special services

Eshinni & Kakushinni Day Dharma Service

Doris Oshiro and Rev. Sol Kalu

Eshinni / Kakushinni Day Dharma Service for Sunday, April 20, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Doris Oshiro of Jikoen Hongwanji in Honolulu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by WBT resident minister, Rev. Sol Kalu. Doris reflects on her Nembutsu journey through her family history and Okinawan heritage.

Established at the 1978 World Buddhist Women’s Convention, Eshinni Day honors the wife of Shinran Shonin. In 1986, the BWA celebrated and honored Kakushinni, Shinran and Eshinni's daughter.

Temple Clean-Up

Buddha Day / Hanamatsuri Dharma Service

Cynthia Rodriguez, Prudence Kusano, and Rev. Sol Kalu with the Baby Buddha in Lumbini Garden.

Buddha Day / Hanamatsuri Dharma Service for Sunday, April 13, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by WBT resident minister, Rev. Sol Kalu. In his Dharma Talk, Rev. Kalu discusses the difference between Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, and Amida Buddha, the main Buddha of reverence in the Jodo Shinshu tradition.

Buddha Day, also known as Hanamatsuri or "flower festival" commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini Garden.

Bingo & Birthdays

Spring Ohigan Dharma Service

Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa and Rev. Sol Kalu

Spring Ohigan Dharma Service for Sunday, March 16, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by WBT resident minister, Rev. Sol Kalu.

Rev. Sumikawa shares the significance of Spring Ohigan, which is a time for reflection and balance, and emphasizes the importance of the Six Paramitas (generosity, discipline, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom) in achieving harmony in life.

Hoonko (Shinran's Memorial) Service

Rev. Shinkai Murakami & Rev. Sol Kalu

Hoonko (Shinran's Memorial) Service for Sunday, January 19, 2025 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Shinkai Murakami of Wailuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Dharma service was officiated by WBT Resident Minister, Rev. Sol Kalu.

The Hoonko Service is a special service that commemorates the death of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism founder, Shinran Shonin.

Bodhi Day Service

Rev. Sol Kalu

Bodhi Day Dharma Service for Sunday, December 8, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Sol Kalu. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Kalu.

Celebrated annually on December 8, Bodhi Day commemorates Shakyamuni Buddha's attainment of awakening or enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Intergenerational Snow Globes Activity

Eitaikyo Service

Rev. Blayne Nakasone Sakata

Eitaikyo Dharma Service for Sunday, November 17, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Blayne Nakasone Sakata, Associate Minister of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist service was officiated by Rev. Sol Kalu.

The Eitaikyo Service is a memorial service that WBT dharma followers & temple leaders who came before us. It is through their efforts that the Dharma continues to be shared to successive generations.

Autumn Ohigan Service

Rev. Eric Matsumoto & Rev. Sol Kalu

Autumn Ohigan Dharma Service for Sunday, September 15, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker, Rev. Eric Matsumoto, resident minister of Aiea Hongwanji Mission and former Bishop of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. This Jodo Shinshu Buddhist church service was officiated by Rev. Kalu and recorded at Windward Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhism Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

Rev. Matsumoto shares the story, "The Gift of Nothing," by Patrick McDonnell.

Shin Buddhists traditionally celebrate Ohigan (“the other shore") twice a year at the spring and fall equinox, the time at which day and night are equal.

Intergenerational Activity

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.

July Birthdays

Gotan-e (Shinran's Birthday) Service

Rev. Barbara Brennan, Rev. Blayne Higa, & Rev. Bert Sumikawa

Gotan-e (Shinran's Birthday) Dharma Service for Sunday, May 5, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Blayne Higa of Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Bert Sumikawa. The Gotan-e Service celebrates the birth of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, who was born on May 21, 1173.

Intergenerational Activity

Celebrating May Birthdays

Children’s Day Koi

Eshinni & Kakushinni Day Service

Wendie Yumori & Rev. Barbara Brennan

Eshinni & Kakushinni Day Dharma Service for Sunday, April 21, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Wendie Yumori from Hawaii Betsuin. The service was officiated by Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa and Rev. Barbara Brennan. Eshinni & Kakushinni Day honors Eshinni, the wife of Shinran Shonin and her dedication to Shinran, and Kakushinni, the daughter of Shinran and Eshinni.

Dharma School