Peace Day 2023

11 months ago 26

Peace Day 2023 Makawao-Style

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 Mantokuji, a Soto Zen Buddhist Temple, to lead us in a Zazen experience focusing on inner peace.

Sisters and Brothers from Vietnamese Buddhist Centers in Hawaii, who practice in a Vietnamese Zen tradition, to share a Buddhist chant in Vietnamese.

As Buddhists, we strive to promote cultivating inner peace.  We practice peace by combining care and respect for individual dignity with mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion for all members of our society.

Our origami cranes are a symbol of the universal human aspiration for peace and harmony for all people and forms of life.  This year we add our wishes for inner peace of mind and heart for the people of Maui, as we join hands to help each other rebuild after the devastating wildfires of August.

Mahalo to the Little Tokyo Service Center of Los Angeles for the colorful strings of origami cranes displayed on the podiums in the temple hall.  These cranes carry love, support, and wishes for healing from Los Angeles to everyone on Maui. 

Mahalo to members of Makawao Hongwanji’s congregation for folding and installing over 3,000 white origami cranes on our lawn in order to give our community a reason to pause in their busy lives and to reflect and refresh.

Mahalo to everyone who joined us!!

Please use the arrows or click on the photos in the gallery below to make the show advance.

Peace Cranes Makawao-Style

Peace Cranes Makawao-Style

Ring Your Bells for Peace Day 9/21/23

Ring Your Bells for Peace Day 9/21/23


Dharma School Students

Dharma School Students

Special Service 9/23/23 - Greeters

Special Service 9/23/23 - Greeters

Emcee Jean + cranes from Little Tokyo Service Center

Emcee Jean + cranes from Little Tokyo Service Center

Peace Day Special Service

Peace Day Special Service

Peace Day Special Service

Peace Day Special Service

Rev. Hirasawa of Pa'ia Mantokuji

Rev. Hirasawa of Pa'ia Mantokuji

Sisters and Brothers of Vietnamese Buddhist Centers in Hawaii

Sisters and Brothers of Vietnamese Buddhist Centers in Hawaii

Rev. Kiyohara, Vietnamese Buddhist Brothers and Sisters, Rev. Hirasawa, Rev. Murakami

Rev. Kiyohara, Vietnamese Buddhist Brothers and Sisters, Rev. Hirasawa, Rev. Murakami

Jean and Mimy with Rev. Kiyohara, Vietnamese Buddhist Brothers and Sisters, and Rev. Hirasawa

Jean and Mimy with Rev. Kiyohara, Vietnamese Buddhist Brothers and Sisters, and Rev. Hirasawa

Enjoying Makawao's crafts table

Enjoying Makawao's crafts table

Enjoying Makawao's crafts table

Enjoying Makawao's crafts table

Enjoying Wailuku's crafts table

Enjoying Wailuku's crafts table

Enjoying Wailuku's crafts table

Enjoying Wailuku's crafts table

Enjoying Kahului's crafts table

Enjoying Kahului's crafts table

Enjoying Lahaina's crafts table

Enjoying Lahaina's crafts table

Peace Poems with Melinda Gohn

Peace Poems with Melinda Gohn

Refreshments Team

Refreshments Team

MAHALO for joining us today!

MAHALO for joining us today!

Crane Installation Crew

Crane Installation Crew

Panoramic View

Panoramic View


View Entire Post

Read Entire Article