With our hanamido decorated with flowers from the gardens of our members and friends, we celebrated the birth of Siddhartha Gautama who grew up to be the Awakened One, The Buddha.  Rev. Kerry Kiyohara officiated the service.  Maui Mayor Richard T. Bissen issued a proclamation declaring April 1 - 8, 2024 to be Hanamatsuri Week. In addition to Buddha’s birthday, we celebrated April birthdays for Makawao Sangha members with cupcakes and a song. To view a slide show click on an image, or use the right arrow to move forward or left arrow to move backwards on a computer, or use your ..read more

In the spirit of promoting peace around the world, on Thursday September 21, 2023, we joined via Zoom the Ring Your Bells for Peace Day event sponsored by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.  On Saturday September 23, 2023, we held a Peace Day Special Service at our temple, made possible by the Maui United Buddhist Women’s Association and the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. As honored guests for Saturday’s Peace Day Special Service, we welcomed: Rev. Shinkai Murakami of Wailuku Hongwanji, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple, to deliver our Dharma Talk. Rev. Tomoki Hirasawa of Pa’ia M ..read more

We welcomed many new faces as we celebrated with familiar traditions for our first Obon Festival of 2 nights, July 21 and 22, since the outbreak of COVID in 2020.  Our newest generation of dancers was born since Bon Dance in 2022.  Boy Scout Troop 719 of Torrance, California, joined in the fun and the work of hosting.  Our new all girls Troop 180 of the Boy Scouts of America sold out on their pickled peaches and mini-chochin memorial lanterns.  Cy Yoshizu continued in his pivotal role as dance MC/DJ.  Maui Taiko and Zenshin Daiko performances were traditional favorites ..read more

花祭り— Hanamatsuri at Makawao We celebrated in-person and via live streaming for this year’s Hanamatsuri, festival of flowers, honoring the birth of Siddhartha Gautama who grew up to be the Awakened One, The Buddha.  Rev. Kerry Kiyohara officiated the service.  The Scouts of Troop 18 and Cubs of Pack 18 raised the flags.    Maui’s Mayor Richard T. Bissen issued a proclamation naming April 2 to 9, 2023 as Hanamatsuri Week throughout Maui County. Inside the Hanamido, the flower pavilion representing Lumbini Garden where the baby Buddha was born, we bathed a statue of the b ..read more

Temple hall filled with special guests, Keirokai, sangha members, and affiliates. With deep joy and gratitude, today we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the dedication and opening of the Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and the 115th anniversary of the founding of our predecessor, Paia Hongwanji Mission. Our theme was “Living the Dharma.” Everyone delighted in seeing old friends, making new friends, and enjoying the fruits of the labors of previous generations. Mahalo for joining us! Esteemed co-chairs for the celebration were Karen Ishizu and Diane Kosaka, helped by affiliates from Cub Pa ..read more

Opening Ceremony for Bon Dance on Saturday July 23, 2022 Officiated by Rev. Kerry Kiyohara MAHALO to everyone who helped to set up, prepare food, host, and take down equipment for our first live Bon Dance since 2019. Sharon Nagoshi, our Chair, organized the event with the help of our Sangha, Judo Club, Scout Pack 18, and Scout Troop 18. DJ CY kept the dance program moving. We enjoyed performances by Maui Taiko during the dancing and Zenshin Daiko during intermission. MAHALO to our Maui community for coming to celebrate and support Bon Dance 2022!! MAHALO for Joining Bon Dance 2022 MAHALO Ly ..read more

Hanamatsuri 2022 In-Person ***〰️*** Hanamatsuri 2022 In-Person***〰️*** Hanamatsuri 2022 In-Person ***〰️*** We celebrated in-person this year with masks and social distancing. Last year we visitied the Hanamido by appointment wearing our maks. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize ..read more

View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize We had our second Virtual Bon Dance in 2021, continuing the tradition we started in 2020, with livestreaming of our dance and performance by Zenshin Daiko of Maui ..read more

Maui-wide Peace Day 2019 Special Service hosted by Makawao, with guests from Kahului, Lahaina, Wailuku, Vietnamese Buddhist Nuns, and Monks of Blue Cliff Monastery of New York. Walking meditation, refreshments, and crafts followed the Special Service. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize ..read more