Theme & Slogan 2013: Path of Entrusting: Live the Teachings!

KONA HONGWANJI BUDDHIST TEMPLE E - JIH O

March 2013

ESHINNI/KAKUSHINNI DAY SERVICE Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Speaker: Marge Elwell, Naalehu Hongwanji BWA President

Eshinni Sama is the wife of Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shin Buddhism. Shinran Shonin was the first monk in the Buddhist tradition to publicly take a wife. Eshinni Sama’s life is unknown except that her name appears among historical sources, only in the Kudensho by her grandson Kakunyo. There is the 10 Eshinni letters that she wrote to her youngest daughter Kakushinni, who was living in Kyoto with Shinran. The 10 letters are a great source as we are able to find out the process by which Shinran entered into the life of true entrusting in the Other Power. Encouraged by her husband, the letters reflect the religious awareness of the nembutsu by Eshinni Sama. She understood the distinction between willful self-power and absolute Other Power.

SPRING OHIGAN Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Speaker: Reverend Kumika Soga, Minister at Hilo Hongwanji

Ohigan—meaning Other Shore is a service conducted during the spring equinox. At this time the weather is neither too warm nor too cold. The days and nights are if equal length. Harmony pervades throughout the universe. Buddhists gather before the shrine of Amida, meditating on the harmony of nature and devote themselves to the realization of this harmony in their inner lives.

BUDDHA DAY CELEBRATION Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in the Social Hall Speaker: Dr. Patricia Masters, President of HAIB

This special service is sponsored by HAIB (Hawaii Association of International Buddhists). HAIB seeks to foster friendship and understanding of all Buddhist groups. All Buddhist temples, groups and organizations on the Big Island are invited. The service is being coordinated by Rev. Jiko of the Daifukuji Soto Mission and Rev. Shoji Matsumoto. Jr. YBA will be decorating a Hanamido for this event. BWA will be assisting with refreshments. For more information, contact Rev. Jiko at 322-3524 or Rev. Shoji at 323- 2993.

NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTER OR TO SCHEDULE SERVICES/ACTIVITIES

1 Please call the church office at 323-2993 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Office will be closed on weekends and holidays. If unable to contact the office clerk, leave a message on the answering machine. In case of emergencies and unable to contact office clerk, call Rev. Shoji Matsumoto at 323-2993 or cell 987-9900, or Norma Matsumoto at 323-2552 or cell 989-3015. MARCH 3 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM ... Eshinni Day Service 6 Wednesday ..... 7:00 PM ... Treasures of Hongwanji Committee Meeting 8 Friday ...... 8:30 AM ... Senior Activity Program 10 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM ... English Family Service 17 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM ... English Family Service Oyama Judo Tournament @ Konawaena Gymnasium 21 Thursday ...... 10:00 AM .. HAIB Meeting 22 Friday ...... 3:00 PM .... Cub Scouts Derby Run-off 23 Saturday ...... 8:00 PM .... Hosha #2; Omigaki #3; Food Prep #1 24 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM ... Spring O-Higan Service 28 Thursday ...... Preschool Easter Program 31 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM ... English Family Service

APRIL 5 Friday ...... BWA Manju Baking 6 Saturday ...... 8:00 AM ... Omigaki #2; Hosha #1 7 Sunday ...... 10:00 AM .. Buddha Day Celebration 10 Wednesday ... 7:00 PM .... Board of Director's Meeting 12 Friday ...... 8:30 AM .... Senior Activity Program 13 Saturday ...... 8:00 AM .... BWA Board Meeting 12:00 PM .. Big Island Council Meeting - Kona 14 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM .... English Family Service 10:30 AM .. Treasures of Hongwanji Committee Meeting 21 Sunday ...... 9:00 AM .... English Family Service 27 Saturday ...... 8:30 AM .... Treasures of Hongwanji @ Makaeo Pavillion, Old A 28 Sunday ...... NO SUNDAY SERVICE

CUB SCOUTS & BOY SCOUTS EVERY MONDAY CUB SCOUT PACK 12 MEETING AT 5:00 PM EVERY WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY CUB SCOUT PACK 12 MEETING AT 5:00 PM EXCEPT 1ST WEDNESDAY EVERY TUESDAY BOY SCOUT TROOP 59 MEETING AT 7:00 PM

TAIKO PRACTICE EVERY THURSDAY TAIKO PRACTICE AT 5:30 PM TAIKO MEETING EVERY 2nd THURSDAY IN THE SOCIAL HALL AT 6:30 PM

JUDO PRACTICE JUDO CLUB MEETING EVERY 1ST WEDNESDAY IN SCOUT ROOM EVERY MONDAY AT 7:00 PM NIGHT CLASS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 6:00 PM NOVICE; 7:00 PM NIGHT CLASS EVERY TUESDAY AT 6:30 PM ADULT BEGINNERS EVERY THURSDAY AT 7:00 PM CHOKE ARM BAR CLASS

IKEBANA EVERY 2ND SATURDAY AT 9:00 AM IN THE SCOUT ROOM

TAI CHI CLASSES EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 AM

DHARMA TALK CLASSES EVERY TUESDAY AT 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM

2 KYUDO CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM IN THE JUDO HALL

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY and MARCH 2013

First Year (2012) March 23 KIYOSHI SHIRAI 28 YASUE SUGI April 6 LANCE GUY CHANG 22 MILDRED MIDORI TAKAHASHI

Third Year (2011) March 21 HISAKO OGATA April 11 RONALD ALLEN LINDNER 21 NELLIE K. KAMIGAKI

Seventh Year (2007) March 5 TSURUE MORIMOTO April 8 YURIKO KAMIGAKI

Thirteenth Year (2001) March 1 MITSUYO YOSHIDA 4 KAZUYO MATSUYAMA 12 AIKO YAMANE 13 KATSUNO SUNADA 31 GEORGE J. OUE April 24 RICHARD T. AOKI

Seventh Year (1997) April 28 YASUE ITO

Twenty-fifth Year (1989) March 3 CHIYOKO TAKASHIBA

Thirty-third Year (1981) March 22 KATSUKI MATSUOKA 27 YOSHIE YOSHIMOTO April 29 AYANO NOZAKI

Fiftieth Year (1964) March 5 HATSUNO YAMAMOTO 29 GOSHICHI TAKAMOTO April 23 SUMI MIYOSE

One Hundredth Year (1914) March 26 MIHACHII SAKAGAKI 27 KIKUE MASUTOMI 27 SEIJITSU KAWAHARA April 6 MISAO ONO 21 NAKAZO KUBO 23 MASAMITSU WADA

FOR YOUR INFORMATION By Mary Katayama

Annual General Membership Meeting: Members approved amendments to the Bylaws as circulated in the January 2013 Jiho and approved increase in annual membership pledge. Eighteen Keiroshas were recognized with gifts, leis and certificates. Living Memorial Fund information will be forthcoming in the April Jiho. The following were recognized at the program in the social hall: Pre-School teacher Karen Morimoto, 28 years as teacher of 3 year olds. Miyuki Inouye, a retired cafeteria manager who provided her expertise in food preparation and management to our kyodan. Ichiro Shikada, retired teacher and former board member, developed the Leaders Manual for board officers and directors. He conducted orientation sessions for new board members regarding bylaws, policies and fiduciary responsibilities. Entertainment and delicious lunch prepared by the Orange Family was enjoyed by all.

3 Cherry Blossom Festival: We again participated in the Annual Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival held in Kamuela, on Saturday, February 2, 2013. The mochi pounding demonstration was a popular event. We served mochi with an, kinako, peanut butter, brownies and Reese candy. It is fun event while promoting Kona Hongwanji. The following volunteers assisted in this event: Morris & Henri-Ann Nagata, Alan Matsumoto, Dean Uemura, Shirley Matsuoka, Lisa Ciriako, Arnold, Dillyn & Lynn Tokuyama, Terry, Wendy &Trent Terada, Lynn, Kristyn, Kelsey & Mary Katayama, Norma Matsumoto, Mary Nakagawa and Mary Jane Fujii. Thank you to all the regular and new volunteers.

Volunteers needed: A continuous request for volunteers in all areas of temple activities and events. We realize that everyone is very busy, however please consider helping at one event each year. Check the Jiho for listing of events. Events/activities are listed on the front page, 2nd page under Calendar or For your Information article. Morris is getting tired and Mary is getting old. We will be very happy to see new faces and willing to orient members to your area of interest. Call us and join us!

2013 President’s Message by Norma Matsumoto

I know you were thinking that things might be different in some tangible way (me too), but I haven’t quite gotten my feet wet enough to move in any given direction. I do know that I cannot blame a sparsely attended Sunday service on anyone, as I am one of those “spaces” in an empty pew. In the days past, the temple really was a central part of the lives of our Issei and others in the community. Have we really lost the essence, like in ten words or less, of what Shin Buddhism is? There was a lot of discussion at the last Giseikai about nailing down what it is we truly believe are the main tenets of Shin Buddhism. We will have to test Reverend Shoji to give us some of his enlightenments on this subject….

I hope that you came to the Annual General Membership Meeting and Luncheon. It is one of the benefits that we can return to you for your “dues money”, so to speak. We honored the Keirosha, which are those entering the 8th decade of life, who are the majority of the Sangha now in Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. They have set the direction and expected to have passed the torch by now. Sadly, we still depend heavily on their service and volunteer time. If you can volunteer for an activity or two to lessen their burden, please give your Kyodan president a call. The ‘temple’ is only an empty building, if no one feels a part of its calendar of activities. Here are meaningful special services that your ‘heathen’ president is educating herself about. This doesn’t include the special activities like General membership meeting in February, O-Bon Festival participation in June, General clean-up day in November, etc.

January – Hoonko service (Saturday night candlelight service/Sunday special service) In memory of the passing of Shinran Shonin, founder.

March-Spring Ohigan (Celebration of Spring Equinox where the days/nights are of equal length)

April-Hanamatsuri (Birth of Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha)

May-Gotan-e (Birth of Shinran Shonin)

July-O-bon

September-Autumn Ohigan (Celebration of Autumn Equinox)

December-Bodhi Day (Enlightenment and awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha) and New Year’s Eve service.

If you don’t have a ‘butsudan’ at home, please feel free to attend any Sunday service of the month of memorial of a loved one, as the temple has provided the rice, flowers, treats and incense, for you. Make

4 it your goal, (if you’re like me) to at least attend 3 more Sunday services than you had in the previous year. We will try to make each Sunday service memorable.

In Gassho BWA CORNER:

The annual General Membership Meeting and Luncheon had just passed. The past Board would like to thank the past board members who had served so many times over and would like to say “Do mo Arigato”

The new board had just been installed at the General Membership Meeting for their 2 year term 2013- 2015 and they are as follows:

President: Carol Kawachi Honorary President: Sandra Matsumoto Past President: Linda Nagai Vice-President Nora Koyanagi Secretary: Susan Takiue Asst. Secretary: Gloria Ichishita Treasurer: June Fujikawa Asst. Treasurer: Sally Murakami Auditors: Emiko Kaneko Flora Fukumitsu Advisors: Mildred Kaneko Kathleen Abe Clara Uechi Fujie Ichishita Chizu Nakashima Miyuki Inouye Minister Advisor Rev. S. Matsumoto

Let us continue to support the board as it is a task to keep an organization running.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

March 3 Eshinni Day Service Group I Toban Guest speaker: Marge Elwell

March 23 Hosha Group II Food Prep Group III Omigaki Groiup I

March 24 Spring Ohigan

April 5 (Friday) Manju Making Group II Toban Coordinator Group I Purchaser Group II Lunch for group Group III

April 6 Hosha Group I Omigaki Group II

April 7 Buddha Day Celebration Joint Hanamatsuri HAIB

April 27 Treasures of Hongwanji Makaeo Pavilion –

5 UPCOMING GRADUATES ATTENTION:

To the upcoming graduates we have the following applications for scholarship that might be of interest to you. The applications and forms will be posted on the bulletin board in the temple’s press room. They are as follows:

Due by APRIL 15:

1. KONA HONGWANJI BUDDHIST WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD $1,000.00

2. HAWAII ISLAND UNITED HONGWANJI BUDDHIST WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP $1,000.00

“How To Be A Buddhist” By Rev. Richard Tennes

Recently I gave a Dharma Message for the Betsuin’s Dharma School 9:00am Service. This message was in answer to questions I often receive from people, young and old, in the temple. Often, ministers talk about how we should have trust in Amida, that we should have appreciation and Compassion, that we should say the Nembutsu, and that we should be mindful. But people wonder “how am I supposed to do that? How am I to be mindful? How am I to be compassionate? What does it mean to say the Nembutsu? How do I live the Teachings?”

So I thought about this and decided to share a “12 Steps for Living the Teachings” program. Now this was written for children so please share it with the children in your family. But I also think we adults can follow it just as well (just substitute your daily activities)! Here it is:

Step 1. When you wake up in the morning, before you even think about how you forgot to do your homework last night or study for today’s math test, put your hands together in gassho, and just say “How wonderful that I am able to live in this world today. Namo Amida Butsu.” Then smile. That’s step one.

Step 2. Don’t rush to get ready! Washing your face or taking a shower, brushing your teeth, etc., is just as important as anything else you are going to do today. This is our first Buddhist lesson: everything we do should be done with equal attention and care. Wash carefully, put on your clothes carefully, put things away carefully; this is called Mindfulness. If you are a really slow person, get up early so that you can get to school on time because that is important too!

Step 3. Eat breakfast. You might have to get up early for that too. Don’t eat junk or processed food, eat something wholesome, local, and nutritious. A Buddhist cares about the food he or she eats, how it is prepared, how it affects our body, mind, and behavior, and how growing, producing, and transporting that food affects the environment and all other beings. Before you eat, put your hands in gassho and say “How

6 wonderful that I am able to receive this food that gives me the strength to live.” You can also say the Words of Thanksgiving too. Be grateful for your food; food is not easy to get! Eat carefully and mindfully. Pay attention to your chewing and your swallowing. When you put food in your mouth, put your spoon, fork, or chopsticks down and don’t touch them again until you have swallowed. One bite-chew-swallow at a time. That is also Mindfulness.

Step 4. Say “thank you.” Thank your Mom or Dad for preparing your breakfast, for driving you to school etc. Thank the water you used to wash, the plants and animals that provided your food. Thank the dinosaurs and other ancient beings whose bodies turned into petroleum over millions of years for the gasoline that got you to school! Be mindful and creative and think of all the things that you are receiving and say “thank you”! Even better, show your gratitude by helping your parents to make breakfast or to clean up afterward.

Step 5. When you get to school, keep up the same spirit. Don’t try to be cool or fashionable, but instead try being kind and considerate to others. Smile at people. If you see someone who is having trouble, don’t tease or make fun of them; help them! If you see other kids being unkind to someone, don’t join in, but make an effort to help everyone feel good and respect themselves and each other. If someone drops their books, help him or her to pick them up. Be sure to keep extra pencils and paper with you just in case someone else forgets theirs. There are a million things you can do. That is called practicing Compassion.

Step 6. Listen to your teachers. They work very hard and seldom receive any real appreciation. They are giving you one of the most precious gifts in life, the gift of learning. In Buddhism we talk about Wisdom, which is very deep understanding. The more we learn, the more we understand, the more our minds are open to receive Wisdom. In Buddhism, whatever we learn, whether it is math, science, or history, we can try to think about what it means to our life and to the lives of others. Most importantly, whatever we learn can help us better appreciate this world and the life we are living.

Step 7. Lunchtime: see number 3! Don’t forget to eat mindfully. Also, eat together with others. Share what you have. Don’t look around to see if your food is as good as the other kids; check to make sure everyone around you has enough. Share what you have if someone else doesn’t have enough to eat. Make sure you clean up afterward, throw away and recycle rubbish, and make the place where you ate nice and clean. Help each other.

Step 8. Sports and Play. Winning is not important. Sharing the time you have with others, helping each other to become stronger, healthier, and happier is what matters. Always be fair and accept losing with just as much kindness, cheerfulness, and appreciation as winning. If you win, praise the efforts of those who lost and thank them for playing with you. That is practicing true humility. Always encourage each other.

7 Step 9. Homework. See number 6. Your teacher goes to a lot of trouble giving homework assignments and checking them all the time. Your homework is another opportunity to learn and appreciate life. Do it mindfully and, who knows? You might even have fun with it!

Step 10. Thank your teachers when you leave class, thank your friends and fellow students. Expressing appreciation really transforms our attitudes and the attitudes of others. It makes the world a happier place. Always reflect that your life is a gift to you. Recite the Nembutsu.

Step 11. Dinner. See numbers 3 and 7. Enjoy the time you spend with your family. Think about how wonderful it is that you are able to be together, sharing delicious food and enjoying each other’s company. If your family does not sit down to dinner together, suggest that they do. After dinner, thank whoever did the cooking and always help set the table and clean up without being asked.

Step 12. Bedtime. Just as when you got ready for the day (see number 2) get ready for bed carefully and mindfully. And before you fall asleep, think about all the things that happened today, how much Wisdom and Compassion you received from so many people and other beings. Ask yourself if you were as kind and appreciative as you could have been. Then, put your hands in gassho, recite the Nembutsu, and think about the wonderful day you will have tomorrow!

So that’s it, “12 Steps for Living the Teachings.” Of course, this is not the only way to Live the Teachings, this is just an example of how someone who wants to follow the Buddha’s Way might try to live. There are many things you can do but there is no one right way for everyone. But, we all have to start somewhere and by trying to be mindful, kind, patient, and compassionate, we are sure to make a good start. I hope you will give it a try! Thank you very much!

“How wonderful that we are able to live in this world today. How grateful that we are able to be together to hear and think about the Buddha’s Teachings. Namo Amida Butsu.”

Kona Hongwanji Judo Club News

Some upcoming events for our Judo Club include:

 19th Annual Oyama Invitational Judo Tournament. To be held on Sunday, March 17th at 8:30 am at Konawaena High School Gymnasium.

 12th Annual Hawaii Shima Judo Kyokai HSJK, Benefit Golf Tournament. To be held at The Hapuna Golf course on Sunday, March 24th at 8:00 am. Anyone interested in Golfing or donating to this event can contact Gene Nakashima at (808)323-2530-home or (808)936-2530-cell

 Annual Children’s day service and Mochi Pounding will be on Sunday, May 5th. Service at 9:00 am, and mochi pounding to follow the service.

We have also rejuvenated our plant nursery and would appreciate any potted plant donations - so that we may keep them for future sales. Contact Daniela Araki, club secretary, for any questions or donations - (808)937-8067 or [email protected] 8 LIFE by Rev. Shoji

Victoria Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Anne Marie Murphy, Rachel D'Avino, Mary Sherlach, Dawn Hochsprung. (These teachers were alive until the day of the shooting in Newtown on 12/24.)

In his speech to Newtown residents two days after 12/24, President Obama quoted the Bible (2 Corinthians 5:1): "When this tent we live in -- our body here on earth -- is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever." It's nice to know that the teachers are now in heaven. I'm still here on earth, feeling that at age seventy one I know how much I still need to learn about life and how difficult it is to define in words.

All things are impermanent and imperfect. To learn to live and love myself and my life in spite of the imperfection and impermanence of my self and my life is a happy way to live. Life is always changing and always moving. I have no control over the fact that life is arranging and rearranging everything around and within me. I do, however, have control over how I live it.

To me, one of the purposes of nembutsu meditation is that it be a mental reflection on just how lucky I am to be able to walk and breathe. I just don't want to take life for granted. I daily earnestly choose life over death (or suicide) because it is a choice. Life, which is my ultimate concern, is what matters.

I take as my motto William James's advice: "Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it, from the mortal point of view, so far as we have anything to do with it, a success." In Pragmatism, James says: "The peace and the rest, the security desiderated at such moments is security against the bewildering accidents of so much finite experience. Nirvana means safety from this everlasting round of adventures of which the world of sense consists. The Buddhists, for this is essentially their attitude, are simply afraid, afraid of more experience, afraid of life." Although I'm a Buddhist, I'm not one of them. I'm not afraid of life.

Albert Camus is right to say: "If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life." Since Amida Buddha took care of my afterlife a long time ago, I don't worry about it. I live both in time and out of time imaginatively. It is this reality that makes my present life more precious.

Life is alive and undefinable as Karl Jaspers says, "Such is the idea of a great and noble life -- to endure ambiguity in the movement of truth and to make life shine through it; to stand fast in uncertainty, to be capable of unlimited love and hope."

So long as I want to live in this world, I must accept the facts that there is no life without pain, that life is intolerably impermanent and uncertain, and that life is full of adventures and surprises. Joy never comes without suffering and therefore it takes courage to live. I must live my own life because nobody created me and my existence in this world is my own and not subject or subordinate to any higher being. I cannot and should not live a life like that of the Buddha or Shinran, -- a life of enlightenment -- although I respect them as my teachers. My own life is not only a life of love, joy, and freedom but also a life lived by means of my rational thinking and choosing. Death and afterlife can't make my life either meaningful or meaningless. To make my life meaningful, I strive to do something that will outlast me and improve the society and the world.

I still don't know much about life. Perhaps it will be clearer to me as I go on living. Every now and then I awaken to joy in the sheer fact of life itself. My thinking about the meaning of life is an ongoing project.

9 All of what I've said above is tentative and open to revision in light of new insights I may gain.

When Push Comes to Shove by William Tokuko Lundquist

For more than a century, Kona Hongwanji has served as both a Buddhist temple and a community cultural center, preserving the Dharma of Amida and Shakyamuni, as well as the traditions of the Japanese immigrants to the Big Island. A couple of years ago, I predicted that to survive in the future, Kona Hongwanji would either become less of a Japanese cultural center and more of a center for Buddhism, or more of a cultural center and less an exclusively Buddhist temple. Some items in the February Ji-Ho indicated that people are exploring in both directions.

The first item said Rev. Shoji had approved and supported a Christian funeral service in the temple, conducted by a Christian pastor. That doesn’t surprise me at all. The Dalai Lama spreads the Dharma all over the world, but he always encourages people to seek it within their own religious traditions. Rev. Shoji is also a student of all religions and knows that behind the window dressing of ritual and dogma, every religion started with a wise man saying, “Stop and smell the roses. Life is too short and precious to ignore. Cherish your life and that of all others and treat them as you would like to be treated.” Every religion has something like the Christian “Golden Rule,” or the Buddhist “Golden Chain.” Jesus told his followers that the Golden Rule was the sum total of the Jewish prophets and law. Shakyamuni Buddha told his followers something similar on many different occasions.

It makes sense that as some of the descendants of Buddhist pioneers adopt other religions, and new coffee farmers from other cultures bring their religions to Kona, Kona Hongwanji will become less exclusively Buddhist and more a community center for all cultures. The preschool and scout troops have long been open to non-Buddhists. In fact, the Cub Scouts see no conflict at all in having a Christmas party or singing Christian Christmas carols at the Life Care Center. Some may see all this as a sign that Christians are taking over a Buddhist temple, but the open-mindedness that allows us to see the Dharma in all faiths, and to recognize all people as brothers and sisters (or cousins as we say in Hawaii), is a very Buddhist trait. After all, we believe that Amida Buddha vowed to bring all sentient beings into the Pure Land, not just Buddhists.

The other Ji-Ho item that caught my attention was about the revival of the Big Island chapter of the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists by the reverends and several members of the Daifukuji Soto Mission and the Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. By joining together with other types of Buddhist temples and teaching the practices of Zen, Jodo Shinshu, Vipassana and others, Kona Hongwanji could become more attractive to Buddhists of all cultures. I can see a time when there are no more than a couple of Buddhist temples on the entire Big Island, and all remaining Buddhist sects are going to have to share them.

If I had to guess, I’d say the Daifukuji will go in the direction of becoming more of a temple for all Buddhist traditions, not just Zen, while the Kona Hongwanji will become less of an exclusively Buddhist temple and more of an interfaith cultural center. Either way, all members are going to have to remember that Shakyamuni Buddha taught that everything changes constantly, and our refusal to accept change causes us to suffer needlessly.

Of course, our third choice is to refuse to change anything. We know what the result will be from all the other articles in the Ji-Ho. The financial handwriting is on the wall: in the not too distant future, enough members will have died and the loss of contributions will mean the temple will close and the building will be sold off. Some members would prefer this choice, keeping the Kona Hongwanji safe and familiar until they pass away. I can’t blame them and this too would be the kind of change Shakyamuni told us was coming. He said that everything that is put together comes apart eventually. The Kona Hongwanji served a need very well for more than a century, but maybe that need has been met and new institutions will arise to meet new needs. That’s the way it has always been. All things must pass. Yet, I know Amida

10 Buddha and Jodo Shinshu brought something to me that I desperately needed, and I suspect there are many others out there that could benefit from Shinran’s teachings. If we have to accept a lot of changes to keep those teachings alive, I think it would be worth it.

CUB SCOUTS PACK 12

Makahiki Ticket Sales: Makahiki Ticket sales will begin on Saturday, March 2nd.

This year the Tickets are called ‘KAUKAU’ cards. The discount cards are typically “two for one, buy one get one free or a specific dollar amount. Please support Kona Hongwanji’s PACK 12. The ticket cost is $12.00 but well worth the savings on the card. For more information please feel free to contact Lynn Gusman 896-4987 or Shelley Mandaguit 937-4946.

Scout Sunday - Boy Scouts of America Celebrating over 103 years of scouting… Congratulatory messages were read by the following: Ms. Barbara Dalton from the Governor’s office read a “Special Message from Governor Neil Abercrombie”, congratulating the Pack for their service to West Hawaii Community on Scout Sunday. *Mrs Dee Ono read a letter in behalf of Senator Mazie Hirono. *Mr. Jon Furuto read a letter in behalf of Mayor Billy Kenoi. The following Awards were presented the scouts by their Den Leader and Mrs Barbara Dalton. Each Scout was presented a “Certificate of Recognition” In recognition of your outstanding achievement & dedication Cub Scout Pack #12, from Governor Neil Abercrombie along with their awards: Kenison Morinaka- 1 White Bead, & 1 Black Bead Dylan Leinonen – 3 Orange Beads Riki Furuto -1 Orange Bead, Bear Badge &1 Gold Arrow Point Nathan-Jay Gabaon -2 Orange Beads, Flag Football Belt Loop & Soccer Belt Loop Keoni Gali -1 Orange Bead & Bear Badge Hawila Kaulia-Alani-1 Orange Bead & Fishing Belt Loop Edward Wessel - 2 Orange Beads, Bear Badge, Swimming Belt Loop, Swimming Sports Pin Dylan Wroten - 1 Orange Bead & Bear Badge Dylan Tadao Ono-Bong - Athlete Spencer Mandaguit -Scientist Pin/ Belt-Loops, Astronomy, Bicycling & Science D’marco Manuel Mireles -Pin-Athlete Carson Nishida -Pin-Athlete Drew K.C Basque -Pins-Aquanaut & Athlete Bryson Neal Dagdag – Pins-Geologist & Scholar Kenichi Iwase Furuto - Pin-Family Member & Scientist

Thank you Corner: Cub Master Glenn Hirowatari for cooking breakfast @ 5:00am so the scouts could eat by 6:00am. Scrambled eggs, smokies, ham & cookies. Yum. Also Lynn Gusman for making the rice and picking up the leis, cake, pastries, coffee and fruit cocktail. Emcee’s: Bryson Dagdag (Son of Luana and Paul Dagdag), Kenichi Furuto (Son of Jon and Mika Furuto) & Spencer Mandaguit (Son of Shelley and Claude Mandaguit). Moani Nishida: Awards. Minoru Hanato: Representing Disabled American Veterans. David Carlson: Representing American Legion Post # 20 Morris Nagata: Ringing of the church bell and handling the audio for the service.

Winter Camp – Waiono Meadows January 19 – 20 Yes this was absolutely a WINTER CAMP!!! During the night it went down to 38 degrees. Burrrrr.

It was a beautiful, clear, crisp Saturday morning when we headed up to Waiono Meadows. The view of Hualalai Mountain was awesome on the drive up. NO VOG. Once we got there everyone set up their 11 tents (The camp grounds were fenced in due to wild pigs, so the grass was nicely trimmed and soft) when done they prepared their fishing gears Armed with fishing pole in one hand and a bucket in the other. The scouts and family members were so thrilled about catching Crayfish. Some of them were pretty good size, but none the less not edible. The best bait for Crayfish is hot dogs. Once they smell them they clamp their claws and never let go. Unfortunately for most of them it’s the end of their life. Several scouts opted to keep them alive and take them home to see if they could raise them. One of the scouts’ moms could see eyes looking back at them while they were fishing. Apparently there are a lot of toads in the pond too.

Break…time for lunch! Everyone brought their own lunch. It was nice to just relax and talk story to get to know each other better. Lunch…done…more fishing…yay. Of course the scouts did take some time to play catch and dodge ball. You think that would knock them out, not even, only the adults were tired. Hee hee. Dinner was prepared with the help of the parents. Thanks to Assistant Cub Master Shelley Mandaguit, who had done all the shopping. We had Chili, rice and corn. Delish! What overnight camp doesn’t have smore’s and hot chocolate? Ours does! We had them both. A perfect snack to end the perfect day.

Thanks to Shelley Mandaguit and Ben Wroten we had a filling breakfast of rice, fried rice, scrambled eggs, homemade Portuguese sausage and little smokies. After breakfast, clean up then more fishing. Lunch was simple deli sandwiches and chips. A few scouts and parents ventured off on a little hike to check out the horses. It was just another calm and relaxing day…

Thank you to Rene and Harold Deniz for working with Mr. Clarence Werner (the owner of Waiono Meadows) and Glenn to secure Waiono Meadow for us.

Upcoming Events: March 2nd - Makahiki Tickets Sales April 20th – Makahiki – Makaeo Pavilion – Old A

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SPECIAL DONATIONS

Edward Aoki Mr. & Mrs. Bert Maedo Mr. & Mrs. Jay Manago, In Memory of mother, Osame Manago Stephan Matsuda, In Memory of Henry E. Matsuda Mr. & Mrs. Sueto Matsumura, yearly donation Yooko Moriguchi, In Memory of Eiko Koizumi Bond's 13th Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Michitoshi Murakami, Social Concerns Gilbert Nakayama, In Memory of Walter Nakayama Okamoto Family, In Memory of Frank & Wayne Okamoto's birthdays Hanako Sheldon, Blessings of Home and Business Susan Shirota, Bodhi Day Toshie Shirota, Bodhi Day and Social Concerns Sandy Iwashita, Project Dana, BWA and Judo Club Mr. & Mrs. Hitoshi Morimoto, In Memory of Kenjiro Sasaoka Family Mr. & Mrs. Colbert Nozaki Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ban, In Gratitude Kiyoko Fry Mr. & Mrs. James Fujimoto Kaneo Family, In Memory of our Parents and Grandparents, Project Dana, BWA, Shinwakai, Dharma School and Jr. YBA Margaret, Rick & Jason Kihara, In Memory of Gilbert K. Kihara's 50th Year Anniversary

12 Gary & Laura Kirihara, In Memory of Karen Murata's 17th Year Anniversary Loretta Kitaoka, Graveside Inurnment Service for Noboru "King" Kitaoka Mr. & Mrs. Charles Nakamura, In Appreciation for Keirosha Recognition Sumiko Yamamoto Elsie (Koga) Tatsuguchi, Gilbert Koga & Stanley Koga, In Memory of Mr. Isami Koga Acknowledgments Continued:

Mitsue Oshima Nancy Shimamoto, Lorraine Mito, Susan Miyashita & Betty Takeoka, In Memory of Mitsuno Yamane's 100th Memorial Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Zakahi, Annual Luncheon Door Prize Donation Total - $2,945.00

MEMORIAL SERVICES

Michiyo Iwasaki, Funeral Service & Related Expenses for Satoshi Iwasaki Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ban, 17th Year Memorial Service for Hisayo Ban Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ban, In Gratitude for 17th Year Memorial Service for Hisayo Ban Mike Kaneko, 1st Year Service for Yaeko Kaneko Xandria Tobara, Funeral Service & Related Expenses for Haruo Aoki Charles Peterson, Funeral Service & Related Expenses for Richard M. Tanaka Total - $2,900.00

HAKASOJI and NOKOTSUDO

Sandy Iwashita Mr. & Mrs. James Fujimoto Suyeko Nishina Ethel Sogi James Matsuda Matsuko Matsuda Kaneo Family, In Memory of our Parents and Grandparents Total - $340.00

Mr. & Mrs. Kiyoshi Nakamura Lorraine Haraguchi James Matsuda Nozomu Uemura Sandy Iwashita Total - $170.00

JANUARY SUNDAY SERVICE

Offerings Total - $118.00

GOSHOKI HOONKO & CANDLE LIGHT SERVICES

Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Francis Abe Lisa Ciriako Mr. & Mrs. Kazuyoshi Aoki Mr. & Mrs. Colin Byars Yasunori Deguchi Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Chong Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Fujikawa Hisako Hirai Mr. & Mrs. Joe Gusman Mr. & Mrs. Keith Hayama Akinori Imai Mr. & Mrs. Gary Ichishita Mr. & Mrs. Sadayuki Inouye Mary Katayama Mr. & Mrs. Yoshiyuki Kaneko Mr. & Mrs. Daren Katayama Carol Kawachi Mr. & Mrs. Naoto Katoku Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Komo Margaret Kihara Mr. & Mrs. Bert Maedo Mr. & Mrs. Gail Masunaga Edna Kitagawachi Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Matsumoto Mr. & Mrs. George Matsuoka Alan Matsumoto

13 Mr. & Mrs. Michitoshi Murakami Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuo Nagai Kimie Mizoshiri Mr. & Mrs. Toshio Nagai Mr. & Mrs. Morris Nagata Chizu Nakashima Pauline Nishina Goodwin Mr. & Mrs. Ichiro Shikada Helen Oishi Mr. & Mrs. Norman Takeoka Ethel Saito Daisy Sasaki Susan Shirota Toshie Shirota Suga Suzuki Acknowledgments Continued:

Mr. & Mrs. Terence Terada Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Tokuyama Kazue Teshima Mr. & Mrs. Fred Uechi Mr. & Mrs. Sukeji Yamagata Dean Uemura Makiko Yamaguchi Mr. & Mrs. Kenji Fukumitsu Sandy Iwashita Mr. & Mrs. Kiyoshi Nakamura Keith Nishihara Hidetaka Sato Ellen Nishikawa Sumiko Yamamoto Tamaki Harano Total - $1,031.00

SCOUT SUNDAY & FEBRUARY SERVICES

Offerings Total - $335.00

SPECIAL - CAPITAL FUND

Susan Shirota Toshie Shirota Sandy Iwashita Mildred Morimoto

CONDOLENCES

Mrs. Linda Egami Roberts of Reno, Nevada passed away on January 16, 2013 at the age of 58.

Mr. Richard M. Tanaka of Keei passed away on January 18, 2013 at a Private Care Home in Kailua-Kona at the age of 87

Mr. Haruo Aoki of Kealakekua passed away on January 23, 2013 on Oahu at the age of 75.

Mr. Francis S. Yamamoto of Kailua-Kona passed away on January 28, 2013 at his residence at the age of 65.

Kona Hongwanji extends our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and relatives of those members who recently passed away. May the wisdom and compassion of Amida Buddha surround you and your family with loving memories of your loved one in the years to come.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"However the tea is prepared, the primary ingredient is always water. While we can live without tea, we can't live without water. Likewise, we are born free of religion but we are not born free of the need for compassion"

Dalai Lama