Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin

09/06/2026

We've posted an advisory about Hurricane Lowell and the upcoming Labor Day Holiday to our website.

Short story: Regular schedule planned for Sunday 9/6, temple closed on Monday 9/7 for Labor Day (Columbarium visits possible 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.). We'll update our website and social media if there are any changes.

Holding our Hongwanji ohana and everyone on Kauai in our thoughts. Hoping for the best.

In Gassho

Hurricane Lowell Advisory and Notice of Labor Day Holiday 2 minutes ago by webhelp Official Advisory 5 p.m. Saturday, September 5 Current forecasts predict Hurricane Lowell will pass west of Kauai and Niihau, but emergency officials warn its path remains uncertain and its impacts can be felt far fro...

09/05/2026

This Sunday, 9/6, Mr. Art Kimura (a 2014 Living Treasures of Hawai‘i honoree along with his wife, Rene Kimura) is the guest speaker at 9:30 a.m. His talk is entitled "Live to 100: Lessons from Ogimi" and includes a multimedia presentation. Ogimi is a Blue Zones location in Okinawa, Japan, where people "Live to 100."

Rimban Yuika Hasebe will also deliver a short message.

After the service, join us in the social hall for a gateball activity along with refreshments!

See our Betsuin Bulletin for lots of news and event info:
https://mailchi.mp/19aef7106266/betsuin-bulletin-5872778

09/03/2026

Registration is now open!

Zen priest Cristina Moon, author of “Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness,” is the guest speaker for this year’s Honolulu/Oʻahu Nembutsu Seminar.

🗓️ Saturday, Sept. 26, 9–11 a.m.
📍 Hawaii Betsuin Social Hall (enter parking at 1742 Lusitana St.)
🖥️ Zoom option available

🔗 Register: https://honpahi.link/cristina

Our theme is “Nurturing Nembutsu: Sharing Gratitude,” the 2026 Hongwanji theme and slogan. Cristina will explore:

• Why “every day is a fine day”
• Gratitude for our struggles
• Finding meaning, even in suffering
• Gratitude for spiritual friendship

Please register now—even if you’re a “maybe” 😊 Registering will ensure you receive updates and details as the event approaches.

09/02/2026

Rev. Tatsuo Muneto was the speaker this past Sunday for our Peace Service (which had been postponed from 8/16 due to Hurricane Lala).

Some of us continued the discussion about peace with Rev. Muneto in the Dining Room. We talked about definitions of peace, the relationship between peace and justice, and meditation as one means to inner peace.

At the 8 a.m. Japanese-language service, Rev. Shigenori Makino was the speaker.

for our retired ministers, who continue to share the dharma with the sangha!

Photos: 1) Rev. Muneto with Hawaii Betsuin Associate Ministers Rev. Shingo Furusawa and Rev. Charlene Kihara; 2) Screenshot from the 9:30 a.m. recording plus the Dharma Discussion group; 3) Rev. Makino with family members, Bishop Umitani, and Rimban Hasebe. Photos courtesy Irene Nohara.

09/01/2026

It's Give Aloha month! All September, you can support Hawaii Betsuin by making a donation at Foodland, Sack N Save, and Foodland Farms when checking out.

Please specify this code: 78500

Your donation will go to the temple. It also helps us receive a share of Foodland's matching gifts to organizations based on participation levels tallied after 9/30.

More info: https://hawaiibetsuin.org/give-aloha-2026/

Thank you for your support! 🙏

08/31/2026

The special dramatic production from Japan about Shinran and Eshinni is this week (9/3 and 9/4)! Hope you can join us there for this rare opportunity.

🎭 This week! Tickets are still available for Zenshinza’s special Hawaiʻi performances of “Hanakobushi — Shinran Shonin and Eshinni.”

🗓️ Thursday, Sept. 3 — 1 p.m. & 5 p.m.
🗓️ Friday, Sept. 4 — 1 p.m.
📍 Palikū Theatre at Windward Community College, Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu

Performances are in Japanese with English subtitles.

🎟️ Get tickets:
https://honpahi.link/hanakobushi

Booking Tip: Use the “Make a booking” box to select the number of participants (tickets), choose your date and time, then click Next.

After touring 56 theatres across Japan from 2023–2025, Zenshinza brings this moving theatrical production to Hawaiʻi for the first time.

“Hanakobushi” tells the story of Shinran Shonin and his wife, Lady Eshinni—their lives together and their journey in sharing the Nembutsu. More on our website.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, now is the time to get tickets. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience Zenshinza in Hawaiʻi!

08/30/2026

This week, our Peace Service with Rev. Tatsuo Muneto at 9:30 a.m. (rescheduled from August 16). Please join us in person or on Zoom!

See the latest Betsuin Bulletin: http://eepurl.com/GpQaAVGnJP

For those in person, please consider bringing your refreshments into the Dining Room for Dharma Discussion with Muneto-sensei at 11 a.m. We'll get more into the Confucius saying that Rev. Muneto will share in his message.

for our retired ministers! 🙏

08/25/2026

Kokua for communities hard hit by Lala...

08/23/2026

Tropical Storm Moke:
Based on current forecasts, Hawaii Betsuin intends to remain open through the Aug. 22-23 weekend.

08/22/2026

Rev. Charlene Kihara will be our speaker this Sunday. All welcome to join us in person or on Zoom. We hope to have both power and Internet this week!🤞 Refreshments in the Social Hall follow.

📰 Latest Betsuin Bulletin: http://eepurl.com/vPmd5S4t0T

sculpture: Gaea (Mother Earth) by Bumpei Akaji, 1984, Capitol Modern, Honolulu