Whenever I travel to Honolulu for Hawaii Betsuin business, I am often reminded by other temple leaders how fortunate we are at Wailuku Hongwanji to have Mike Munekiyo as our Kyodan President. And I say yes, we are very lucky to have Mike leading us.
Mike has served as a skilled, innovative, and dedicated Chairman of our Board of Directors. His remarkable abilities and unwavering commitment have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of his leadership, the Hawaii Kyodan leaders began to actively recruit Mike to serve as Chair of the Hawaii Kyodan Board and as Hawaii Kyodan President. I understand Mike was reluctant to accept this new position, partly due to his responsibilities here at Wailuku Hongwanji. However, the Hawaii Kyodan leaders were persistent in their efforts. They even asked me to take on a larger role at Wailuku Hongwanji so that Mike could accept the Honpa role.
Initially, my reaction was a selfish one—I said “NO! You cannot have Mike. We need him here on Maui.” Nevertheless, after considerable persuasion, Mike’s strong sense of duty ultimately prevailed, and he accepted. We expect that Mike will be formally elected to serve as Honpa Kyodan President at the 2026 Giseikai.
Although Mike will be taking on even greater responsibility, he is not leaving us behind. He will continue to guide important initiatives such as the recovery of Lahaina Hongwanji and our own capital campaign, among other things. We can still rely on his wise counsel and guidance. We just have to share him with everyone else.
Mike asked if I would assume the role of Chair for the Wailuku Hongwanji Board. I hesitated at first. Very few people can do what Mike does. However, when someone as dedicated as Mike asks for your help, how can you say no? In addition, Mike asked Luly Unemori to serve as the Board’s Vice-Chair, the position I previously held. I am grateful that Luly agreed to take on this responsibility.
Mike leaves behind a significant legacy. He has been a generational leader whose service and dedication have greatly benefited our Sangha. While I cannot promise to lead as well as Mike did, I can promise to do my best.
I begin my new role on February 1, 2026, and I sincerely ask for your continued kokua and support. With the help of Reverend Murakami, our members, temple staff, affiliate organizations, volunteers, and the Board of Directors, we will continue working together to grow our Sangha, maintain our campus, and ensure that Wailuku Hongwanji remains our spiritual home for generations to come.