Jodo Shinshu Buddhism was established in Hawaii as a result of the immigration of Japanese people to work the sugarcaneplantations 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] The first was Kenjun Miyamoto, who laid the groundwork for the ministry. Honi Satomi was the first priest, serving from 1898 until 1900, when he returned to Japan. Yemyo Imamura took over for Satomi in 1900, and served until his death in 1932.[3][4]
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.[5]
It is administered separately from the Buddhist Churches of America, the umbrella organization of Jodo Shinshu temples in the continental United States.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] Any person can nominate an individual for the award. This program has honored more than 100 community members to date.
^Scott Stone (2000), Living Treasures of Hawaii 25th Anniversary of the Selections of Outstanding Persons as Honored by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, Honolulu: Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, ISBN0-89610-316-1
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