Our guest speaker for our Buddha Day Service was Rev. Kazunori Takahashi. Rev. Takahashi is the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s Executive Assistant to Bishop Eric Matsumoto, and has has served at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Kapaa Hongwanji Mission and Lihue Hongwanji Mission.
The hanamido was decorated using donated flowers the day prior temple volunteers. During the service, members and guests poured sweet tea on the statue of the baby Buddha, representing the gentle rain that fell on Lumbini Garden.
We were also fortunate to have Shakuhachi musician Katsumi in attendence, who accompanied Joy, our piano player.