On Saturday, August 10, a heartfelt Tri-Temple Obon service was held at the Lahaina Cannery Mall to honor the Lahaina Buddhist Temples that were tragically lost in the Maui wildfires on August 8, 2023. This significant event brought together members of the community to remember and celebrate the temples’ enduring legacy.
The ceremony featured Wailuku Hongwanji Temple’s yagura (music tower) skirt, which played a central role in the observance, symbolizing the spiritual and cultural continuity of the Buddhist community despite the recent losses. Buses were arranged to transport attendees from all over Maui, ensuring that many could participate in this important occasion.
The gathering served not only as a memorial for the lost temples but also as a testament to the strength and unity of the Maui Buddhist community in the face of adversity. The shared remembrance and solidarity demonstrated the profound connection and resilience within the community during this challenging time.
Lahaina Buddhist Temples’ Disaster Relief
For anyone wishing to make a dana contribution to support
the three historic Buddhist temples in Lahaina that were
destroyed by the recent Maui wildfires: Lahaina Shingon Mission
(established 1902), Lahaina Hongwanji Mission (established
1904), and Lahaina Jodo Mission (established 1912), please see
the donation instruction below, or visit the HAIB Maui support
webpage at https://www.hawaiibuddhists.org/news/supportmaui. Donations will support the Buddhist temples, their
resident ministers and families, and temple members.