The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii is a district of the Nishi (West) Hongwanji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a school of Mahayana Pure Land Buddhism.
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Jodo Shinshu Buddhism was established in Hawaii as a result of the immigration of Japanese people to work the sugar plantations in Hawaii. The first Hongwanji temple in the Hawaiian islands was dedicated on March 3, 1889.[1] In 1897, the Nishi Hongwanji in Kyoto, Japan began sending official ministers to establish temples for Japanese immigrants in Hawaii and the mainland United States.[2] Since these early days, 36 temples have been established across the Hawaiian Islands, including the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin and the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. The mission operates the Hongwanji Mission School and Pacific Buddhist Academy.[3] It is administered separately from the Buddhist Churches of America, the umbrella organization of Jodo Shinshu temples in the continental United States. The mission headquarters is located at 1727 Pali Highway Honolulu, .[4]
In 1976, insurance executive Paul Yamanaka went to Yoshiaki Fujitani, Bishop of the Mission, with the idea to create a program called "Living Treasures of Hawai'i" modeled after the Living National Treasures program of Japan.[5] The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor persons who have demonstrated excellence and high standards of achievement in their particular fields of endeavor and have made significant contributions to humanity toward a more fraternal society.[6] Any person can nominate an individual for the award. This program has honored more than 100 community members to date.
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