Earth Day & Remembrance Day Service

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Today was our Earth Day service, with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Bert Sumikawa. Earlier in the morning, before service, the Dharma School held a beach cleanup activity at Kailua Beach.  

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Dharma School: Earth Day Kailua Beach Clean Up

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Our Dharma School students held an Earth Day beach cleanup activity at Kailua Beach before the Earth Day & Remembrance Day service. The kids, families and friends met at the Kailua beach at 7:30 am. After a brief service led by Rev. Bert Sumikawa, about 16 participants went about picking up buckets of trash. It was a great way to appreciate and protect our environment and potentially save ocean creatures and animals.

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Eshinni / Kakushinni Day Service with Guest Speaker Mernie Miyasato-Crawford

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The guest speaker for our Eshinni / Kakushinni Day service was Mercie Miyasato-Crawford, a fourth-generation Jikoen Hongwanji member and vice-chair of Project Dana. Mernie shared her reflections on what it means to be, in this life, a Buddhist woman.

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Buddha Day (Hanamatsuri) Service with Guest Speaker Rev. Kazunori Takahashi

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Our guest speaker for our Buddha Day Service was Rev. Kazunori Takahashi. Rev. Takahashi is the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s Executive Assistant to Bishop Eric Matsumoto, and has has served at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Kapaa Hongwanji Mission and Lihue Hongwanji Mission.

The hanamido was decorated using donated flowers the day prior temple volunteers. During the service, members and guests poured sweet tea on the statue of the baby Buddha, representing the gentle rain that fell on Lumbini Garden.

We were also fortunate to have Shakuhachi musician Katsumi in attendence, who accompanied Joy, our piano player.

The hanamido, or flower shrine, and the baby Buddha. Members poured sweet tea on the baby Buddha.

We celebrated April birthdays. Happy birthday Prudence, George, and Shirley!

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Taste of Hongwanji 2019

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Mahalo for joining us at the Taste of Hongwanji 2019 at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Our booth featured our homemade takuan, bitter melon namasu, manju, mochi cupcakes, and boiled peanuts. We also had handmade crafts including photo cards, fabric cards made from old kimonos, and pillow cases. We completely sold out!

Sunday Family Service & Remembrance Day

Rev. Bert Sumikawa gave today’s Dharma Talk at our Sunday Family Service. Today was also our Remembrance Day service for March, which is held on the fourth Sunday of the month. Remembrance Day is an opportunity to remember family, friends, and even pets who’ve gone before us.

As a reminder, no service will be held at Windward Buddhist Temple on Sunday, March 31 and April 7, 2019. On March 31, please join us at the Hawaii Betsuin’s Taste of Hongwanji & Spring Bazaar. We will be selling our famous takuan, mochi cupcakes, and bitter melon namasu.

Sunday Family Service

“Don’t Be Afraid to Release GAS!” was the title of Joy’s Dharma Talk. Joy shared ways to relieve GAS (Greed, Anger, Stupidity/Ignorance) and engaged the audience in several activities including writing down things that make us “GAS-y” and placing them under the appropriate Eighthfold path that were posted around the room.