The Change Mariner

Promoting Buddhism in Hawaii

Honlulu Advertiser:

The annex chapel at Honpa Hongwanji on Pali Highway is brimming with families.

Terry Labiste, left, her 9-year-old son Eric, and Doris Abe worship at the Honpa Hongwanji on the Pali Highway. The hongwanji and the Soto Zen mission are the two largest Buddhist denominations in the Islands. Buddhists here are second in numbers only to Roman Catholics.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Cori Yoshida, age 7, and other little Buddhists in training sing: "All life changes like the dew/ We have no permanent self," then listen as the animated Rev. Jan Youth, a former schoolteacher, launches into a dharma message (sermon). Cori laughs when the Transformers toy her minister is using as a visual aid refuses to transform.

"My wife and I grew up Buddhist," said her father, Scott Yoshida, explaining that he and Debbie want the same grounding for their daughter.

Cross the Pali and head mauka one block and the scene is much different at the main temple of the Soto Zen mission. Here, after the 45-minute service, some of the 30 or so mostly older Asian Americans gather for coffee and savory Japanese pastries and lament the loss of their youthful members to Christian churches.

Welcome to the two largest Buddhist denominations in the Islands, both taking different approaches as they face the challenges to Buddhism in Hawai'i today.