obon

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Obon & Hatsubon Service

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Rev. Jeffrey Soga

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 7, 2024 with a Dharma Talk by guest speaker Rev. Jeffrey Soga, resident minister of Waipahu Hongwanji. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. This was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon.

The service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii.

Join us at our Bon Dance in Kailua on Saturday, July 13, 2024. One night only! Visit https://tinyurl.com/bondance2024 or https://windwardbuddhisttemple.org for details.

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:58 - Offering of Flowers & Light

    03:45 - Meditation 04:41 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:57 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:11 - Obon Aspiration

    11:22 - Hatsubon Remembrance

    14:28 - Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)

    22:16 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)

    24:43 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Jeffrey Soga

    51:53 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness

    54:19 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    56:45 - Announcements

    01:06:25 - July Birthdays

    01:08:09 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    01:09:03 - July Schedule

    01:09:19 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays

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Bon Dance | Kailua 2023

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A big mahalo out to everyone who joined us in Kailua for Windward Buddhist Temple's first Bon Dance at our temple in 4 years. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves, whether it was finding treasure at the Rummage Sale, getting a tub of takuan at the Country Market, enjoying ono andagi and BBQ stick dinner plates at the food booth, cooling down with shave ice by the Junior YBAs, learning about our temple from Rev. Brennan and Rev. Sumikawa, or simply dancing the night away around the yagura.

We were amazed at not only how many came from the Windward side, but from just about all over the island to attend our Bon Dance. The Obon season truly is a time to come together as a community and celebrate those who came before us. Thank you to all!

Around the Yagura

Food Booth

Country Market & Rummage Sale

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Obon & Hatsubon Service

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Rev. Bert Sumikawa

Our annual Obon & Hastubon Service held on Sunday, July 2, 2023 with a Dharma Talk by Rev. Bert Sumikawa, at Windward Buddhist Temple. Obon is a time when Buddhists remember those who have left this world before us, with gratitude for enabling us to exist and to encounter the dharma. It was also our Hatsubon Service, for families of those who passed away since the last Obon. 

The service was officiated by Rev. Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple in Kailua, Hawaii. 

  • 00:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

    00:16 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

    02:53 - Meditation

    03:56 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

    06:05 - San Bu Jo (page 9 in the red service book)

    10:14 - Offertory by Families for Hatsubon & Obon

    16:47 - Gatha: Obon Obon It's Festival Day (page 115 in Praises of the Buddha)

    19:27 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Bert Sumikawa

    41:43 - Gatha: Ondokusan/Gratefulness

    44:13 - The Nembutsu (page 135 in the red service book)

    46:29 - Announcements

    55:19 - July Birthdays

    57:16 - Words of Thanksgiving (page 126 in the red service book)

    58:07 - July Schedule

    58:20 - How to Donate to WBT

  • We are now able to accept secure online donations using PayPal or a credit card. Please visit our Donation page for instructions or scan the QR code in the video.Item description

  • Download the Jodo Shinshu Service Book (the "red service book"): https://tinyurl.com/GetServiceBook

July Birthdays

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Waimanalo Japanese Cemetery Visit 2023

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On June 12, 2023, Windward Buddhist Temple held its annual visit to the Bellows Japanese Cemetery in Waimanalo, where Rev. Bert Sumikawa and Rev. Barbara Brennan performed an obon service. Access to the cemetery by the public is restricted as it is located on an active military base.

There are a little over 40 grave markers at the cemetery, most erected in the early 1900s. Many are believed to have been connected to the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation, the nearby dairy farm, or Waimanalo Hongwanji. 

Mahalo as always to the Marine Corps for escorting our group to the cemetery.

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2nd Annual Windward Mall Bon Dance

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Bishop Eric and Tamayo Matsumoto enjoying the Bon dance and WBT’s takuan

Watch highlights of the Bon Dance by PhotoLukeHawaii Travels and Bon Dance

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Online Obon Service

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Rev. Alan Urasaki & Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa

Rev. Alan Urasaki & Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa

Online Obon Service for Sunday, July 4, 2021 with Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa and guest speaker, Rev. Alan Urasaki, at Windward Buddhist Temple. The annual Obon Service remembers all who have come before us.

  • 00:00 - Ringing of the kansho (temple bell)

  • 02:00 - Opening Remarks & Program

  • 02:27 - Vandana & Ti-Sarana (page 7 in the red service book)

  • 04:23 - San Bu Jo

  • 08:15 - Sutra: Shoshinge (page 11 in the red service book)

  • 14:14 - Gatha: Obon, Obon, It's Festival Day

  • 16:06 - Dharma Talk: Rev. Alan Urasaki

  • 37:24 - Gatha: Homeward I Go (from "Gift of Peace")

  • 39:29 - Nembutsu (page 107 in Praises of the Buddha)

  • 40:30 - Closing Aspiration

  • 41:02 - July Schedule

  • 41:10 - Announcements

  • 42:03 - How to Donate to WBT Online

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Online Obon Service

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Virtual Obon Service for Sunday, August 16, 2020 with Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa at Windward Buddhist Temple. We are pleased to announce that WBT will be posting recorded services to YouTube and our website beginning in August. Today's service includes:

0:00 Ringing of the Kansho

2:04 Welcome

2:56 San Bu Jo

7:07 Sutra: Sanbutsuge (page 46 in the red service book)

15:09 Recitation: The Creed - I (page 4 in the red service book)

16:17 Dharma Talk: Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa

32:55 Gatha: "Obon, Obon, It's Festival Day" performed by Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge

34:38 Nembutsu (page 107 in the Praises of the Buddha book)

This year we had to cancel the Bon Dance which also served as one of the major fundraising events for WBT. We hope that you will consider a donation to WBT in August to commemorate Obon. Please mail your donation to:

Windward Buddhist Temple

268-A Kuulei Road

Kailua, HI 96734

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Bon Dance Festival at Windward Mall

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In collaboration with Windward Buddhist Temple, Windward Mall in Kaneohe hosted their first ever indoor Bon Dance Festival on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Attendees danced in air conditioned comfort around our yagura, repainted for the Bon Dance and relocated to the mall’s air conditioned Center Court.

WBT’s Keiji Kukino served as the emcee for the Bon Dance, which took place from 2 pm to 4 pm and featured members of the Ko’olau Sakura Odori Kai and Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi.

At the Windward Buddhist Temple booth, our famous andagi, as well as homemade takuan, boiled peanuts, and Bon Dance towels were available for purchase. The food items sold out before the end of the Bon Dance! White paper fans were the perfect canvas for creative keiki (and adults), who stopped by to customize them with their own personalized artwork.

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Bon Dance 2019

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The 2019 Windward Buddhist Temple Bon Dance was held on Saturday, July 13, 2019. We were fortunate to have great weather!

The food concession was a success with andagi selling out by 8:30. Mahalo to the United Jr. YBA of Honolulu for running their shave ice booth and to Mats and Betty Okamoto for donating and manning the plant sale desk.

This year we had a Country Store inside the hall that sold the in demand WBT’s takuan and several varieties of manju, chutney, bittermelon namasu, etc. Minature plants called Kokedama sold well. Gently used books and creative photo cards were also available.

Once again, beautiful, creative ikebana (flower arrangement) were on display by the Ohara School of Ikebana. Members John & Joy Nishida (JT Nish) provided the sound system and set up huge outside speakers. Live music from the Okinawan group, Aiea Taiheiji and Iwakuni groups highlighted the evening’s festivities.

Bon Dance is a large undertaking – Mahalo everyone who helped with this year's Bon Dance and also mahalo to our guests that came to patronize our concession and enjoy the music and danced the night away. See you again next year!