Visit to Mo'ili'ili Hongwanji

On our first weekend of “summer vacation” we attended Sunday Dharma Service at Mo'ili'ili Hongwanji Mission. Mahalo for having us! A familiar face, Rev. Sumikawa, gave a great Dharma Talk. Rev. Sumikawa is doing double duty as the interim minister at Moiliili and as the oversee minister at WBT.

Family Dharma Service

Dr. Michael Jaffe and Rev. Barbara Brennan

Dharma Service for Sunday, July 30, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by lay speaker and WBT member Dr. Michael Jaffe, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Mike's Dharma Talk is titled "The Dharma of Dopamine and Desire."

We will observe our annual Summer Break in August. There will be no Dharma Services during the month of August. Sunday Dharma Services at WBT will resume on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

Remembrance Day Service

Rev. Barbara Brennan

Remembrance Day Dharma Service for Sunday, July 23, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Rev. Brennan's Dharma Talk is titled "A Time For Reflection" and she shares the Japanese art of self-reflection called Naikan.

She asks everyone to reflect on three questions:

  1. What have I received from _____?

  2. What have I given to _______?

  3. What troubles and difficulties have I caused __________?

Remembrance Day 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.

After the service, Yi-hsin demonstrated Chinese calligraphy using a brush and ink

After next week's service (July 30, 2023), we will observe our annual Summer Break in August. Sunday Dharma Services at WBT will resume on Sunday, September 3, 2023.

Caligraphy Demonstration

Family Dharma Service

Rev. Barbara Brennan

Intergenerational Dharma Service for Sunday, July 16, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. 

The first Sunday of the month features an intergenerational Dharma Talk for kids and adults. Rev. Brennan shared the book "Peaceful Piggy Meditation" by Kerry Lee MacLean. 

Dennis also shared a photo slideshow of last week's Bon Dance.

If you'd like to order copy of the book "Peaceful Piggy Meditation," it can be found on Amazon.com here.

Playing Bingo

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. 

July Birthdays

Remembrance Day Service

Rev. Barbara Brennan

Remembrance Day Dharma Service for Sunday, June 25, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Barbara Brennan, at Windward Buddhist Temple. As part of her continuing explanation of the elements of a Jodo Shinshu altar, Rev. Brennan shares the 7 Patriarchs of Jodo Shinshu, who are depicted on a scroll in the altar. From India: Nagarjuna, Vasabandhu; China: T’an Luan (Donran), Tao ch’o (Doshaku) and Shan Tao (Zendo); and Japan: Genshin and Honen

Remembrance Day 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.

Father's Day & Juneteenth Dharma Service

Bob Nishita

Father's Day and Juneteenth Dharma Service for Sunday, June 11, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Lay Speaker Bob Nishita, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The service was officiated by Rev. Brennan at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. Rev. Brennan starts off the service with a brief discussion about the observance of Juneteenth and its importance.

After the service, Rev. Bert Sumikawa shared the history of the Buddhist flag that he received on his trip to India a few years ago. This was followed by the raising of the Buddhist flag on our new flagpole.

FLying the Buddhist Flag

Myles Yamamoto, Neil Yamamoto, Rev. Bert Sumikawa, & Rev. Barbara Brennan

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.