Members of the WBT sangha attended Sunday Dharma Service at Aiea Hongwanji Mission. Mahalo to Rev. Eric Matsumoto for the engaging Dharma Talk about the Three Treasures and the Aiea Hongwanji sangha for your hospitality!
Aloha & Happy Retirement Rev. Sol!
Mahalo and Aloha to Windward Buddhist Temple's Resident Minister, Rev. Sol Kalu, who retires today after 12 years of service to Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. The sangha celebrated with Rev. Sol after our Sunday Dharma Service on July 27.
Remembrance Day Service
Rev. Sol Kalu
Remembrance Dharma Service for Sunday, July 27, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kalu. This was Rev. Sol's final service before his retirement from active ministry on July 31, 2025. Aloha and Happy Retirement, Rev. Sol! Mahalo for all you've done for Windward Buddhist Temple and Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.
The monthly Remembrance Service is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of July, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:10 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
02:59 - Meditation
03:40 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
05:51 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
09:35 - Remembrance Aspiration
10:38 - Remembrance
15:44 - Sutra: Juseige (page 54 in the red service book)
21:34 - Recitation: The Creed (page 4 in the red service book)
24:02 - Gatha: Lord Buddha Speaks To Me (page 137 in Praises of the Buddha)
26:42 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Sol Kalu
50:13 - Gatha: Quest of Life (page 164 in Praises of the Buddha)
52:44 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
54:13 - Announcements
58:14 - Rev. Sol's Retirement
01:00:41 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
01:01:04 - Group Photo
01:01:58 - How to Donate to WBT with Venmo
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We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Dharma Service
Yoshiko Umitani, Rev. Sol Kalu, & Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani
Dharma Service for Sunday, July 20, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Sol Kalu, WBT's Resident Minister. Rev. Kalu shares the meaning of freedom with the U.S. Independence Day that celebrates political freedom from oppression, but also in the context of freedom from slavery to desires and attachments in Buddhism.
Rev. Kalu also discusses the impermanence of material wealth: Currency is valuable only because of the meaning people assign to it; it can lose value and become worthless, illustrating the impermanence of material things.
Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani and Mrs. Umitani attended today's service to bid aloha to Rev. Kalu, who will be retiring after next week's service.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:16 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
03:08 - Meditation
03:50 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
05:59 - Sutra: Praises of the Buddha (page 112 in the red service book)
16:04 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge II (page 6 in the red service book)
17:20 - Gatha: Namu Amida Butsu (page 144 in Praises of the Buddha)
20:13 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Sol Kalu
40:34 - Gatha: With These Hands (page 216 in Praises of the Buddha)
42:06 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
44:01 - Announcements
44:24 - Message from Bishop Umitani
49:55 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
50:47 - July Dharma Service Schedule
34:28 - How to Donate to WBT
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We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Bon Dance in Kailua 2025
A big mahalo (thank you) to everyone who helped make our 2025 Bon Dance in Kailua a success!
From the dancers, to the musicians, to those who came to shop or eat or just to watch, we are grateful for all of you joining us in Kailua on Saturday. Celebrating the Obon season every summer with the Windward community is a tradition we are excited and honored to continue.
To our WBT members, friends, and families who have volunteered countless hours preparing for Saturday -- as well as working throughout the Bon Dance in the Country Market, food concessions, and the Bon Dance itself -- thank you!
We hope you enjoy the remainder of the 2025 Bon Dance season. And mark your calendars for the annual Windward Mall Bon Dance on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Windward Buddhist Temple will again be partnering with Windward Mall and Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji to close out the Bon Dance season.
Country Market & Rummage Sale
Country Market & Rummage Sale Volunteers
Food Concession
Choba & Shave Ice
Bon Dance
Obon & Hatsubon Service
Rev. Charlene Kihara and Rev. Sol Kalu
Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 6, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Charlene Kihara of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. This was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon.
The service was officiated by Rev. Sol Kalu at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
Join us at our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 12, 2025. One night only! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bondance2025 or https://windwardbuddhisttemple.org for details.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:12 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
02:48 - Offering of Flowers & Light
03:16 - Meditation
04:11 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:15 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
10:01 - Obon Aspiration
10:43 - Offering of Incense
14:20 - Sutra: Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)
22:04 - Gatha: Obon, Obon, It's Festival Day (page 148 in Praises of the Buddha)
24:31 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Charlene Kihara
40:44 - Gatha: Ondokusan & Gratefulness
42:59 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
44:51 - Announcements
46:39 - July Birthdays
48:02 - Bon Dance Announcements
56:29 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
57:34 - July Dharma Service Schedule
57:42 - How to Donate to WBT
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We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
July Birthdays & Intergenerational Activity
Building the Yagura for Bon Dance
Mahalo to the members, friends, and family who helped to assemble the yagura (musician's stand) and string the lights in preparation for our Bon Dance in Kailua at Windward Buddhist Temple coming up this Saturday, July 12!
July - August 2025 Newsletter
Aloha, Mahalo and Goodbye from Rev. Kalu
In-Person Service Schedule
July & August Activities Photos
Mahalo for your Donations
Remembrance Day Service
Rev. Sol Kalu
Remembrance Dharma Service for Sunday, June 29, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kalu.
Rev. Kalu shares the importance of acceptance and going with the flow of life, drawing parallels between Bon Dancing and Buddhist teachings. He highlights how acceptance can lead to serenity and peace, especially in the face of life's challenges. As the local saying in Hawaii goes, "If can, can; if no can, no can."
The monthly Remembrance Service is a time to honor family, friends, and even pets who passed away during the month of June, regardless of the year. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:24 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
03:23 - Meditation
04:04 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
06:11 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)
09:44 - Remembrance Aspiration
10:49 - Remembrance
15:57 - Sutra: Verses Reaffirming the Vows (page 117 in the red service book)
22:49 - Recitation: Golden Chain of Love (page 126 in the red service book)
24:02 - Gatha: At Our Altar (page 22 in Praises of the Buddha)
26:27 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Sol Kalu
42:11 - Gatha: Arigatai (page 14 in Praises of the Buddha)
44:28 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
46:20 - Announcements
52:22 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
53:04 - July Dharma Service Schedule
53:19 - How to Donate to WBT
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We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
Dharma Service
Shirley Yanagisawa & Rev. Sol Kalu
Dharma Service for Sunday, June 22, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Shirley Yangisawa. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Sol Kalu, WBT's Resident Minister. Shirley's Dharma Talk reflects on the importance of gratitude for nature, specifically highlighting the roles of honeybees and monarch butterflies in pollination.
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00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program
00:21 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)
02:42 - Meditation
03:23 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)
05:24 - Sutra: Juseige (page 54 in the red service book)
11:23 - Recitation: The Creed (page 4 in the red service book)
12:40 - Gatha: Shinshu Anthem (page 178 in Praises of the Buddha)
15:38 - Dharma Talk: Shirley Yanagisawa
24:40 - Gatha: Buddha Loves You (page 37 in Praises of the Buddha)
26:00 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)
27:53 - Announcements
31:52 - Bon Dance Announcements
33:29 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)
34:12 - June Dharma Service Schedule
34:28 - How to Donate to WBT
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We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description
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Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook
