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June 2013 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Volume 36 Issue No 6

1 Sat 4:00 PM

Service & Bon Dance at Waipahu Plantation Village (6 PM--Bon Dance)

2 Sun 9:00 AM

Joint Memorial & Family service--Speaker: Rev. Sandra Hiramatsu

BWA Meeting after service

2 Sun 11:00 AM

United Jr YBA Mtg/District Convention at Aiea Hongwanji

9 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School)

10 Mon 7:30 PM

Bon Dance Food Comm. Mtg. (Temple bldg):

11 Tue 7:30 PM

3rd Bon Committee Meeting in Temple

12 Wed 7:30 PM

Kyodan Board Meeting

15 Sat 8:30 AM

BWA Hosha Group 6 (No Hospital Visitation)

16 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School) (Father's Day)

18 Tue 6:30 PM

Adult Care Meeting (Ed. Bldg)

21-23 Fri-Sun

56th Jr. YBA Convention on Big Island

22 Sat 7:00 AM

No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's--All Welcome

23 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School)

27 Thu 9:00 AM

Lotus Connection

29 Sat 9:00 AM

Onaijin Workshop --see page 6

7 Sun 9:00 AM

Joint Memorial & Family Service (BWA Meeting After Service)

7 Sun 11:00 AM

United Jr YBA Mtg at Pearl City Hongwanji

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Buddhist Study Center Summer Session -- see page 9

10 Wed 7:30 PM

Kyodan Board Meeting

14 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School)

14 Sun 1:00 PM

Oahu District Seminarat Pearl City--Dr. Mark Unno (see page 9)

16 Tue 6:30 PM

Adult Care Meeting (Ed Bldg)

20 Sat 8:30/10:00

BWA Hosha Group 1/Wahiawa Long Term Care Bon Dancing

21 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School)

25 Thu 9:00 AM

Lotus Connection

27 Sat 7:00 AM

No-Host Kyodan Breakfast at Zippy's

28 Sun 9:00 AM

Family Service (No Dharma School)

Rev David’s Office Hours

I have set up regular office hours that I can use to meet with members who want to drop in and chat for a while. On Wednesdays 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and on Thursday s, 3:00 to 5:00 PM, I will be in my office and available to meet with you. Of course, you can always call for an appointment too. Either way, I’m here to talk with you.

Mililani Hongwanji Ki-Aikido Club Car Wash Fundraiser

Family Service days (first Sunday of the month) in June, August and October.

We are fundraising to send the kids from our club to Japan to train at our headquarters dojo in a couple years.

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“Hard it is to be born into human life yet now we are living it”

It is impossible for any of us to know all the many causes and conditions that have to occur for major events to happen in our lives. “Hard it is to be born into human life yet now we are living it” expresses the difficulties that occurred for each of us to have been born into this life as human beings, as who we are now. “Difficult it is for us to hear the teachings of the Blessed One yet now we are able to hear and to understand” expresses the odds against any one of us hearing the Dharma and pursuing the path of the Buddha. Although it was very difficult for me to have been born at all, it was even more difficult to have heard the Dharma and to have made the choice to follow the path of the Buddha. In the United States, although the number of people who state that they are Buddhist has grown enormously in recent years, Buddhists are still a pretty small percentage of the population. We are one of the fastest growing religious traditions in the United States, a fact not reflected in the decline of Hongwanji membership in the United States. But for each of us, to be Buddhist in a largely Judeo-Christian society can be a very difficult thing. When people first immigrated from Japan to Hawaii, there was a lot of pressure to become Christian. People who held on to their Buddhist religious tradition had a difficult time often. Yet it is these people to whom each of us alive today as Buddhists in Hawaii owes a debt of gratitude for without their commitment to the religion, we would not have temples to regard as our spiritual centers of our sanghas. To hear and to respond to the Buddha Dharma requires so very many causes and conditions; they are literally innumerable. We recognize and we honor these many causes and conditions at our annual Eitaikyo service. Because o the actions of the elders in our Sangha is one of the foremost reasons that we were able to hear and respond to the teachings of the Buddha. Each year at our Eitaikyo service, we honor those elders, our Keirosha. The Keirokai consists of all the persons who have made 80 years old or who will turn 80 before December 31 this year or who are older. We especially honor the new members of the Keirokai at the Eitaikyo service but we recognize all the members of the Keirokai at the service. The people in our lives who help us to be able to hear and to follow the Dharma are very special. They are the ones who helped to keep Buddhism as a vital religious tradition in a country that is often not very friendly to religious traditions outside of the Christian faith. Did you know that at one point in the history of Hawaii as a U.S. Territory, one of the Honolulu newspapers opined that Constitutional protection should not be extended to Buddhism and to Buddhists as the founding fathers of the United States intended to cover only Christian denominations. Who knows how the author of the newspaper article was able to discern the mind of those who crafted the Constitution! Yet through all of these difficulties, the Dharma is still heard in Hawaii today. Sometimes it is a kind of soft murmur; sometimes it’s louder. Although it grows fainter at times, I think that most of us believe that even if Buddhism as we know it were to disappear in Hawaii, it would quickly return, rising as the Phoenix does from its own ashes. For many reasons, it is difficult to hear and to heed the Dharma, yet we continue to do it. It is in no small part thanks to the efforts of the members who are now elderly that Buddhism continues to be a force that we hear and follow in the modern world. When I think of the many causes and conditions that I think were responsible for me to hear and to follow the path of the Buddha, I think of several people, most of whom have long since passed away. One or two of these people stand out as my personal bodhisattvas. I’m sure that most of us can think of people in our own lives who were our bodhisattvas too. When we each think back about our lives and the journeys we have had as Buddhists, I think we can each think of people who were important as teachers, role models, and coaches of the Buddhist way of life. Although many have undoubtedly passed already there are likely some who are still alive, still standing as teachers of the Dharma.

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BWA NEWS FOR JUNE

The 40th Annual Oahu United BWA Seminar was held at Mililani Hongwanji on Saturday, April 20. For the

Dharma Lectures Rev. Mariko Nishiyama (in Japanese) and Rev. Kojun Hashimoto (in English) discussed “Live the teachings”. “Preparing yourself for Natural Disasters” was the general education topic presented by Mr. Dennis Hwang. He also graciously provided everyone with the Homeowner’s Handbook To Prepare For Natural Disasters published by the University of Hawaii (Sea Grant College Program). During lunch, participants were seated at tables with members from different temples. The seating gave us all the opportunity to “talk story” with someone new. Thank you so much to all Mililani BWA members and several of our men who planned/worked so hard to present a successful seminar! Over $400 was collected at the Eshinni/Kakushinni Service on Sunday, April 21. The funds collected will be donated to our Dharma School for the purchase of AV equipment or supplies. Yummy refreshments were provided by Karen Oda, Jean Sanehira, Patsy and Debra Hiyakumoto, Amy Nishimoto, Margaret Tanabe and June Asato.

Thanks to Claire Doi and Debra Hiyakumoto who organized the Ehimemaru Memorial cleaning/visitation.

A group of BWA members, Rev. David and one spouse participated in this community service project on Saturday, April 27. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed lunch at Choi’s Garden.

The 1st Annual Mililani Bazaar which was held on Saturday, March 30, was such a success that a second bazaar has been scheduled to take place again next year (March, 2014)! Begin looking/setting aside items you may want to donate. The Toiletries Committee will be delivering several bags filled with donations to the YWCA Fernhurst Residence for Women. The facility provides various programs to help women by giving them the tools they need to become independent and successful. Please continue to save for this worthwhile community service project!

Thanks to the HOSHA GROUP 5 for cleaning the temple building on Saturday, May 18. GROUP 6 will be cleaning on Saturday, June 15. Please contact Lyn Watanabe, coordinator, if you are unable to help/try to trade with someone in another group.

The next BWA meeting will be held on Sunday, June 2, after service.

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Marissa Uehara Recipient of $1,000 Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan Scholarship

Congratulations to Marissa Uehara, the recipient of the 2013 Mililani Hongwanji Kyodan Scholarship Award. Marissa is the daughter of Keith and Lea Uehara who reside in Waipio Gentry. She will be graduating from Maryknoll High School in June and plans to join her sister Jessica (2011 Scholarship Recipient) at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Marissa has excellent academic marks and submitted a well-written essay. Marissa has been active with the Sangha as a Dharma School student, a member and officer of the Jr. YBA, and participated in many temple service and social activities. Marissa plans to participate in the international student exchange program at Pacific and spend a year in Japan, a place that she loves. As of yet, Marissa does not have definite career plans and has an open and positive outlook for whatever career opportunities that come her way. We wish Marissa the best as she begins another chapter in her life.

The Dharma School and Jr YBA are proud to announce that Tyler Oshiro (left) and Ty Yamamoto (right) have been awarded the Boy Scouts highest rank of Eagle. Becoming an Eagle Scout requires progressing through five ranks, earning a minimum of 21 merit badges, demonstrating the Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, providing leadership to the Troop and service to the community by planning and carrying out a significant service project that improves the community.

Tyler, the son of Patrick and Susan Oshiro, passed his Eagle Board of Review on April 2, 2013. He completed his Eagle Project on October 21, 2012, which was done in Waimea Valley and it consisted of hiking trail maintenance, the removal of invasive strawberry guava along a thin path used heavily by the conservation workers, and the building of a water catchment tank atop a ridge where out-planting of native plants are done. Tyler started as a Tiger Scout in Cub Scouts in the first grade at Pack 164, then moved to Pack 864 in Mililani. He crossed over in the 6th grade to the Boy Scouts Troop 664 in Mililani.

Ty, son of Reid and Roxanne Yamamoto, passed his Eagle Board of Review on April 17, 2013. For his Eagle Project, Ty planned, organized and managed construction of a concrete bordered native plant garden for the Hawaiiana classes at Mililani Mauka Elementary School on November 23rd to 25th. Ty started in Scouting as a Cub Scout in Pack 864 in the 4th grade and crossed over to the Boy Scout Troop 164 in Mililani in the 6th grade. Susan was Tyler’s and Ty’s Den Leader when they were Cub Scouts at Pack 864.

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The Folks You Meet At Bon Dances or Funerals or Whereevah By Dennis Kawamoto

Isn’t it marvelous, going to Bon Dances and meeting all kinds of people. Met my neighbor from across the street working at Moiliili PreSchool Booth selling waffle dogs…..she lives across the street from me going on now for 40 years and I hardly ever see her, let alone talk to her….and here she was working at waffle dog booth; met the same neighbor’s daughter with her 3 daughters (met her daughter’s daughters for the first time); met two high school classmates of Carrie’s; saw Rev. Ikeda playing the flute with the Iwakuni Group; talked to a Sounds of Aloha chorus member on the shuttle bus returning us to the UH parking lot. I see him only once a year at their annual concert; talked to a former resident minister of Mililani Hongwanji and his wife.

Eh, wat you doin heah; came to check out the food; heard there was goin’ to be some food trucks heah; Filipino food, taco, opah, teriyaki plate, waffle dog, saimin, mochiko chicken, what evah!!

It’s never a dull moment at bon dances….and eh, gunfunnit make sure you dance….no fun, only watch. And no shame, took me 25 years of watching before I took the plunge and stepped into the ring. And you know wat!! Now, You can’t keep me out of the ring.

And….guess what!! Met another Mililani bon dance “looker only” at a funeral here at Mililani Hongwanji. She said the food at Mililani Hongwanji bon dance was “ono” but “too shame to dance.” I told her to come to practice and learn the moves so “no need feel shame.” You tink everybody looking at you but fo real, look around….nobody looking at you; they all in their own private world.

And now it’s June, Bon Season. Wash the hapi coat from last year; re-use all the old bon towels; look for the red and white Okinawan flag on chopsticks tucked away someplace; jot down all the dates for Bon Dance on the calendar; and get ready to DANCE. ALL YOU BON DANCE GROUPIES, I’LL SEE YOU SOON!!

Planning Committee Survey

Mililani Hongwanji’s President Bob Asato and the Board of Directors established a special committee to plan for the future of Mililani Hongwanji. A step towards developing this plan is to find out what our members feel is important and what might be changed to meet their needs.

We are conducting a survey that will help us begin the planning process. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey (one survey per person, including children) and submit your completed survey in the survey box at the temple information counter. You may pick up surveys at the temple. The survey can also be completed on-line and the link to access the survey can be found at Mililani Hongwanji’s website’s home page listed below. http://www.mililanihongwanji.org/

The collected surveys will not be published, but a summary of the results may be published in a report. Your participation in this very important survey will help move Mililani Hongwanji in the right direction. The deadline for completing the survey is June 30, 2013.

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Buddhism: Miracle or Magic??

Once again, Rev. Sandra Hiramatsu, tested our knowledge of Buddhism by posing questions to her audience. She asked: Is Buddhism a religion of Miracles or a religion of Magic? Those that answered, “Magic” hit the nail on the head. After all, miracles are the province of God, and magic is in the realm of the bonbu. Rev. Sandra made us all think about the Buddha looking back beckoning those “who are late in following the Dharma” to live life with gratitude and compassion. At the same time, she reminded us to ‘smile’ for a smile invites others to smile too. She constantly looks for ways to involve the Sangha….thus, Nicholas Babcock shared his memorable experiences at Y. E. S. S. (Young Enthusiastic Shinshu Seekers) Camp. But he would not have been there, if not for the urging of Rev. Sandra. Thank you, Rev. Sandra, for sharing your Buddhist thoughts at the May 5th Sunday Memorial Service.

In Memoriam

Mililani Hongwanji Buddhist Temple extends its deepest sympathy to the family of the Late Mr. James Hiroshi Ogasawara (83) who passed away on February 5, 2013. James was a long time member of the “Thursday Gang”, comprised mostly of retired Sangha members, who do maintenance work on the temple buildings and grounds. James will surely be missed as he was good with his hands and he often came up with innovative ways to solve problems. He had a caring heart and we will miss his delicious brownies or cakes that he baked and shared with us every week. May the family members find solace and comfort in the Nembutsu. Namo Amida Butsu.

Joint Memorial Service for the families of the following will be held on

Sunday, June 2 , 2013

Chiyoko Chinen

Tadayoshi Hamasaki

Nobuko Harada

Matakatsu Hayashi

Chiyono Hirano

Shigeno Hironaka

Yone Honda

Toshie Ichihara

Isaburo Iida

Toshio Ishihara

Miyuki Iwamoto

Susumu Iwamoto

Katsuji Kushimi

Matao Matsumura

Shizue Nakamura

Tsutomu Nakauchi

Elsie O. Nunotani

Walter S. Nunotani

Hanako Ogata

Satoru Ota

Kikue Sakado

Kim Say

Ume Tashima

Tsune Ueki

Kimi Watanabe

Miyuki Watanabe

Asayo Yamashita

James Young

Please call the minister at 625-0925 and/or email dharma.connection@gmail.com if there are corrections or additions to the published list. Families may call the minister to schedule special family memorial services for their loved ones. For 2013, special memorial years are observed for loved ones who passed away in:

2012 1st Year 1989 25th year 2011 3rd Year 1981 33rd year 2007 7th Year 1964 50th year 2001 13th Year 1914 100th year 1997 17

th Year

Would you like to know how to set up the Onaijin (altar area) for services and why we set it up that way? On Saturday, June 29, 9:00 am, I will give a workshop for all interested members on setting up our altar. Everyone is invited to attend. If you would like to attend, there is a sign-up sheet on the temple bulletin board, just so that I can get an idea of how many people are interested in coming. Need more info? Please call either the temple line or my cell number, 349-9433 and I will answer all your questions. Rev. Mary David WHAT: Workshop on Altar set-up WHERE: Mililani Hongwanji Hondo WHEN: June 13, 2013 at 11 am to 12 noon

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MILILANI HONGWANJI BAZAAR BONANZA!!

Working Together in Harmony and Interdependence Saturday, March 30, 2013

Mahalo for Bazaar Success

On behalf of the Mililani Hongwanji Board of Directors, we thank you so much for the grand success of the first annual bazaar that is a fundraiser for the affiliate organizations of the temple. We thank you, individually and collectively for the time and plain hard work that was put forth to create success with this event.

More than the funds raised, it was the excitement and the sense of cooperation among all the members, their families, and our community. It was a sheer joy to be in the company of enthusiastic participants who washed the cars, packed the steak plates, and brokered deals at the rummage sale. It was as much fun to get a chance to experience acupuncture and lomilomi. This was a wonderful opportunity for all of us at Mililani Hongwanji to have time to talk story with other members of our affiliate organizations who never meet because each has their individual schedules. It is not likely that an Aikido student will get to meet a Jr. YBA member or to have a judo student meeting up with the BWA ladies. Now, we are not strangers anymore. We belong together.

Thank you so much for all that you do. We look forward to another annual bazaar. Get ready for another fun one in 2014.

YESS CAMP REUNION

On March 29-31 2013, the Young Enthusiastic Shinshu Seekers Camp held its 30th camp. On September 1, 2013, I would like to invite all former campers to come, reflect and celebrate 30 years of a life-changing camp. For more information please email Jake at youth@honpahi.org or visit the YESS Camp website at www.tinyurl.com/YESS-Reunion

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR DANA (April 16, 2013 to May 15, 2013)

Eshinni Day Janet Abe Robert & June Asato Roger & Jill Kyhos Babcock Claire Doi Warren & Nora Hahn Theodine Hirai Sharon Kaneko Mamoru & Ethel Kawahara Dennis & Carrie Kawamoto Lawrence & Joyce Nishioka Lester & Joyce Ogawa Jean Sanehira Margaret Tanabe Ethel Yamashige Donation Keith & Lea Uehara Baccalaureate Service

General Donation Mililani Hongwanji Qi Gong Class Gloria Okada IMO Harry Okada

Joint Memorial Service Thomas & Gertrude Akamine IMO Toku Hayase Larry & Patsy Hiyakumoto IMO Shigetoshi Yoshino Harry & Itsuko Honda IMO Masayuki Tashima, Kenneth Imamura, Yeichi Ukita Mamoru & Ethel Kawahara IMO Itsuyo Kaneshiro George & Grace Okutani IMO Goro Hirano Richard & Gail Taira IMO Zenyei Taira Margaret Tanabe IMO Yoshio Tsuyama

Memorial Service Anonymous IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr) Anonymous IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr) Milton & Sharol Deguchi IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr) Dennis & Michele Oshita IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr) Fujie Sato IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr) Fred Tanaka IMO Benson Yamanaka (1 Yr)

RETIREMENT OF GOMONSHU Honzan reported that the Gomonshu Koshin Ohtani made an official announcement at the annual Spring Service (Commemoration of the establishment of Jodo Shinshu) on April 15, 2013 that he will retire from his position of “Monshu” as of June 5, 2014. CANADA KYODAN APPOINTS NEW BISHOP The term of the Bishop Grant Ikuta of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada had come to completion at their recent National Annual General Meeting held in Lethbridge Alberta on April 27, 2013, and Reverend Tatsuya Aoki has been selected as the new Bishop for the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada. AFFIRMATION RITES TO BE HELD AT MOILIILI HONGWANJI Moiliili Hongwanji will be hosting the Affirmation Rites on June 16, 2013. The ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm officiated by Bishop Eric Matsumoto. For more information and the application form, please contact Moiliili Hongwanji at 949-1659. UPDATE OF THE DONATION TOWARD SADAKO SASAKI CRANE EXHIBITION An effort is underway to create a permanent exhibit at WWII Valor in the Pacific Memorial in Pearl Harbor which will display the paper crane which Sadako Sasaki of Hiroshima, Japan actually folded and has become a symbol for world peace. Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii is supporting this project by collecting donation from our members and friends to ensure the preservation of Sadako’s crane in Hawaii and to properly share her story with visitors to the Valor in the Pacific Memorial. We wish to thank for the tremendous response so far. Currently $18,311.26 has been collected (as of May 13, 2013). There is still time to make a donation to this project. You may do so through our website at www.hongwanjihawaii.com and click “Donation to Honpa Hongwanji”. DONATION TO HONPA HONGWANJI You can now make a donation to Honpa Hongwanji through online with your Credit Card. Please visit our website at www.hongwanjihawaii.com and click “Donation to Honpa Hongwanji” on the main page. Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donations are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowable by law.

News from headquarters

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Hongwanji Bon Dance Schedule for 2013

June 1 Sat Oahu District Bon Service & Dance Waipahu Plantation Village (see left)

June 21-22 Wahiawa Hongwanji June 28-29 Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin July 5-6 Moiliili Hongwanji July 12-13 Waipahu Hongwanji July 20 Waianae Hongwanji July 19-20 Jikoen Hongwanji August 3 Waialua Hongwanji Aug 9-10 Pearl City Hongwanji Aug 16-17 Mililani Hongwanji Aug 24 Aiea Hongwanji

Call individual temples to confirm dates and times. No bon dance in 2013 at Ewa Hongwanji and no bon dance in 2013 at Kailua Hongwanji.

Registration form on back of this sheet!

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HHMH CALL FOR PARTICIPATION Path of Entrusting: Share Peace

2014 Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Calendar

‘CAN YOU PICTURE PEACE’

For 2014, we hope you will take this challenging opportunity to continue to learn about and recognize the Jodo Shinshu teachings that manifest in our everyday life. The committee looks forward to creating another meaningful calendar with expressions from the entire Hawaii Sangha. The medium has been primarily photography, but it may take other forms of expression. We leave that up to you. Deadline: September 9, 2013 Submissions must be accompanied by a written description of how it reflects the theme: Share Peace. For digital photographs, you must provide a file of sufficient resolution (quality) to produce an 8x10’ photo. You may submit a low-res version of your photos and you will be advised on sending in the high-res file if selected for the calendar. Send images to lenscapes@yahoo.com. Photos of artwork in 2D (drawing/paintings/calligraphy) or 3D are welcome.

President’s Corner – June 2013 Dharma School students, have a great summer. To the teachers and volunteers, thank you! And thank you to everyone for participating in the successful 2013 bazaar. Mahalo to co-chairs Gordon Watanabe and Jan Youth. The board approved another bazaar in 2014 with Gordon & Jan at the helm. The AD committee has formally re-organized into the” Planning Committee.” The committee has been meeting regularly, and has been conducting surveys, etc. Please participate and respond with your true and earnest feelings and aspirations. And, as the US Census Bureau emphasized in the decennial count at the turn of the century (2000) – “You Do Count – Everyone Counts!” Now, we prepare for our bon festivities. The bon subcommittees have been busy planning and scheduling, and practicing new dances, etc. for several months.. Manpower (chairs, co-chairs, leaders) continues to be a challenge. We are still looking for someone(s) to step up to chair or co-chair the popular shave ice concession and the country store. We do have individuals and groups ready to volunteer, but the need is for leaders to take charge/responsibility. The 2012 menu and operations and detailed reports are on file and are available as guides. Hopefully, by our 3d meeting on Tuesday, June 11th, every leadership position will be in place - if not? Not? Call me! 623-0082 or bobasato@hawaii.rr.com. Follow the bon work schedules (calendar) in the Dharma Connection.