LAWAI — The winds that rustled through the trees in Lawai were not too strong for shakuhachi Grandmaster Riley Lee Sunday when the first steps were taken at the 19th annual Pilgrimage of Compassion at the Lawai International Center.
“It’s hard to play when the wind is too strong,” said Riley who made the adjustment of planting himself midway up the hillside dotted with miniature shrines. “The sounds get lost in the wind.”
Hundreds of people converged in the Lawai valley and hillside to enjoy the once-a-year pilgrimage that celebrates the spirit of the place housing not only the miniature shrines, but the Hall of Compassion that was built true to its 13th Century architecture joinery.
“This is our 19th year hosting the event,” said Gerald Muramoto. “Every year, we get more and more people who come to enjoy the spirit of the place. This year, we planned for more than 800 people.”
Lynn Muramoto said she is just a volunteer among the 160 volunteers, including those from the Waimea High School JROTC, the National Honor Society of Kapaa and Waimea high schools, the Boy Scouts from Troop 148, and other individuals from the community.
“I am just a volunteer,” Lynn said. “What makes this place special is the community and how the community embraces the spirit of Lawai. We have a hula experience by students from the Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School, and you can feel how their energy comes totally from the source. Through the Pilgrimage of Compassion we magnify and amplify that experience.”
The hula experience with Kumaha‘o Haumea and her Kawaikini students was just one of the new facets to this year’s pilgrimage, the other being the sanshin players who rendered several numbers in the natural acoustics of the valley.
Walkers armed with walking sticks, departed from the base of the Hall of Compassion, and wrapped in the soothing sounds of Riley’s shakuhachi wafting in the breeze, made their way up the hillside, stopping at each of the 88 tiny temples.
“All dreams are possible,” Lynn said. “The spirit of this place connects with the many hearts that are here, and the magic of Lawai comes from you.”
In addition to the pilgrimage, numerous cultural stations demonstrated various crafts like origami, coconut weaving, sushi making, demonstration of preparing pancit, and more. A tent ac comodated the silent auction where shoppers could enjoy tea and manju served by kimono-clad volunteers.
Another tent housed bonsai, and another various baked goods created by friends of the Lawai International Center.
“This is a place for healing — spiritually, mentally, and physically,” said Cammie Matsumoto, from Honolulu. “This place is non denominational, and welcomes the whole world. Lawai is special because it has a vortex that makes it a place for healing.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
