The three-day weekend beginning January 19 will be an eventful one for Hawaii Betsuin. We hope you can join us for one or all of the following happenings as we honor both our founder, Shinran Shonin, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Saturday, January 19 – Talk Story: “Buddhism and Martin Luther King”
On Saturday morning, Hawaii Betsuin presents a Talk Story event with Bishop Eric Matsumoto and Alphonso Braggs, President of the Honolulu Hawaii NAACP. The event will touch on themes common to the teachings of Buddhism and of Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP’s work in Hawaii, and some background on the establishment of the MLK holiday in Hawaii and the MLK Parade through Waikiki.
Event web page »
Sunday, January 20
1) Ho’onko Family Service
At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Bishop Eric Matsumoto will be our guest speaker for Ho’onko, also known as the Shinran Shonin Memorial Service. This is the time we express our sincere gratitude to our founder, Shinran Shonin, who dedicated his life to spreading the joy and teachings of the Nembutsu Path.
The Bishop will present one dharma message for children and one for adults. The adult message is entitled, “The Dynamics of ‘Embrace Change: Transformation (Walk in Peace).’”
Event web page »
2) Civil Rights Pilgrimage presentation
At 11:00 a.m. in the Annex Temple, Hawaii Betsuin board member David Atcheson will present highlights of an interracial, intergenerational bus tour of key sites in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The pilgrimage was led in November 2018 by Seattle-based nonprofit Project Pilgrimage.
Event web page »
Monday, January 21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Parade through Waikiki
All are invited to participate with the Buddhist Women’s Associations and Pacific Buddhist Academy in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade from Magic Island to Waikiki. Meet near the restrooms by the Magic Island parking lot beginning at 8 a.m. (the parade starts at 9 a.m.). We’ll have origami peace cranes to pass out to onlookers.
Event web page »