HONOLULU MYOHOJI MISSION
A welcoming Hawaii Buddhist temple open to all.
Join our Sunday services in peaceful sanctuary.
HONOLULU MYOHOJI MISSION
A welcoming Hawaii Buddhist temple open to all.
Join our Sunday services in peaceful sanctuary.
10 am Sunday morning
Memorial Services by Appointment
Rev. Jinshi Sasabe, from Hamada City, Japan, will visit the Temple
August 30 - September 7, 2026
He will do weekday services 10:30 am
The purifying Kito Blessing on both Sundays
Please join us!
To serve Hawaii in creating a more peaceful and compassionate community through the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin.
Welcome to The Lotus Sutra Temple, known as Honolulu Myohoji Mission. A place for all people, to seek inspiration, guidance, and community. The Temple's practice and belief is in the Lotus Sutra Scripture, espousing the universal acceptance of all, regardless of race, color, creed or gender preference.
Our services are in English, keeping the sacred traditional ceremonial chants from the Lotus Sutra in its original text.
Prayers are predominately in English, while keeping the sacred traditional Lotus Sutra Chants.
Ceremonies in English with traditional Chants / Kito Blessings, 27 min. into video. By watching, you are participating in prayers for health, happiness and spiritual protection. 41 mins. into video Dharma Talks by both ministers.
Background noise Hawaii Kendo Federation practice!
Bon Dance Ed and I make the circuit every season
He rides shotgun for my navigation to temples tucked away
In valleys, under and along freeways, and forgotten places.
Sometimes we get lost going home
And laugh about becoming urban legends, never to be seen again.
The red dirt road takes us to the temple I love best
Set behind old plantation houses, near the now dead sugar mill.
Here, in the cooling night, wisps of clouds cross the full moon,
Lanterns sway, and flute notes drift in the wind
While the singer's woeful tune of plantation life fades in and out.
I feel the memories of the harvest moon rising,
Its soft light on the woman late to finish the strip of dead leaves
From stalks before the harvest.
Across the field, her man bends in silhouette
Turning the red soil to ease the birth of sugar cane.
Tonight, the moon waits for those who have come and gone,
We come to honor them with new and familiar dances,
Striking in his black and white yukata coat
His movements are precise and clean, even when he missteps.
In the next season, I ride the circuit to return
To honor Bon Dance Ed
And wait for the moon's gaze to comfort me.
Joy Gold
First published in Snaring New Suns, Bamboo Ridge Issue 122
Rev Sasabe's ceremony having completed his 2nd 100 day Aragyo. Kito Blessing begins 33 min into video. Very powerful!!
For individuals on a quest for spiritual enlightenment and a deeper understanding of Nichiren Shu Buddhist tradition, a visit to our temple presents an invaluable opportunity. Our temple, also known as The Lotus Sutra Temple, is dedicated to promoting peace, compassion and spiritual happiness within each person and the community.
Whether you are curious about the teachings of Buddhism and how it can benefit your daily life, or you were raised in a Buddhist home and looking for online teachings that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home, our online Buddhist teachings may be helpful for you.
Our dedicated team is committed to supporting and guiding you along the path to your spiritual aspirations. Honolulu Myohoji Mission is not just a place of worship—it's a sanctuary where individuals can come together, to cultivate a more peaceful and compassionate way of living. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have so that you can get the very most out of the teachings.
We invite you to join us and experience the transformative power of spiritual practice, within our tranquil and inviting space. A half hour discussion time is held after every Sunday service.
Please search the website to learn more about our helpful online teaching services; how The Lotus Sutra Temple supports the community of Honolulu, HI; and how to start your journey with our Nichiren Buddhist teachings.
We encourage you to visit our contact page for more information.
Eternal Buddha
Gohonzon
Lotus Sutra
Ichinen Sanzen
Odaimoku
Nichiren Shonin
Basic belief and practice of Nichiren Shu.
Please go the "More" Sunday Service section, to listen at your leisure extended Dharma talks on beliefs and practice.
The Eternal Buddha is fundamental to Nichiren Shu belief and practice. The Eternal Buddha is guiding, protecting, helping us, always present in our daily lives. That relationship is so close, we are Buddha. We have the Buddha nature within us!
The Gohonzon is the primary object of veneration. It is symbolic of the Unity of the seen and unseen worlds that exist together, united in the Eternal Buddha. It signifies that all are one with the Eternal Buddha, who is always present, protecting, helping and guiding us to propagate peace, compassion, respect, gratitude and kindness.
The Lotus Sutra is taught through metaphorical expressions. Its approach is symbolic poetry. It is a drama set in a cosmic scale of belief and practice. The essential message is the Eternal Buddha is always with us and in us. The Buddha guides us, watches over us, in good times and bad times, to make ourselves better persons and the world a better place.
Ichinen Sanzen conveys all are connected and unified by our existence in this world. Our actions affect not only ourselves but others. It demands that we make the world a better place by treating others with respect, civility, equality and compassion. This is our Buddha nature active in the world.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo is the central mantra (prayer) for belief and practice. It has healing powers. It is an expression of the unity of humanity, to make the world a peaceful and compassionate place, reflecting the presence of the Eternal Buddha protecting and guiding all.
Nichiren Shonin, founder of Nichiren Shu belief and practice. Having read and studied all the writings of Buddhism during his time, he decided the Lotus Sutra was the definitive and most important teaching of the Historical and Eternal Buddha. He saw the Lotus Sutra as the unification, not only of all religions, but all mankind. He spent his life promulgating this understanding. Because of his singlemindedness, he was burned out of his house, two attempts on his life, banishment to a rocky promontory in the ocean, hoping to ultimately drown him. He survived all attempts on his life. He is credited with approximately 2000 written manuscripts expounding his belief. He attempted to make his belief and practice, understandable and practical for all.
I reverently hold to the good medicine of Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, containing the Ichinen Sanzen Unity of our Three Great Mystery Beliefs.
The true object of worship, symbolizing the Eternal Buddha's world of enlightenment and Ichinen Sanzen - in which all beings are united and saved.
The True Sacred Title which instills in us the Life and Spirit of the Eternal Sakyamuni Buddha.
Where our Buddha Nature is achieved through the practice of the Odaimoku, in the presence of the Hommon Gohonzon, gathered in the Temple, expressing our true unity with all people.
affirming our participation in the life of the Eternal Buddha, which mandates concrete action by us, to manifest the Eternal Buddha''s Pure Land existing in this world.
Irene Hamasaki, Michelle Kau, Jean Toyama, Amy Morikawa, Gladys Ueoka. 19 became Non-party Declarants on August 20, 2025 listed in support of the Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants. The 19 are Takako Stults, Hideko Tokugawa, Elizabeth Teruya, Sumire Stifler, Poranee Sponsel, Robert Pennybacker, Masaeru Nakazato, Sharon Nakase, Debra Motobu, Ann Kwock, Allan Kawada, Esther Ito, Jane Tottori, Nana Isono, Kathy Isobe, Chika Gano, Sumiko Carroll, David Arai, Lorraine Akiba.
All had little to no appearance at Sunday Services. Nor had any active, involved presence with the Temple.
Irene Hamasaki is the daughter of retired temple minister Eijo Ikenaga, who lives rent free on temple property, utilities paid by the Temple, now 16 years in retirement. Hamasaki rents a temple rental house, below market rent value, for some 35 years. Kau, Toyama, Morikawa reportedly have taken calligraphy classes for 40 years from Ikenaga. Ueoka was a temple member in name.
Attorneys for the Plaintiffs: Derek Kobayashi Esq. / Brittney M. Wu Esq. Law firm of Shlack Ito.
Daniel C. Liu, President & Treasurer. Dean Makinodan Vice-President. Cleo Miyamoto, Secretary. Jeff Carlson, Director, Kaliko Sugawa, Director. Steven Iwamura, resigned (2021) Vice-President. Takamasa Yamamura, prior resident minister (2023). Carlson and Sugawa were not Board Members in 2018, when the lawsuit alleged illegal actions by the Board of Directors.
Attorneys for Defendants: David Imanaka Esq. / Suhyeon Burns Esq. Law Firm of Lung, Rose, Voss, Wagnild
On January 28, 2025, the lawsuit was served on the Defendants. In the lawsuit, The Plaintiffs self-proclaimed themselves "lifetime members" and postured they represented "temple membership". They accused the Board of illegally converting the temple to a non-membership organization without their knowledge and approval, back in 2018. Additionally, They accused the Board of gross negligence, destruction of religious artifacts, mismanagement of temple property and finances, not distributing membership lists (CLVC, art. 43, pg. 7), not providing New Year's parties (CLVC, art. 56, pg.9).
A year prior, in February of 2024, concealed from the Board of Directors, Irene Hamasaki complained to the Nichiren Shu Headquarters in Japan, enumerating her grievances against the Board of Directors. Japan Headquarters - Shumuin - apparently declined active involvement. Also concealed In that same year, on March 22, 2024, Plaintiffs' Attorney, Jeffery S. Piper, Esq. requested the Hawaii State Attorney General Office initiate an investigation of the Board of Directors' actions. On February 21, 2025 Plaintiffs' Attorneys again requested the AG's Office "intervene in the lawsuit and take other action as may be appropriate." The AG's Office "did not commence the requested investigation" on either request.
Plaintiffs' positions and accusations were countered by the Defendants' Attorneys showing by record, none of the Plaintiffs, except one, were members in 2018. Therefore, four of the five Plaintiffs had no standing to protest the Board's action in 2018. All five Plaintiffs could not represent temple membership, not having satisfied legal prerequisites. (HRS414D9-90/HRCP 23.1) Only 6 of the 19 Non-party Declarants could be considered "members" by prior By-Laws requirements. None of the 4 Plaintiffs, nor the "one member" Plaintiff or any of the 19 declarants, raised any issues, pertinent to their lawsuit, for 7 years. The one and seven year Statutes of Limitation ended. (HRS414D-89d/HRS657-1(4)) Their incendiary complaints about the destruction of religious artifacts were shown to exemplify their abject ignorance of Nichiren Shu Buddhist practice. Consequently invoking the legal doctrine of Ecclesiastical Abstention. "Recognizing courts must avoid entanglement in religious doctrine, law, or polity." (Baldonado - 118 Hawaii at 169-70/185P.3d at 917-18) "The ecclesiastical abstention doctrine exists to prevent civil courts from wandering into this thicket."( MIS, E., pg 9)
The Plaintiff Irene Hamasaki was caught in a lie, through her own discovered email, requesting and denied "membership" in 2021 and 2022. (RAI j, pg.32 / MIS,C.1, pg.6) She had signed under oath, a declaration claiming to be a "lifetime member", as well as in her lawsuit. One of the 19, M. Nakazato, signed his declaration on record in the lawsuit, claiming no knowledge of the 2018 meeting and the vote for a non-membership temple. But, he is shown, in a photograph, present at that very same meeting. His handwritten name on the sign-in sheet. His vote, in that meeting, recorded in favor of the change. (MIS, II, pg.2) Suggesting, after the 7 year Statutes of Limitation, memories were unreliable..
On August 28, 2025, a Summary Judgement Hearing was convened, after two attempts at mediation. The presiding Judge, The Honorable Judge John M. Tonaki, concurred with the legal arguments of the Defendants' Attorneys. Judge Tonaki decreed Summary Judgement in favor of the Defendants. Dismissing all claims by the Plaintiffs. This judgement concluded the Plaintiffs' Lawsuit had no genuine issues of material fact, meaning it lacked any credibility or substantive facts.
All the legal documents in this case will be downloaded to this website, as a perpetual record of those who attempted to take control of The Lotus Sutra / Myohoji Temple, in 2025 AD, based on avarice and ignorance. All the documents are also on public and legal record for everyone to read.
The Board of Directors extends its thanks and appreciation to David Imanaka Esq. and Suhyeon Burns Esq. for their brilliant legal work, ultimately securing the Summary Judgement in favor of the Defendants, the Temple Board of Directors.
Honolulu Myohoji Mission