Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin history

Bishop Kuchiba’s six-year term ended with the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

The Honolulu YMBA retained the name until 1947, when it was renamed Young Buddhist Association of Honolulu.

In 1949, one of the most momentous decisions made by the Hongwanji after the war was the adoption of a proposal to establish the Hongwanji Mission School, the first Buddhist, English grade school.

In February, 1952, to encourage the participation and support of the younger English-speaking members of Hawaii Betsuin, the Upasika Society was founded by Aiko Fujitani, wife of Bishop Kodo Fujitani.

They returned to Hawaii again in 1954 to officiate at the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Hongwanji in Hawaii.

On April 8, 1960, a bill sponsored by Representative Jack Suwa and Senator Kazuhisa Abe became a law, establishing Buddha Day, not as a holiday, but a “holy day,” which simply meant it was a special day, although it was not a legal day of rest.

The first recipient of the award was Charles W. Kenn, noted scholar, historian, author and practicing kahuna in an informal ceremony held at the Hawaii Betsuin in 1976.

The Hiroshima Peace Bell, a gift to Honolulu from the Prefecture of Hiroshima in 1985, is sited at the shrine.

Photo from “Hosha: A Pictorial History of Jodo Shinshu Women in Hawaii” - Published by HFBWA, 1989

In 1998, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii was fortunate enough to host a statue of Rennyo Shonin sent from Yamashina Betsuin.

As of 1999, the Bishop’s term has been changed to four years.

YESS Camp is held every other year. Based on the idea and success of the YESS camp, a Junior YESS Camp was started in 2002 to build a bridge between Dharma School, Jr.

Most text on this page comes from a history prepared for the the 120th anniversary of the Honpa Hongwanji in Hawaii in 2009.

In 2016, the school will graduate its tenth class of seniors and begin construction of a new classroom building.