Please Click Here to view the Paia Rinzai Zen Mission 2013 Hanamatsuri Photo Gallery
Please Click Here to view the Paia Rinzai Zen Mission May-June 2013 Newsletter
In 2011, we could not have the entertainment or bingo game to enjoy like every other year because of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. So, we really enjoyed this year’s Hanamatsuri at our Mission with our guests from Japan. The Secretary General of Myoshinji, The Most Reverend Matsui with his wife Akemi became very familiar faces on Maui at this time of year, just like our old friends Rev. Hoshi and Rev. Kajiro. Because of the big repair project in Japan, Rev. Chisaka was absent from our activity for the last two years but this year graced us with his beautiful chanting voice at our altar. The gifts they brought from Japan were so overwhelming at our dinner the night before Hanamatsuri. Our president Alan Nago and his family brought their big BBQ equipment and fed us very well. The Rev. Chisaka’s report of our donation to Miyagi was very detailed and it was truly meaningful for us to know of the recovery of Tohoku.
Without question, the Secretary General’s Dharma talk was the highlight of the Hanamatsuri service. The interpreter had a hard time because of his own tears and could see many attendees’ as well.
Everyone got three omamori (good luck charms) from Hoshi Sensei and one of them was 24k gold plated. Someone came to return it later in the day, saying “I do not deserve one.” We just say thank you to our old friends. The Rev. Kajiro carried so many furikake in his suitcase that he was questioned at the airport. So was Rev. Chisaka who carried one hundred gold plated omamori. (So heavy!)
Because of President Alan Nago’s generosity and Mantokuji members’ two days of cooking, we had a wonderful lunch. Thanks also to Maui Ryukyu Culture Group’s entertainment. Our Hanamatsuri was an impressive one to remember. We hope that Paia Hanamatsuri will keep going like this for years to come and keep our Buddhist community together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this Hanamatsuri a successful one.
