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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

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.

Earth Day 2023: Kuulei Road Clean Up

Our annual, albeit belated, Earth Day Kuulei Road Clean Up took place on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Members of the WBT sangha picked up rubbish along both sides of Kuulei Road in Kailua, where our temple is located. 

Mahalo to Stephen Ochikubo (not pictured) who took the bags of rubbish to the dump.

Family Dharma Service

Karen Radius & Rev. Barbara Brennan

Dharma Service for Sunday, March 12, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan and a special guest speaker, Karen Radius, at Windward Buddhist Temple. Karen leads the Kailua Service Care program, a collaboration between Daybreak Church, Windward YMCA, and numerous Windward area churches, community and government partners, and individuals.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:13 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:57 - Meditation

    03:50 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:21 - Sutra: Praises of the Buddha (page 112 in the red service book)

    16:40 - Recitation: Shinshu Pledge - II (page 6 in the red service book)

    17:37 - Gatha: Hotokesama II (page 74 in Praises of the Buddha)

    20:18 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Barbara Brennan

    30:43 - Guest Speaker: Karen Radius, Kailua Service Care

    46:29 - Gatha: Namu Amida Butsu (page 104 in Praises of the Buddha)

    48:59 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in Praises of the Buddha)

    50:58 - Announcements

    01:03:13 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    01:04:01 - March Schedule

    01:04:13 - 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

Bingo Sunday

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

Visit to Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji

Mahalo to Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji Mission for welcoming us to visit their temple and to attend the Sunday Dharma Service today. Thank you Rev. Sawada and the Kaneohe Higashi sangha!

Look for more information about our joint Bon Dance at Windward Mall soon. It is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 4 to 8 pm. More details to follow.

Earth Day 2022: Kuulei Road Clean Up

Happy Earth Day! On Saturday, April 23, 2022, WBT members and families cleaned up Kuulei Road in Kailua, which is the street fronting the temple.

Martin Luther King Jr Day Donation Drive