Honolulu Myohoji Mission
"The Lotus Sutra Temple of Honolulu"
A peaceful, open-hearted Nichiren Shu Buddhist sanctuary.
Honolulu Myohoji Mission
"The Lotus Sutra Temple of Honolulu"
A peaceful, open-hearted Nichiren Shu Buddhist sanctuary.
Sunday Liturgy: 10:00 AM every Sunday
Memorial Services are available by appointment
Free parking available
Values: Peace, Compassion, Equality, Respect, GRatitude
Our Mission
To serve Hawaii in creating a more peaceful and compassionate community through the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Shonin.
Rev Hitoshi Sasabe; Ceremony/ Kito Blessing/Dharma Talk
Rev Sasabe's ceremony having completed his 2nd 100 day Aragyo. Kito Blessing begins 33 min into video. Very powerful!!
FIRST-TIME VISITOR Q&A
Please reach us via contact form if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Read Full Sunday Service Details & Extended FAQ here .
No, everyone is welcome regardless of background or faith.
Casual, respectful attire (aloha wear, casual pants, or modest dresses).
Traditional Lotus Sutra chanting with English guidance, a practical Dharma talk, and an informal 30-minute talk story time to meet the community.
2025 CIVIL LAWSUIT
Plaintiffs
Irene Hamasaki, Michelle Kau, Jean Toyama, Amy Morikawa and Gladys Ueoka. On August 20, 2025, 19 non-party declarants submitted declarations in support of the Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment. The 19 declarants were 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 and Lorraine Akiba.
The parties disputed whether Plaintiffs and the non-party declarants qualified as Temple members under the applicable governing documents and Hawaii law, and whether they possessed the legal standing necessary to pursue the claims asserted in the lawsuit.
Attorneys for the Plaintiffs: Derek Kobayashi Esq. / Brittney M. Wu Esq. of the law firm Shlack Ito.
Defendants: Board of Directors
Daniel C. Liu, President & Treasurer. Dean Makinodan Vice-President. Cleo Miyamoto, Secretary. Jeff Carlson, Director, Kaliko Sugawa, Director. Steven Iwamura, former Vice-President who resigned in 2021; and Takamasa Yamamura, former resident minister until 2023. Carlson and Sugawa were not Board Members in 2018, when the lawsuit alleged that the Board of Directors took certain illegal actions.
Attorneys for Defendants: David Imanaka Esq. / Suhyeon Burns Esq. of the law firm Lung, Rose, Voss, Wagnild
The Lawsuit
On January 28, 2025, Plaintiffs filed their Complaint, initiating the lawsuit against the Defendants. In the Complaint, Plaintiffs alleged they were "lifetime members" and asserted claims on behalf of themselves and, in certain respects, the "Temple membership" They accused the Board of illegally converting the temple to a "non-membership' organization without their knowledge or approval back in 2018, allegedly failing to comply with HRS Chapter 414D, the Hawaii Non-Profit Act. Additionally, Plaintiffs alleged that the Board engaged in gross negligence, the destruction of religious artifacts, and the mismanagement of temple property and finances, and that it failed to distribute membership lists and provide New Year's parties. Defendants denied the Plaintiffs' material allegations and maintained that the Board had acted properly under the Temple's governing documents and applicable law.
As the Defendants would learn during the course of the litigation, in February 2024, Irene Hamasaki submitted a complaint to the Nichiren Shu Headquarters in Japan setting forth her grievances against the Board of Directors. Japan Headquarters -Shumuin - apparently declined active involvement. On March 22, 2024, Plaintiffs' attorney requested that 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" in response to either request.
Plaintiffs' positions and accusations were countered by the Defendants' Attorneys, who argued based on the record that (1) due notice of the governance change and an opportunity to be heard was circulated to membership at the time, (2) Plaintiffs had not shown that they had standing to assert claims, and (3) that the lawsuit was untimely, among other arguments.
Plaintiffs also characterized the handling of certain religious artifacts as their "destruction." Defendants explained that this characterization was unfounded and reflected a misunderstanding of the artifacts' use, purpose, and treatment under Nichiren Shu Buddhist practice. The Temple's religious reasons for handling the artifacts or relics in that manner, including the supporting Nichiren Shu teachings, had been explained on multiple occasions during Temple services and directly to Plaintiffs. Defendants further maintained that certain allegations concerning the handling of religious artifacts implicated matters of Nichiren Shu Buddhist practice, and were therefore barred by the legal doctrine of ecclesiastical abstention.
On August 28, 2025, followng two attempts at mediation, The Honorable John M. Tonaki, held a hearing on Defendants Motion for Summary Judgement. After considering the parties' written submissions and oral arguments, the Court granted summary judgement in Defendants' favor..
The publicly filed documents in this case may be made available on this website to provide an accurate historical record of the litigation and the Board's defense of Myohoji Temple. The filed documents are also part of the public court record.
The Board of Directors extends its thanks and appreciation to David Imanaka Esq. and Suhyeon Burns Esq. for their dedicated and effective legal work, securing an early summary judgement in favor of the Defendants, the Temple Board of Directors.
The Board is pleased with the outcome and remains committed to preserving the Lotus Sutra / Myohoji Temple and furthering its religious mission.
Honolulu Myohoji Mission