Ponce

Norissa Ramirez
Akiko Sanai
Ronson Sato
Midori Scott
Aiko Shibuya
Gary & Linda Shinsato
Chihiro Shozuya
Robert Stallings
Yumiko Stevens
Cherise StalcupJeni Suzukawa
Kristi Takimoto
Jay TamuraRie Tashima
Michelle Togashi
Christy Tomas
Etsuo Watanabe
Edward & Julia Wong
Gordon & Hanae Wong
Kwok Wai Wong
Aya Yoshida
Sara Yoshida
Melveen Yoshihara
Chie Young

501(c)(3) nonprofits are a
specific class of nonprofit
organizations recognizedby the IRS, including
most churches.
Donations to the shrine
are tax-deductible up to
fullest extent allowed bylaw.
Donating to a nonprofit
with tax exemption
status also helps ensure
your donations will be
put to good use as
501(c)(3) organizations
are held accountable tolegal standards enforcedby the federal
government.
Shrine's tax exemption
EIS number: 99-6007158

GOKITO Private BlessingsCALENDARA Kanai Anzen private
blessing was performed
for shrine friends andtheir parents from NewYork.

NOVEMBER
4 - 19 9 am - 3 pm
Shichigosan, Totose noOiwai, Jusan Mairi

Family is one of thebuilding blocks of society.
Kanai Anzen is performed
for family wellness,harmony and happiness.

68 am (INTERNAL)
Tsukinami-sai

DECEMBER
A 3-year Remembrance
ceremony was performed
for shrine friend KellKomatsubara.
The shrine is holding Kell'sspirit in our hearts andminds as weremember all thewonderful times weshared together.

32 pm (INTERNAL)
Last Tsukinami-sai of 2023

23

4 pm
Cleanup and move intothe hall

26

9 am - 3:30 pm
Saisaki Mode (EarlyHatsumode) & Omamori
Early Selection

SHICHIGOSAN
Shichigosan is said tohave originated in the
Heian Period (794-1185)
among court nobles
who celebrated thepassage of their children
into middle childhood.
Over time, theirtradition passed onto
the samurai class whoadded a number ofrituals.
Children who wererequired by custom tohave shaven heads until
3, were allowed to growout their hair in a ritualcalled kamitoki.
The hakamagi ritual
allowed boys of 5 towear hakama for thefirst time, while girls of 7

replaced the cords used
to tie their kimono witha traditional obi in theobitoki ritual.
By the Meiji Period(1868-1912), the practice
was adopted bycommoners andincluded visiting a shrine
to wish for a healthy life.
3 year old girls began towear a hifu vest while 5
year old boys wore haori
and hakama, traditional
garments of the warrior
class.
7-year old girls wore
kimono with elaborate
obi sashes.
Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu
Tenmangu was the first

to initiate a Shichigosan
blessing withcomplimentary kimono
dressing in hopes of
perpetuating a tradition
that is spirituallyenriching and culturally
exciting.

Children are gifted
Chitose-ame candies(one-thousand yearold candy) - - a hard,sweet stick candythat symbolizes
healthy growth an along life.

Since 1994, the shrine
has blessed over 8,000
children, a feat only
possible through thetireless devotion of ourvolunteers.

Chitose-ame is placedin a long, decorative
bag with auspicious
symbols like Cranes,
turtles, sages, pine,bamboo and plumtrees.

A heartfelt Mahalo goesout to shrine officers,
volunteers - especially
Hanayagi Dancing
Academy Hawaii
Foundation instructors
for their kokua weekend
after weekend.

MAHALO Shichigosan Volunteers
10/ 7 Cleanup& Prep
Art Isa
Arthur Isa Jr
Becky Isa

10/ 15 Preparations
Keng-Hsien Chao
Art Isa
Arthur Isa
Becky Isa
Marilyn Naitoh

Shinken Naitoh
Craig NishidaDiane Nishida
Gary Shinsato
Linda Shinsato

Keng Hsien ChaoBryson Goda
Stacie Hata
Kathy Hamada Kwock
Art Isa
Becky Isa
Lorraine Kadota
Milton Kwock
Marilyn Naitoh
Shinken Naitoh
Craig NishidaDiane Nishida
Gary Shinsato
Linda Shinsato
Jasmine Umeno
Margaret Yamashita
As COVID continues
to linger in ourislands, the shrine
is so appreciative of
the volunteers thathave helped theshrine the past 3
years to meet theevolving needs ofthe community

with a safe andculturally exciting
Shichigosan, Totose
no Oiwai and Jusan
Mairi.

TSUKIMI

MAINTENANCE

The Harvest Moon also known as Chushu noMeigetsu in Japan and Mid-Autumn Festival in
China heralds the beginning of autumn.
Throughout history, Tsukimi or the celebrationof moon viewing has connected people under
the glow and spiritual energies of the moon as
they express gratitude for an abundant harvest
and wish for more positive bounties.

Mahalo nui Mike for repairing the meeting room
lights
Hawaii's sun-soaked urban
core is experiencing
escalating heat.
The split air conditioners
and condensers were given
its annual cleaning andmaintenance on 10/3 byReuben and crew at Air
Conditioning Essentials.