LIHUE — When Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami issued a proclamation on Tuesday announcing the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, no one in the audience remembered the last time Hanamatsuri festivities were held at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.
“This is new,” said the Rev. Tomo Hojo of the West Kauai Hongwanji Mission. “All these years, the Kauai Buddhist Council have hosted Hanamatsuri at the Hanapepe Soto Zen Temple, or at the different hongwanji temples.”
The Kauai Buddhist Council and the Buddhist temples invite everyone to Hanamatsuri, or Buddha’s birthday, that will be held on April 6 from 9:30 a.m. at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.
Siddhartha Gautama was born on April 8. He later became enlightened as Shakyamuni Buddha, the proclamation states.
In celebration of the birthday, various rituals, including hosting the collective service at the convention hall, are observed based on events surrounding the birth of Prince. Siddhartha in Lumbini Garden that was in spring bloom freshened in the gentle rain at the time of the prince’s birth.
The highlight of Hanamatsuri service is the shrine decorated with many flowers, called the hanamido, that is set up in front of the altar as a symbol of Lumbini Garden. In the shrine, a statue of the infant Buddha, pointing his right hand toward the heavens and his left hand toward the Earth, stands waiting for attendees to pour sweet tea over the statue in the ritual known as “bathing the body of Buddha.”
The simple reenactment of the Buddha’s birth signifies the glory and joy that filled the world at this event.
Kawakami said he is reminded of his mother who invited all the people who visited their home, and took the time to listen to them. He said he learned that by following some of the Buddhist ways, it has helped make him a better person.
“I meditate every morning before I go out to surf, and work,” Kawakami said.
Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life, which, through a positive mind, develops love, compassion, wisdom, peace and happiness while embracing a worldwide perspective beyond religious denominations.
The heart of the Buddha’s teaching is contained in the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, which guide followers to move beyond earthly limitations and reach Nirvana, a state of mind that is completely and permanently free of suffering.
During the April 6 Hanamatsuri service, the Rev. Blayne Higa of the Kona Hongwanji will be the guest speaker.
Higa, a graduate of Waiakea High School in Hilo, holds a Master of Divinity from the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, California, with a focus on Shin Buddhist ministry and chaplaincy.
Prior to entering ministry, Higa had careers in state government and the nonprofit sector for more than 17 years. He has a masters degree in of Public Administration and a certificate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned a bachelors degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.
Committed to civic engagement, Higa serves on the boards of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and Vibrant Hawaii. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii.
In addition to the services, Kapaa Hongwanji Mission, the chair for the 2025 Hanamatsuri, announced there will be a program of koto music by Rose Alfiler-Taboniar, Japanese classical dance by the East Minyo Dance Club with Pearl Shimizu who also teaches bon dance in preparation for this summer’s program, a Kauai Kendo Club presentation with Sensei Elton Ushio, and a Taiko Kauai presentation.
