obon

, , ,

Obon & Hatsubon Service

, , ,

Rev. Joshin Kamuro

Obon & Hatsubon Dharma Service for Sunday, July 5, 2026 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Joshin Kamuro resident minister of Mililani Hongwanji Mission. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kamuro. Obon in Hawaii is a time for families and communities to come together, celebrate with food and dance, and honor ancestors through special remembrance services, embodying the spirit of filial piety and cultural heritage.

Windward Buddhist Temple's Bon Dance will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at our temple grounds in Kailua. More information available here: https://tinyurl.com/BonDance2026

There will be no Sunday Dharma Service on July 12, as we'll be cleaning up after our Bon Dance. Our next service will be on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:35 - Ringing of the Kansho (temple bell)

    03:22 - Meditation

    04:07 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:23 - Sutra: Gassho to Amida (page 123 in the red service book)

    13:02 - Recitation: Homages (page 2 in the red service book)

    14:54 - Gatha: Hotokesama II (page 93 in Praises of the Buddha)

    17:45 - Dharma Talk: Rodney Moriyama

    51:54 - Gatha: Lord Buddha Speaks to Me (page 137 in Praises of the Buddha)

    55:07 - The Nembutsu (page 145 in Praises of the Buddha)

    56:24 - Announcements

    59:25 - Bon Dance Announcements

    01:04:59 - Words of Thanksgiving

    01:05:46 - June Dharma Service Schedule

    01:06:01 - How to Donate to WBT

  • 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

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

,

Obon Visit to Bellows Japanese Cemetery

,

We held our annual Obon visit to the Bellows Japanese Cemetery in Waimanalo on June 10, 2026. Located in a secure area on Bellows Air Force Station, there are around 45 grave markers dating back to the early 1900s. Most are believed to be Japanese immigrants associated with the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation.

WBT members and family members placed flowers and Rev. Shingo Furusawa held a short memorial service. Mahalo to the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps for making our annual visit possible.

Additional articles about Bellows Japanese Cemetery:

, , ,

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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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!

, , ,

Obon & Hatsubon Service

, , ,

Rev. Jeffrey Soga

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 7, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Jeffrey Soga, resident minister of Waipahu Hongwanji. 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. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

Join us at our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 13, 2024. One night only! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bondance2024 or https://windwardbuddhisttemple.org for details.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:58 - Offering of Flowers & Light

    03:45 - Meditation 04:41 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:57 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:11 - Obon Aspiration

    11:22 - Hatsubon Remembrance

    14:28 - Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)

    22:16 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)

    24:43 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Jeffrey Soga

    51:53 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness

    54:19 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    56:45 - Announcements

    01:06:25 - July Birthdays

    01:08:09 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    01:09:03 - July Schedule

    01:09:19 - How to Donate to WBT

  • 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

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays

, ,

Bon Dance | Kailua 2023

, ,

A big mahalo out to everyone who joined us in Kailua for Windward Buddhist Temple's first Bon Dance at our temple in 4 years. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves, whether it was finding treasure at the Rummage Sale, getting a tub of takuan at the Country Market, enjoying ono andagi and BBQ stick dinner plates at the food booth, cooling down with shave ice by the Junior YBAs, learning about our temple from Rev. Brennan and Rev. Sumikawa, or simply dancing the night away around the yagura.

We were amazed at not only how many came from the Windward side, but from just about all over the island to attend our Bon Dance. The Obon season truly is a time to come together as a community and celebrate those who came before us. Thank you to all!

Around the Yagura

Food Booth

Country Market & Rummage Sale

, , ,

Obon & Hatsubon Service

, , ,

Rev. Bert Sumikawa

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 2, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Bert Sumikawa, at Windward Buddhist Temple. 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. It was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon. 

The service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. 

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:53 - Meditation

    03:56 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:05 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:14 - Offertory by Families for Hatsubon & Obon

    16:47 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)

    19:27 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Bert Sumikawa

    41:43 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness

    44:13 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    46:29 - Announcements

    55:19 - July Birthdays

    57:16 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    58:07 - July Schedule

    58:20 - How to Donate to WBT

  • 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

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays

,

Waimanalo Japanese Cemetery Visit 2023

,

On June 12, 2023, Windward Buddhist Temple held its annual visit to the Bellows Japanese Cemetery in Waimanalo, where Rev. Bert Sumikawa and Rev. Barbara Brennan performed an obon service. Access to the cemetery by the public is restricted as it is located on an active military base.

There are a little over 40 grave markers at the cemetery, most erected in the early 1900s. Many are believed to have been connected to the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation, the nearby dairy farm, or Waimanalo Hongwanji. 

Mahalo as always to the Marine Corps for escorting our group to the cemetery.

, , ,

2nd Annual Windward Mall Bon Dance

, , ,

Bishop Eric and Tamayo Matsumoto enjoying the Bon dance and WBT’s takuan

Watch highlights of the Bon Dance by PhotoLukeHawaii Travels and Bon Dance