Over the past two (2) years, Wailuku Hongwanji Mission has undertaken a planning process to determine how best to manage the upgrading of our campus facilities. The focus of this effort has been to answer the question, “what should we do with the Old Language School/Judo Dojo building?” We began this journey with a strategic planning session facilitated by Ms. Cindy Alm in June 2022. Representatives from WHM’s Board of Directors and affiliate organizations explored ways to create a safe and functional campus that would contribute to the growth of Wailuku Hongwanji as a Community Temple.
Following the session, the Board decided that replacing the Old Language School and Judo Dojo with a new Multi-Purpose Building would be the optimal solution. A new facility would address the requirements of WHM’s martial arts programs, religious education initiatives, and affiliate organization activities, all while extending a warm welcome to our wider island community.
To gather diverse perspectives, we engaged The Shain Group to conduct stakeholder interviews, encompassing both members and non-members of WHM. The results reinforced the foundation of support for initiating a capital campaign to fund the construction of the new Multi-Purpose Building. Detailed planning for the capital campaign will begin later this year.
Building upon these efforts, GYA Architects was enlisted to develop conceptual plans for the new facility. They have prepared a preliminary Site Plan and Floor Plan for review and consideration. These are only early concepts and much more work will be needed to advance the design of the building, including definition of interior space needs (storage, indoor plumbing, electrical, etc.), as well as building elevations and related architectural details. These details will be developed after we receive input from our affiliates and our Sangha.
Key criteria guiding the development of the Site Plan and Floor Plan include:
• A single-story building of approximately 2,880 square feet designed for versatility in accommodating various uses, such as martial arts training, religious programs, affiliate organization gatherings, and community events.
• Flexibility facilitated by partition doors, allowing for separate spaces when needed, such as during non-training times (will require repositioning/storage of Judo mats).
• Consideration of building placement to comply with parking regulations, vehicular access, and building setback requirements.
As noted above, while there is more detailed planning ahead, including architectural design and lengthy County permitting requirements, input from our Sangha would also be appreciated. With this in mind, may we ask that members provide comments or question you may have regarding the proposal. Comments or questions you may have may be sent to the Temple office at
Your time and support are invaluable as we strive to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Dharma and supporting Temple and community programs at Wailuku Hongwanji
