May 2018 The Newsletter of Mililani Hongwanji Mission Volume 41 Issue No. 5

Temple activities should be posted as soon as possible on the “MASTER CALENDAR” located on the bulletin board for inclusion in the Dharma Connection calendar and for general temple planning.

1 Tue 8:00 AM Flower Arrangement Class

1 Tue 10:00 AM Wahiawa Skilled Nursing Facility Visitation

4 Fri 7:30 PM Mindful Meditation

6 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service & Dharma School: Beach Day Activity

6 Sun 12:00PM Oahu Lay Association Meeting at Waipahu Hongwanji

7 Mon 7:30 PM Religious Activities Sub-Council Meeting

8 Tue 9:00 AM Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

9 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board of Directors Meeting

11 Fri 7:00 PM Music Jam Session

13 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service (Mother's Day)

13 Sun 10:15 AM BWA Meeting

15 Tue 8:00 AM Flower Arrangement Class

19 Sat 8:00 AM Adopt-a-Highway

20 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service (No Dharma School)

20 Sun 9:00 AM District Gotan-e & Songfest at Waipahu Hongwanji

20 Sun 2--4 PM Buddha Bowling Bash at Aiea Bowl

25 Fri 7:00 PM Music Jam Session

27 Sun 9:00 AM Gotan-e (Shinran Shonin's Birthday) & Last Day of Dharma

School: Dharmachakra Pizza & Ice Cream Sundaes

27 Sun 12:30 PM Oahu United BWA Meeting

31 Thu 7:30 PM Bon Dance Meeting # 2

1 Fri 7:30 PM Mindful Meditation

3 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service (No Dharma School)

8 Fri 7:00 PM Music Jam Session

9 Sat 1--3 PM OUHHBWA Open House

10 Sun 9:00 AM Joint Memorial & Family Service

10 Sun 10:15 AM BWA Meeting

12 Tue 9--12 PM Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

13 Wed 7:30 PM Kyodan Board of Directors Meeting

17 Sun 9:00 AM Gannenmono Service (No Dharma School)

(Father's Day)

22 Fri 7:00 PM Music Jam Session

24 Sun 9:00 AM Family Service (No Dharma School)

28 Thu 9:00 AM Lotus Connection

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Who is Your Anchor? If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha-lands of the ten

quarters, who have been touched by my light, should not feel peace and happiness in their bodies and minds surpas-sing those of humans and devas, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. -33rd Vow

Several weeks ago, my wife and I went to the movies. In one of the scenes, the protagonist meets his idol and

exclaims “You are my anchor!” I thought to myself, that’s an interesting choice of words to use. He could have said that this person was his idol or hero, but he used the word “anchor.”

When we think of an anchor, we think of a heavy object used to moor a ship. However, we can consider a per-

son who provides us stability or confidence in an uncertain situation as an anchor. Eric Mason writes, “suffering re-veals who is anchoring you at all times. Are your circumstances in life your anchor?”

When we go through hardships in our lives, we need something to hold on to, to help us

get through the situation. What we hold on to reveals who we are and what we are anchored to. If the circumstance gets a better part of us, we are easily swept away deep into the stormy seas of our suffering. However, if we have a strong anchor, or a strong foundation, we discover a mechanism to weather through life’s storms and not find us shipwrecked in the great sea of life.

With that said, who is YOUR anchor? For many of our first-generation plantation workers

who came here from Japan, their local temple was their anchor. The temple provided a social and supportive founda-tion for them, that is where many got their education, news from back home, and the spiritual guidance that they needed in an unknown land.

They had each other and needed each other. I still remember the stories from my grandparents of how they

financially helped each other in times of need, and how they all gathered at a person’s house to provide the moral support, through the night as a family grieved the passing of a loved one.

The Buddha’s 33rd Vow provides us with the anchor we need as we voyage

through the storms of life. We who have been touched by the Buddha’s Light are al-ways embraced and provides us the anchor we need in life. We recite Namo Amida Butsu in deep awareness and appreciation for that embrace. We are never forgotten, even if we are among the countless sentient beings, Buddha never forgets who we are and our place in this world.

The Buddha made this vow as a means for us to entrust ourselves to take refuge in this Light. We open up ourselves to receive this Light. This Light provides us with the realization of our birth into the Pure Land, and proves us the guidance to live our life in the here and now.

Rev. David Fujimoto

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Aloha Mililani Hongwanji Ohana! “HOMELESSNESS - Talk Story” with Alea Bridge, Honolulu Police Dept., and Rep. Beth Fukumoto at Mililani Hongwanji

on March 19th, was another eye-opening meeting in our community. Thanks to Phil Acosta, Exec. Director of Alea Bridge,

Sgt. John Mau of Wahiawa Police Dept., and U.S. Vets, who shared with us the status of homeless in our community,

resources available for assistance, and emphasizing that the public needs to call 911 whenever there is a disturbance or

trespassing, etc. The more documentation collected will assist the authorities to secure funding or resources needed to

solve homeless problems in our community. Surprisingly, statistics show 27% decrease over the past 3 years: North

Shore -56%, Wahiawa-40%, and Mililani has 4% in the area. Sgt. Mau asks the community to be their eyes and ears in

order to get assistance to the homeless and help prevent crime, to help nip it in the bud. “Ask not what your community can do for you, but what can

you do for your community.” Our Buddhist perspective on homelessness begins with the deep understanding and unconditional nature of Buddha’s

compassion and the preciousness of each individual and of all life. We are links in Amida Buddha’s Golden Chain of Love. Thanks to the leadership of

Dean Sakamoto and our Honpa Hongwanji Social Concerns Committee for engaging and assisting, to be kind and gentle and not turn away from human

suffering.

Big congratulations to our Mililani Buddhist Women’s Association who celebrated their 40th Anniversary on April 8th at the Helemano Plantation.

Thanks to President Diane Yoza and her planning committee for a special lunch and memorable program. We take for granted the behind the scenes

work of the women of the temple because they do it unselfishly and with happy hearts knowing they are making lots of people happy. Thanks to June

Asato who started our BWA 40 years ago and have continued to be active in leadership roles as the Past president of the United Buddhist Women’s

Association and serving as a current Director on our Kyodan Board of Directors. While women have evolved in our temple, they continue to be the

“Nurturers”, preparing lunches for our Thursday Gang, preparing refreshments for after Sunday Dharma service fellowship, emceeing Sunday Dharma

Services, and bi-monthly visits at the Wahiawa Hospital Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. You are welcome to join us for an hour on Tuesday morn-

ings, to help bring sunshine and joy in peoples’ days where we open with a Buddhist chant and dharma message, followed by a community sing-along.

We simply share our time to show the clients that we are happy to meet them, care about them, and hope we brought a little happiness in their day.

PLEASE JOIN US AT 10:00 AM ON TUESDAY, MAY 8TH.

If you didn’t attend our Lady Eshinni and Kakushinni Day Service on April 15th, you missed out on hearing our amazing guest speaker, Mrs. Yoshiko

Umitani and meeting her friendly daughter, Naho! Mrs. Umitani did an excellent job in presenting the historical achievements of Lady Eshinni, wife of

our leader Shinran Shonin, and daughter Kakushinni who are truly responsible for continuing Shinran’s teachings and Jodo Shinshu. In fact, Lady

Eshinni is next to Shinran as founder of Jodo Shinshu, and her 750th Memorial Service is being commemorated Sunday at Honzan. We learned that

Shinran was the first spiritual leader who married formally and his teacher Honin said the Nembutsu will save you. Although Honin never married,

respecting the Nembutsu teachings and respect for the reverends throughout the years, as with 25th Gomonshu, made Jodo Shinshu the largest sect in

Japan. I was mostly moved by Mrs. Umitani sharing life threatening experience of her mother-in-law. She found happiness in the middle of suffering

from cancer, as she felt sad and fatigued, she rejoiced in the support of family and others and empathized with the weak and infirm. Very touching.

As I was able to receive the Official BWA President’s Plaque from Diane Yoza in commemoration of their 40th Anniversary,

and I could thank Mrs. Umitani for her inspirational message with her daughter Naho, as we are celebrating mother Eshinni

and daughter Kakushinni, I recognized all the mothers and daughters active and in attendance on Sunday! Congratulations to

Itsue Tamamoto & Gail Taira, Gail Taira & Kathy Nakamoto, Kathy Nakamoto & Mari & Maya Nakamoto, Patsy Hiyakumoto &

Debbie, Ann & Arynn Ishikawa, Phyllis Tanaka & Gay, Susan Oshiro & Chloe, Nora Yasunaga & Daughter-in-Law Janice Yasuna-

ga, and Nora & granddaughter Shayna Yasunaga, and many more! Yes, as MC Carrie

Kawamoto mentioned, women are the Nurturers, and the future of Mililani Hongwanji

is in good hands!

I am looking forward to seeing you all in the May Gotan-e Services: May 20th, 9:00

AM, at Waipahu Hongwanji, and May 27th, 9:00 AM at Mililani

Hongwanji. Let’s celebrate the birth of our founder, Jodo Shinshu with much gratitude and ap-

preciation!

Finally, I hope you join our Oahu Lay Association for some fellowship and fun on May 20th,

2:00 PM, Aiea Bowl, for our “Buddha Bowling Bash”, followed by food and relaxation at Aiea

Hongwanji.

We are always very grateful for your support for Mililani Hongwanji and interest in spreading the dharma! Me ke aloha pumehana, In gassho, Rene

President’s Corner

Rene Mansho

April was celebration month for the BWA. The program and member-ship committees planned a gala 40th Anniversary lunch with special favors, a de-licious buffet and a program on care giving and caring for caregivers. The BWA presented Mililani Hongwanji with a beautiful perpetual plaque listing presi-dents of the Mililani BWA over the past 40 years. This presentation was made

at the annual Eshinni/Kakushinni Me-morial service. The sangha enjoyed a heartwarming dharma talk from Mrs. Yoshiko Umitani and were treated to a bountiful lunch. The offertory that day is designated for the $3 Million endowed Eshinni and Kakushinni Chair at the Institute for Buddhist Studies in honor of these mothers of the Hongwanji. The OUHHBWA will hold an open house for members and other women at

Mililani Hongwanji on Saturday, June 9 from 1-3 pm. The units of the Oahu BWA

and the Federation of BWA will be introduced. It’s not too late to join this active

temple group. All women of the temple are welcome—see President Diane Yoza or Membership Chair Joyce Ogawa for more

details. The big events coming up are the Joint Conference at the Ala Moana Hotel on September 1-3, 2018 and the World

Convention in San Francisco during the Labor Day weekend in 2019.

On April 14th, 9 BWA ladies with assistance from Warren Hahn cleaned up the Ehime Maru Memorial in Kakaako. We were greeted by Ken Saiki from the Japan America Society of Hawai'i (JASH) who gave us a talk on the history of the Memorial. Following the clean up, we enjoyed fellowship and a delicious Japanese lunch at Teishoku Restaurant at the Kam Shopping Center.

Eshinni/Kakushinni Memorial Service

Speaker: Mrs. Yoshiko Umitani

BWA 40th Anniversary Luncheon

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Wow, where did the time go? We’re already in our last month of Dharma School before our summer break. Thank you to all the

Dharma School families who attended our nature walk at the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens on March 25th. For some, it was their first

visit, for others, it was a great opportunity to roam the beautiful gardens again.

The month of April was full of fun activities. We had a Spring Egg Hunt on April 15th. Colorful eggs were

hidden in the Education Bldg., each filled with a small chocolate candy and a slip of paper with part of a Buddhist ob-

servance or the Eightfold Path. After all the eggs were found (including the golden egg by Brennan), the students had to

find their “matching partners” to receive a candy treat!

On April 22nd, we watched the movie “Bolt”, about a dog who learns a lot about himself while on a journey to

find his beloved owner. “It Takes A Village” was our lesson on April 29th. We read the book and talked about Interdependence

and the importance of family, friends and our Sangha. It was a very timely lesson, especially since it was on our Baccalaureate

service day. We would like to recognize our two Dharma School students Diego and Marisa, who will be graduating from Mililani High

School later this month. We are very proud of all they have achieved to reach this milestone with the help of the people in their

“village”.

And lastly, thank you to Dharma School parent David Thomson for emceeing service in April representing the Dharma School.

Here’s what we have planned for May:

May 6 – Fun Day at Aunty Gay's Beach House

May 20 – District Gotan-e & Songfest at Waipahu Hongwanji

May 27 – Dharmachakra Pizza & Ice Cream Sundaes

After service on May 6th, we have planned a beach day at Aunty Gay Tanaka’s beach house in Waialua. Light lunch

will be provided. Bring your swimwear, beach gear, and sunscreen! On May 20th, we are encouraging our families to attend

the Oahu District Gotan-e service and Songfest at Waipahu Hongwanji. The service starts at 9:00am. There will still be

service at our temple, however, there will be no Dharma class.

Our last day of Dharma School for this school year is on May 27th. We will be doing recognitions and awards,

making our favorite Dharmachakra pizza, and enjoying yummie ice cream sundaes! Please make your plans to attend.

Please feel free to see Dharma School Co-Directors Roger Babcock or Claire Doi or any of the Dharma School staff if you have any

questions or need more info.

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2018 Baccalaureate The Baccalaureate Committee would like to recognize and honor the following individuals who will be gradu-ating or receiving postgraduate degrees this spring:

Nicholas Babcock Son of Roger Babcock, Jr. and Jill Kyhos Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Northern Arizona University

Jillian Freitas Daughter of Allan and Sharon Freitas Doctor of Psychology School of Graduate Psychology Pacific University

Diego Guerrera Son of Mike and Eleanor Guerrera Mililani High School

Marisa Hayase Daughter of Neil and Melody Hayase Mililani High School

Guest Speaker Dean Sakamoto posed these ques-tions to the Mililani Hongwanji Sangha. Were you able to answer them? Did Dean answer them? Pull him aside and I’m sure he will share his thoughts and more. Be sure you have a notepad or better yet, record him on your smart phone. Did MC David Thomas grasp his message? Ask him and find out. You might be surprised.

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Mililani Hongwanji A Shin Buddhist Temple

Minister: Rev. David Fujimoto Kyodan President: Rene Mansho Mail to: P.O. Box 893308 Mililani, HI 96789 Location: 95-257 Kaloapau Street Mililani, HI 96789 Phone: 808.625.0925 Email: dharma.connection@gmail.com

Weekly Services on Sundays, 9:00 am

Visit us at mililanihongwanji.org

WCCHC Adult Day Care at Mililani Hongwanji

Aloha! We would like to let everyone know that we are accepting applications for

Adult Day Care enrollment. Do you know anyone caring for a loved one that needs respite or help caring for their loved one throughout the day? We are welcoming new clients. For any interested new applicants, we are offering tuition assistance. Please contact our ADC Director Trece White for more information at (808) 561-2147. We are OPEN at Mililani Hale 5 Days a week Monday thru Fridays from 8am-5pm; with early drop off available as early as 7am.

Joint Memorial Service for the families of the following will be held on Sunday,

May 13, 2018, 9:00 am

Please call the minister at 625-0925 and/or email dhar-ma.connection@gmail.com if there are corrections or additions to the published list. Families may call the min-ister to schedule special family memorial services for their loved ones. For 2018, special memorial years are observed for loved ones who passed away in:

2017 1st Year 2002 17th Year 1986 33rd year

2016 3rd Year 1996 23rd Year 1969 50th year

2012 7th Year 1994 25th year 1919 100th year

2006 13th Year

Monthly Joint Memorial Service Change Mililani Hongwanji will be holding it’s monthly joint memorial service on the SECOND Sunday of each month. This is to ac-commodate various events that come up during the year. Please plan accordingly.

Memorial Services Mililani Hongwanji conducts memorial services in hon-or of those who have passed away. The Shotsuki Memorial Ser-vice is a general memorial service which are held monthly to remember members and friends who passed away during the month in which the memorial service is held. These services are held primarily for those individuals that do not fall in the yearly service interval cycle. Nenki Hoyo Memorial Services are memorial services which are held separate from the monthly memorial services in yearly intervals. These separate private services can be held before, on or after the memorial dates. It is a personal oppor-tunity to gather as a family to encounter and listen to the Bud-dha Dharma and remember your family members and friends who have passed on and through these services, we are able to

reflect on all that we have received from them in our daily lives. It also

gives families the opportunity to reconnect with members they otherwise would not see during the course of the year.

Minister’s Private Visitation Are you unable to come to the temple? Please call Rev. David Fujimoto at 808.625.0925 to request a private visit. The minister would love to reach out to you and be the bridge between you, the temple and the sangha!

Mitsuo Fujimoto Harold Hanaoka George Harada Thomas Hashimoto Tsunehio Hashimoto Toku Hayase Goro Hirano Amy Horibata Kenneth Imamura Ann Kajiwara Itsuyo Kaneshiro Masaru Kido Hatsumi Kubota Marie Meyer

Bert Migita Gladys Naitoh Emery Nakashima Tsurukichi Nakaue Mitsuko Okinaka Chester Saito Toni Suehiro Zenyei Taira Bessie Tsuyama Yoshino Tsuyama Yeiichi Ukita Helen Watanuki Tamotsu Yamaguchi Shigetoshi Yoshino

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Summary of Mililani Hongwanji Meeting, April 11, 2018

Continued discussion & responded to Q&As pertaining to the Organizational Change Proposal approved by the BOD. Changed various titles and committee names for clarification. This is a work in progress for 2018 and will be decided later in

the year whether this proposal will move forward.

Social Media Program: Gay Tanaka shared various forms of social media and how it can be used to help MH get out to the youth. She will work with IT Committee to start a social media

program.

Ratified MH participation in the MTA Senior & Hobby Fair on

May 23, 9:00am –2:00pm, Rec Ctr III.

Approved funding for up to $600 to pay registration fee of $30

for choir members to participate in SongFest 2018.

Support Group (formerly sub-councils) Reports:

Operations: Bazaar Committee Report shared. Overall a suc-cess again. Nearly matched funds raised in 2016 even without the Judo Club participation selling food. There was no Bazaar

in 2017.

Facilities: No Report

Religious & Temple Activities: Rev. Fujimoto distributed a letter addressed to MH temple leaders stating the mission statement of the HHMH. Also emphasizing commons goals to Communicate, Attentive Hearing, Appreciate and Mutual Re-

spect.

BWA celebrated 40 years with Luncheon at Helemano Planta-tion. Ehime Maru cleaning, Eshinni/Kakushinni Memorial Ser-

vice with guest speaker Mrs. Yoshiko Umitani.

Dean Sakamoto shared information as a Director representing

the Oahu District at the HHMH meeting.

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(March 20, 2018 to April 16, 2018 )

In Gratitude. Namo Amida

Butsu

Buddha Day Anonymous

Christine Sato & Richard Lightner

Lotus Connection Group

Janet Abe

June Asato

Claire Doi

Sharon A. Freitas

Richard & Joyce Fujimoto

Warren & Nora Hahn

Theodine Hirai

Larry & Patsy Hiyakumoto

George Horibata

John K. & Ann Y.M. Ishikawa

Karl & Carol Ann Kakehi

Sharon Kaneko

Mamoru & Ethel Kawahara

Dennis & Carrie Kawamoto

Wayne & Roberta Kishinami

Sylvia Koike

Roy Manzoku

Myra Nohara & Family

Lester & Joyce Ogawa

Dean & Doreen Sakamoto

Jean Sanehira

Richard & Gail Taira

Itsue Tamamoto

Margaret Tanabe

Ivan & Fay Toyama

Steven & Lani Yamami

Ethel Yamashige

Reverend Jan Youth

Diane Yoza

Higan Spring Janet Abe

June Asato

Claire Doi

Richard & Joyce Fujimoto

Myra Fujino

Warren & Nora Hahn

Melvin & Eileen Hayase

Brandon Hee

Larry & Patsy Hiyakumoto

Karl & Carol Ann Kakehi

Sharon Kaneko

Mamoru & Ethel Kawahara

Dennis & Carrie Kawamoto

Thomas & Thelma Kushimi

Rene Mansho

Misae Matsuzaki

Earl & Amy Nishimoto

Masami & Joyce Nishimoto

Myra Nohara & Family

Lester & Joyce Ogawa

Dennis & Michele Oshita

Russell & Dale Saiki

Jean Sanehira

Richard & Gail Taira

Itsue Tamamoto

Tyler & Kristi Tamashiro

Margaret Tanabe

Nancy Tanaka

Hiroyoshi & Satoko Terao

Gordon & Lyn Watanabe

Ethel Yamashige

Diane Yoza General Donation(Bon Dance) Terry & Patricia Matsumoto

Joint Memorial Service Christine Sato & Richard Lightner IMO Ronald & Beatrice Sato

Michie Ando IMO George Ando & Susumu Ando

Takashi Ando IMO Susumu Ando & George Ando

June Asato IMO Tsuruko Asato

Harry & Itsuko Honda IMO Masayuki Tashima

Mamoru & Ethel Kawahara IMO Masanobu Kawahara

Lawrence & Joyce Nishioka IMO Makoto Nishioka

Karen Oda IMO Sumie Rodero

Arnold & Sandra Okubo IMO Kazuki Tanioka & Saichi Tanioka

Margaret Tanabe IMO Nancy Hirata

Tom Yoshizawa IMO Dianne Yoshizawa

Diane Yoza IMO Anna Nakamura

Memorial Service Mark & Lesley Ann Matsuwaki Memorial service for the late Clyde M. Tanaka (7th Yr)

Karen Tanaka Memorial service for the late Clyde M. Tanaka (7th Yr)

General Donation Crochet Group

Mililani Hongwanji Line Dancing Class

Roy Matsumura IMO Matao & Elsie Matsumura

Russell & Dale Saiki

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Eshinni/Kakushinni Memorial Service

MC: Carrie Kawamoto

Kyodan Pres. : Rene Mansho

Speaker: Yoshiko Umitani BWA Pres.: Diane Yoza

Ehime Maru Memorial looking bright and shiny thanks to the BWA (& Warren).

Happy Buddha Day, (Hanamatsuri) sweet tea being poured on the statute of Buddha by our Kupuna and Keiki.

Beautiful Hanamido, job well done!

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N E W S L E T T E R

91-1133 Renton Road Ewa, Hawaii Mail: P.O. Box 60549, Ewa, HI 96706

May 2018

EWA HONGWANJI MISSION

Ca lendar May 26 (Sat) 9:30 am Before-service clean-up

27 (Sun) 11:00 am English Gotan’e Service June 2 (Sat) 8:30 am Yagura construction ~ manpower needed, please come

and help put up the yagura, lunch included 4 (Mon) 7:00 pm Bon Dance meeting 9 (Sat) 8:30 am General clean-up ~ yard work, window cleaning,

sprucing up the temple for Bon Dance, lunch to follow 15 (Fri) 8:30 am Pre-O’bon preparation ~ put up food booth, electrical

work, etc, lunch included 16 (Sat) 8:30 am O’bon preparation ~ decorations, set up chairs,

spam musubi making, receive baked goods 5:30 pm Food Booth opens 6:00 pm Hatsubon Service 7:00-10:00 pm Bon Dance

We are still seeking volunteers for our Bon Dance “work days”. Please let us know if you will be able to lend us your kokua ~ Ruth @ 681-3229 or Myra @ 542-1770.

Donations ~ Higan-e Service Mrs. Jean Abe Ernest & Ruth Wakimura Mrs. Fujie Fukeda Ms. Rae Wakimura Ms. Myra Nohara

MAHALO for your Donat ions

Windcatchers

S MITH

Don

Honor your ancestors with windcatchers attached to lanterns which we will hang around the yagura.

Cost is $10 each, pre-orders only. Send your names by June 9 to Myra at myra.nohara@gmail.com or text to 808-542-1770.

Payment may be made at any of our work days or at the Bon Dance.

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