Nirvana Day Concert on February 15, 2025 with Udi Bar-David (cello), Steven Casano (shakuhachi), Lama Wangchuk (Tibetan chanting/meditation), poetry reading - lower res

Click the image to enlarge.

Press Advisory
For Immediate Release
Contact: (808) 536-7044 | webmaster@hawaiibetsuin.org

Nirvana Day Concert at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin to Feature Cello, Shakuhachi, Chanting, and Poetry Honoring Rabindranath Tagore’s 1929 Visit

Honolulu, HI – February 12, 2025 – Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin invites the public to a special Nirvana Day Concert featuring a unique blend of music, meditative chanting, and poetry on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The event will take place at Hawaii Betsuin, the historic, white-domed temple on Pali Highway near School Street.

The concert will commemorate not only Nirvana Day, an observance of the passing of the historical Buddha, but also a significant historical moment: the 1929 visit of Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning poet, philosopher, and polymath, who spoke to a full house at the temple about spirituality and the perils of materialism. The poetry portion of the event will reintroduce Tagore’s timeless messages of oneness, freedom, and peace.

The evening’s lineup includes:

  • Udi Bar-David – internationally recognized cross-cultural cellist & improviser
  • Steven Casano – shakuhachi master
  • Erika Sato Bar-David – violin
  • Lama Wangchuk – Tibetan chanting & meditation
  • Poetry readings in honor of Tagore’s visit

The concert will last approximately 75 minutes, with refreshments to follow. Admission is free and donations are welcome. All are welcome to join this gathering dedicated to peace, understanding, and compassion through music and art.

Event Details:

  • What: Nirvana Day Concert
  • When: Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
  • Where: Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin main temple, 1727 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI
    Parking: Entrance to parking is from 1742 Lusitana St., not Pali Highway
  • More Information & RSVP link (optional but appreciated): http://hhhb.link/nirvana25
  • Temple Website: https://hawaiibetsuin.org/

About Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin

Hawaii Betsuin is the oldest and largest Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple in Hawaii, serving as a spiritual and cultural center since the early years of Honpa Hongwanji in Hawaii, which dates to 1889. The temple hosts religious services, educational programs, and community events that promote Buddhist teachings and values.

About Rabindranath Tagore’s 1929 Visit to Hawaii Betsuin

A contemporary account of Tagore’s 1929 speaking engagement at Hawaii Betsuin appeared in the May 1, 1929 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser. The text from the article may be found in this shortcut link to a PDF: http://hhhb.link/tagore29
We will have a near life-size portrait painting of Tagore from that period on display at the event.

### END ###