January 1, 2014, New Year`s Day service

January 1, 2014, New Year’s Day service
SANGHA DAY
This year’s Sangha Day will be at Waipahu Hongwanji on Sunday
March 2, which will be conjunction with Hawaii Kyodan’s 125th
year Anniversary. The theme for Sangha Day is “Plantation Days”.
We will have a service from 9:00am, then divide in two groups, one
is lecture from Mrs. Barbara Kawakami and the other is plantation
days toys. Afther the activities at lunch time Mochi pounding will be
demonstrated. Each temple was requested to make a poster introducing its history so that you can learn about them. Please come
and join us. Sign up sheet is in our social hall or you can call 6774221. Plantation days bento will cost $6.00/bento.
DANA DAY SERVICE
Dana (selfless giving) Day service, sponsored by BWA, will be held on Sunday February 16 from 8:30am. Rev.
Blayne Higa will be the guest service conductor. Please encourage your family and friends to attend the service!
Waipahu Hongwanji Mission
94-821 Kuhaulua Street, Waipahu, HI 96797
Phone 808-677-4221 Fax 808-677-4837
Email: waipahuhongwanji@hawaii.rr.com
Website: www.waipahuhongwanji.org
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No.5
Waipahu, Hawaii
Golden Chain
February 2014
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
February 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Hosha
2
New Year
3
4W
KYODAN mtg.
5E
6
Kokua
7
8
Hosha
10
Karaoke
11 W
Banzai
5:00
12
13
Kokua
14
15
Hosha
17
Karaoke
18
Craft
21
22
Hosha
Party
9W
Sunday svc.
16
Dana Day
23 E
Sunday svc.
BWA mtg.
1:00
24
Karaoke
25
Banzai
GC
Karaoke
Waianae
20
Kokua
19
26
27
Kokua
Entertainment
28
March 2014
Hosha on Saturdays
2nd Sangha Day
Kokua on Thursdays
5th Kyodan meeting
16th Higan service
Rev. Takahashi from Kapaa Hongwanji
Memorial Services for February and March 2014
1ST (2013)
7TH (2008)
2/15 Nadine Atsuko Ohara
2/11 Masako Miyakaku
25TH (1990)
2/19 Kiyotaka Matsumoto
2/18 Gladys Haruko Hanaoka
2/8 Kame Kamisato
2/21 Katsuma Tanaka
3/17 Toshie Elaine Shinno
2/15 Namie Tanaka
2/22 Haruko Kunishige
33RD (1982) NONE
3/6 Henry Toshisada Maruyama
13TH (2002)
3/7/ Beatrice Michiko Fukuoka
3/8 Margaret Masae Yoshihiro
50TH (1965)
3/15 Akiko Momohara
3/20 June Kiyo Yamada
3/2 Tsuneichi Hanaoka
3/18 Sadami Ige
3/22 Kiyoko Chinen
3/18 Sugano Morisako
3/30 Tadao Orita
3/21 Jitaro Maeda
3RD (2012)
2/22 Kimie Nellie Tatsutani
17TH (1998)
3/2 Harry Haruo Kamikawa
2/2/ Clarence Seibin Kishaba
3/14 Michie Yoshimoto
2/26 Benjamin Umeo Nakamoto
3/24 Michael Takeo Morimoto
3/15 Seichi Ige
3/15 Yoshiaki Sonoda
3/21 Fumio Hashimoto
3/25 Larry Katsumi Shigeyasu
3/30 Torie Uemori
3/30 Gary Kazumi Miyakado
WAIPAHU HONGWANJI MISSION
DONATIONS
JANUARY, 2014
MEMORIAL SERVICES
HIRANO Family
Yoshiko Hirano
MIYASHITA Family
OSHIRO, Henry
TENMA Family
UJIMORI Family
Hiroji Miyashita
Gladys Oshiro
Deanna Tenma
Kinu Ujimori
9th Year Memorial Svc
1st Year Memorial Svc
Service at hospital
49th Day Service
50th Year Memorial Svc
Toshio Tadaki
Funeral
FUNERAL SERVICE
TADAKI Family
OTHER DONATIONS
ARAKAKI, Hideo
ISHII, Tadao
PALMEIRA, Florence
SASAKI, Paul
TOKUHARA, Lilly
TOMA, Sharon
TSUKIDA, Peggy
UJIMORI Family
UYENO, Setsuko
WATANABE, Charijean &
TANIGUCHI, Tsuneo Ted
New Year’s Donation
New Year’s Donation
New Year’s Eve & Day Donations
New Year’s Donation
In Memory of Walter Tokuhara
Use of Facility
In Memory of Taka Shinozawa
New Year’s Donation
In Memory of Naoto Uyeno – 17th Year
New Year’s Donation
NOKOTSUDO DONATION
HIGA, Shigeo
MAJOR SERVICES FOR 2014
YASUI, Sumi
SOCIAL CONCERNS DONATIONS
UJIMORI, Guy M/M
YASUI, Sumi
2013 MEMBERSHIP DUES paid: THANK YOU for your continued support!
YONASHIRO, Helen
2014 MEMBERSHIP DUES paid:
ASAMOTO, Stanley M/M
ASATO, Sally
BAYES, Pearl
DUARTE, Barbara
FUNASAKI, Henry M/M
HAMADA, Richard M/M
HIRATA, Roy M/M
HIRAYAMA, Lillian
HORIMOTO, Katsuko
IKEDA, Kazuko
IHORI, Edith
IMAOKA, Tomiko
INOSHITA, Gene
ISHII, Tadao M/M
ITAGAKI, Robert M/M
KAMIKAWA, Yoshito
KAMISATO, Kimiko
KANESHIRO, Thomas M/M
KAWANO, Midori
KIMURA, Masako
KOIZUMI, Adrian
THANK YOU for your prompt response!
MINEMOTO, Lionel M/M
SHINOZAWA, Carol
MORIMOTO, Annie
SHINOZUKA, Gladys
MORIMOTO, Masanori
SONODA, Beatrice
MURAKAMI, Masumi
SUGIMOTO, Kazuto M/M
MURAOKA, Terumi M/M
SUYEMOTO, George
OGASAWARA, Daniel
TAKARA, Michiko
OKAZAKI, Lillian
TANABE, Charles M/M
OSHIRO, Betty
TANOUYE, Vanassa
OSHIRO, Henry M/M
TOGASHI, Terry M/M
OSHIRO, Hideko
TSUKIDA, Peggy
OSHIRO, Shigeo
TSUTSUI, Sachiko
RO, Jan F.
UEHARA, Kuniomi M/M
SAKATA, George M/M
URABE, Anson M/M
SASAKI, Richard M/M
UYEDA, Masao M/M
SASAKI, Yoshito Paul
UYENO, Setsuko
SEKINE, Annette
UJIMORI, Guy M/M
SEKINE, Thomas
WATANABE, Jean
SERIKAKU, Brian
WATANABE, Orlando M/M
SERIKAKU, Darryl
YAMAUCHI, Kenei M/M
SERIKAKU, George M/M
YAMAUCHI, Noboru M/M
SERIKAKU, Jonathan
YASUI, Sumi
KOIZUMI, Kimi
KUWABARA, Junso
MATSUMOTO, Frances
SERIKAKU, Terence
SHIGETA, Raymond M/M
SHIMIZU, Fred M/M
YOSHIDA, Janet
YOSHIMURA, Jerry M/M
FUJINKAI BIRTHDAY DONATIONS: Happy Birthday to:
MINEMOTO, Flora
SHIGETA, Jane
FUJINKAI (BWA) DUES PAID for 2014
DUARTE, Barbara
IHORI, Edith
IKEDA, Kazuko
KANESHIRO, Sachie
KAWANO, Midori
KOIZUMI, Kimi – 2014/2015
MINEMOTO, Flora
MIYAKADO, Umeka
MURAKAMI, Masumi
MURAOKA, Janice
OKAZAKI, Lillian
OKITA, Toyoko
OSHIRO, Gladys
OSHIRO, Hideko
OTSUKA, Edna
SAITO, Edna
SAKATA, Tsuneko
SASAKI, Helen
SHIGETA, Jane
TSUKIDA, Peggy
TSUTSUI, Sachiko
UJIMORI, Cindy – 2014/2015
UYENO, Setsuko
WATANABE, Jean
YAMAUCHI, Shizuko
Left picture is our current newsletter folks! Every month
mostly on the forth Tuesday they came out in the early
morning and sort, staple, fold, tape, and label on the
newsletter. We usually have 5-6 pages and mail about 400
newsletters a month. Thank you folks for your help! You make
mailing out newsletter possible! Oops, Yoshi and Lillian is
missing in this picture!
From Adult Day Care
Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hirata and
Ms. Caran Iwata for donating tennis
balls for Adult Day Care use! Now we
have enough for another five years!
Anybody who loves to sing, come and join our
Karaoke Club on Tuesday nights!
On December 26, 2013, Mochi tsuki (pounding) was
done at our social hall. Kids enjoyed making Strawberry
Mochi Manju and all enjoyed very tasty Ozoni made by
Mrs. Flora Minemoto. If you saw mochi decorations on
the temple altar on the New Year’s Day service, it was
made by the volunteers who came out on this day. 50lbs
of Mochi Rice was donated to the temple by NII
SUPERETTE. Thank you NII san for your generous
donation!
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Aloha for Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was an exceptionally powerful
tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, in
November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing at least 6,201 people
in that country alone. Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the
strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed. As of January, 2014, bodies are still
being found (Wikipedia)
Waipahu Hongwanji collected $301.00 for Philippines Typhoon Disaster Relief and Rev. Okamoto
donated it to Filipino Community Center “Aloha for Philippines.” The other day in 2013, Bishop Eric
Matsumoto and Rev. Okamoto visited Filcom to donate $5000.00 from Honpa Hongwanji Mission of
Hawaii Social Concerns fund. Thank you members for your generosity! The world is all connected. Let us
help each other.
I would like to introduce a lady who was diagnosed cancer. Her name was Ayako Suzuki who was born in
1941 in Hokkaido Japan and died at 47 years old in 1988. She was born in a temple family and married
with a Higashi Hongwanji minister. I researched about her on the web and it said, she was a head of a
Higashi Hongwanji preschool ran by the temple and diagnosed cancer when she was 43 or 44, four years
before her passing. After the diagnosis, she realized that her life is hers; no one can take place, no one
takes responsibility of her life, and she had to live her own life.
I have never read the book she wrote but a chapter was quoted on the web. The title was, Okagesama*
and Gratitude. (*okage sama is a word to express gratitude for countless supports. Sometimes it is
toward something invisible.)
I frequently see articles on the newspaper talks about celebrities’ death titled “defeated by
cancer”. If death is “defeat”, I have to say entire living things are losers. By excising one lung
because of the cancer, I became aware of my body more than when I was healthy that, “I had
my hands, I had my legs, moreover, I had this and I had that!” I was able to receive many
unexpected things through the disease. Moreover, thankfully because of the cancer, I was able
to reconsider my life and I could live my past forty-six years of life once again.
Through her cancer, she faced the reality of life. I think if she did not have her religion, she did not thank
to her cancer like that. Because she was a Buddhist, the teaching opened her true eyes and transformed
her cancer so-called “suffering” to an opportunity(縁 EN in Japanese) to thank to her life.
There also is a chapter titled “I am grateful to my cancer”. It says,
I have lived my life as I wanted to do and I am regretting it now. For such my life, cancer gave
me an opportunity to reconsider my way of life and death, instead of dying suddenly without
having an chance to reconsider my life. Therefore I am grateful to my cancer.
The reality of her life has never changed. Cancer was cancer. She might have to die for that. But she was
able to thank to her situation which we normally do not welcome. What made her change? What did
ease her mind? It was the teaching she was listening to. Because of the working of teaching, she was
able to live in a totally different world, even though the reality never changed. This is called
transformation in Jōdo Shinshū term.
We frequently say “positive thinking” but transformation is different from it. Jōdo Shinshū is not a
teaching to force you positive thinking. It is a teaching transforms your life. It is a teaching that gives us
the “eyes of truth” in order to consider the reality of life and to overcome the difficulty of life. As Ayako
says, no matter what may happen I have to live my life. No one can take place of it. In such sense, it is
very severe to live a human life.
I think Ayako Suzuki is telling us that there is a way of life grumbling and complaining to the reality, and
also there is a way of life that can live in gratitude even though we have to face the same reality of life.
Shinran Shōnin, our founder of Jōdo Shinshū, is saying, Nembutsu is the teaching that transforms our life
from a life of suffering in to a life of gratitude.
Walking For a Cause
December 11, 2013
This past Monday, PBA students joined ministers from the Honpa
Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii to help raise money and awareness
for the Capitol Campaign for a new state of the art building on campus.
Beginning with a brief service at 6:30 a.m. in the Hawaii Betsuin
Annex Temple, the walk, which generated twenty thousand dollars
for the campaign two years ago, started at PBA, then proceeded
through downtown Honolulu and along King Street towards the Moiliili Hongwanji Mission on University Avenue.
There, snacks and beverages were provided and the participants had the chance to cool off in the temple’s airconditioned buildings. After the thirty-minute break, the march continued on to the final stop, Kapiolani Park.
Ministers and students celebrated the completion of the four-hour, six-mile journey with a picnic lunch made by
Blanche Yarnell’s advisory group. Junior Candis Imanaka, one of the advisory members, took pride in contributing to the worthy cause.
“It made me feel good seeing that people appreciate our food,” she said. “I heard a couple of people say,
‘thank you’ and when we all gathered to say gassho (giving thanks) they recognized our advisory for making the
sandwiches. It felt wonderful.”
Following the lunch, the ministers resumed their regular routines while students remained at the park for a funfilled day of sports activities. The slate of games included goodnatured contests of dodgeball and tug-of-war, including a few matchups of students versus teachers.
“I think everyone enjoys playing against the teacher,” Imanaka said, noting that the teachers-versus-students
games enjoyably came down to the wire.
For Imanaka, the leisure activities combined with the walk made for a perfect altruistic day outside of the classroom.
“At the end of the day I was super tired but it’s good to have days like that where you just have fun and interact
with other people who you normally wouldn’t,” she said. “It made me feel good that I’m contributing to PBA because PBA does so much for me.”
The real heroes of the day, however, were the temple ministers. This fact was not lost on Imanaka, who wanted
to made sure to express her gratitude for their efforts.
“It’s pretty cool how much support we get from the temple,” she said. “It shows how PBA is different from every
other school. The ministers do a lot of stuff for us but most of their work is unrecognized.
“I thank the temple ministers for helping PBA out by raising money and spreading awareness about the school.
We appreciate it a lot.”
The Young Enthusiastic Seeker’s Camp
PACIFIC BUDDHIST ACADEMY 8th
ANNUAL TAIKO FESTIVAL
February 15-17, 2014
Secrets of the Golden Dragon
YESS CAMP 2014
At Camp Timberline on Oahu
Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 4:00pm
Contact Jacob Chang by e-mail at
Leeward Community College Theatre
youth@honpahi.org
Tickets on sale Monday, February 3rd
or phone at 937-6555.
Call Office at 532-2649
Application form can be found at
www.tinyurl.com/yesscampxxxiform
Cost $25.00 (General)
$20.00 (Child 12 and under / Senior 65+)
$35.00 (At the Door)
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
HEADQUARTERS UPDATE
1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 522-9200 Fax: (808) 522-9209
Web: www.hongwanjihawaii.com Email: hqs@honpahi.org
JANUARY 2014
NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM KYODAN PRESIDENT ALTON MIYAMOTO
Aloha and best wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year! 2013 was a year where we made great progress
in reaching out into the community through programs and addressing community issues. Two significant
examples are the Sadako Sasaki crane exhibit at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Museum and
marriage equality law.
The Japanese Cultural Center, the Hiroshima Sister City Committee, and HHMH partnered with the National
Parks Service and Pacific Historic Parks in raising over $70,000 for the
construction of the display. The Sasaki family joined us in dedicating the
exhibit on Peace Day, Sept. 21, 2013. A significant portion of the contributions
were made by HHMH and its affiliates, such as individual temples, BWA,
Dharma Schools, and individual members. Thank you very much for your
support for this project. We plan to continue our leadership role in peace
education.
2013 was a year of divisive issues for our communities. Neighbor islands were
polarized with the issue of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and
pesticides while our entire state struggled with the issue of marriage equality.
We understand and respect that some may have different perspectives,
however, our support of the issue is based on our Buddhist values. As we get
involved with the community and social issues, there will be other instances
where our individual preferences may differ from that of the Honpa Hongwanji. In order to appropriately
navigate through those issues, it is critical for us to have strong leaders at all levels of our organization.
I’m hearing more instances where temples, especially smaller ones, are unable to find willing and able
members to step up to the plate to hold leadership roles. Several years ago, we believed the problem of
getting the younger members to hold leadership positions was that the seniors were unwilling to let go.
Today, after years of dedicated service and sacrifice, many have step aside, only to find out that the younger
members are unwilling to step up to the plate.
We all understand that our organization cannot function without volunteers. We should also understand
that an organization of volunteers without dedicated leaders are not sustainable. You have all heard of the
story “Whose Job Is It?”. It is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
I am asking all individuals, boomer age and younger, to take a more active role in your temple leadership. Do
not depend on the same people all the time. Everybody can reasonable claim “I am too busy”. So in the end,
Nobody will do what Anybody could have done. What do you think will happen to your temple?
In the past I have said that sometimes, in order for an organization to grow, it must first contract. The
symptoms we are experiencing, decreasing membership, financial difficulties, shortage of ministers and
shortage of lay leaders should make us consider the possibilities of contracting (consolidating temples) now,
until we achieve a stable and sustainable state.
Each temple has a choice. Find dedicated and effective leaders or consider consolidation. Either way, we
need everyone’s support. Without your help, we will be unable to grow for our future generations
We are truly grateful for the many hands that help us at all levels or our organization. Let us show our
gratitude and lessen their burden by offering our help. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your
patience, understanding, cooperation and support. Your participation is crucial in our leadership role for the
international propagation of Jodo Shinshu.
In Gassho,
Alton H Miyamoto, President
Hawaii Kyodan
HHMH 125th INAUGURAL SERVICE
2014 is the year of 125th Anniversary for Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. Several events and
projects are currently being planned in both State and District level to celebrate this milestone. Hawaii
Kyodan will be observing the 125th Celebration Inaugural Service on Friday, February 7, 2014 at Honpa
Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin in conjunction with the Giseikai (Legislative Assembly) Opening Service. The
service will start at 8:30 am and the members and friends of Honpa Hongwanji are all welcomed to join in
this observance.
MINISTERIAL ASSIGNMENTS (JINJI)
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Rev. Toyokazu Hagio, a minister who is on leave of absence, will be assigned to Honpa Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin as its Assistant Chief Minister (Fukurimban) as of February 1, 2014.
Rev. Earl Ikeda, Resident Minister of Moiliili Hongwanji Mission, will retire from active ministry with
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii as of February 28, 2014.
Rev. Bert Sumikawa, Associate Minister of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, will be assigned to
Moiliili Hongwanji Mission as its Associate Minister from February 16, 2014 to February 28, 2014 and
as its Resident Minister as of March 1, 2014. Rev. Sumikawa will be relieved from the position of
Chaplain at the Pacific Buddhist Academy as of February 15, 2014. Rev. Sumikawa will continue
providing ministerial services to Kapolei Buddhist Sangha.
Rev. Blayne Higa will be relieved from his position of Assistant Chaplain at the Pacific Buddhist
Academy as of January 10, 2014.
LIVING TREASURES OF HAWAII RECOGNITION LUNCHEON
The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii will honor the following individuals as the 2014 Living
Treasures of Hawai’i™ in recognition of their personal and professional achievements and their contributions
to the community. We welcome you to celebrate this honor with them.
Reverend Ida Chun
Dr. Samuel Gon III
Robert Hamada
Arthur & Rene Kimura
Reverend Chikai Yosemori
Date:
Place:
Cost:
Saturday, February 8, 2014 (11:00 AM Registration, 12:00 PM Lunch and Program)
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel
Early registration - $70.00 for payments received by January 24, 2014
Late registration - $85.00 for payments between January 25 - February 3, 2014
Sponsor Tables are available: Gold - $5,000; Silver - $3,000; Bronze - $1,500
*Registration Form can be downloaded from http://www.hongwanjihawaii.com/
THANK YOU LETTER FROM MR. MASAHIRO SASAKI
Dear Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii,
A Happy New Year. I can never forget the support you have given to us for the success of Sadako Legacy’s
project in Hawaii in September last year. Each of your faces are still fresh in my mind. I understand that it is
through the working of Amida Buddha’s Wisdom and Compassion that we could receive a debt of gratitude
from each of you. I forever express my sincere appreciation to you, people who wear the robe of the
Tathagata, for your dedication and service. I can remember many wonderful memories we have shared in
Hawaii by looking at the Kyodan Calendar you sent me. I cherish the calendar in that each time I flip through
it I feel gratitude. I, together with Sadako at Pearl Harbor, would like to wish your happiness from the
bottom of our hearts.
NPO SADAKO LEGACY
Masahiro Sasaki
REPORT ON MAUI FUND-RAISER FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN SURVIVORS
On December 20, the Maui Ministers sponsored a fund-raising interfaith service to aid the Typhoon
Haiyan survivors. The service was held at Kahului Hongwanji. We had Buddhist chanting followed by prayers
and aspirations by other ministers in the community, including a Catholic Priest, an Episcopal Priest, a
Hawaiian Kahu, and the Jodo Shu Bishop, Rev. Hara. Rev. Sol Kalu, with his family background in the affected
area of the Philippines, gave the keynote address. The service, though held right before the Christmas holiday,
had a very good attendance, and we raised $2,889.00 for the Filipino Community Center/Consuelo
Foundation (Aloha for Philippines).
Rev. Richard Tennes, Kahului
CHORALFEST 2014
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s Choralfest 2014 will be held at the Honpa Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii on September 27 and 28, 2014. This is an
opportunity for singers to rehearse Buddhist choral pieces at a workshop on Saturday and to perform
them as a massed choir at a special music service on Sunday. The purpose is for participants to express
their joy and gratitude of the Buddha-Dharma through joint musical voices. This fifth choralfest in a
decade is open to all singers from temples in Hawaii. Choralfest will again be led by Nola Nahulu,
director of the Hawaii Opera Chorus and a Living Treasure of Hawaii. Attached with this newsletter are a
flyer, schedule, and registration form. Upon close of registration, program booklets and practice CDs
will be sent to participating temples for required learning by each singer.