By CAROL YURTH
By CAROL YURTH
A ceremony today will celebrate more than a century of Buddhist History in Hawaii. The Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple invites the public to a celebration of multiple commemorations: the 110th anniversary of the temple itself, the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, and the 125th memorial service for Hamakua labor martyr Katsu Goto. The theme of the day will be: “125 years – Connected to Our Community.”
At 10 a.m., Bishop Eric Matsumoto will officiate a special service at the temple in Honokaa, followed by the unveiling of a peace pole at 11 a.m. Afterward, all attendees are welcome to join in a luncheon celebration in the temple’s Social Hall. Events are free and all are welcome, regardless of religious or cultural beliefs.
The story of Buddhism in Hawaii began with the arrival of “first boat” of immigrant Japanese laborers for the sugar cane plantations. Far from home, with extremely difficult living and working conditions, they reached out to the temples in Japan, asking for a Buddhist reverend to come. In 1889, the first arrived, and began holding services in private homes or public areas until temples could be built—one of them being the Honokaa Hongwanji in 1904.
Katsu Goto, who gave up his family name and birthright as eldest son, arrived on the S.S. City of Tokio, and went to work for Robert Overend’s Ookala Plantation, for $9 a month. When his three-year contract was fulfilled, he elected to stay and opened a store, selling general merchandise, Japanese products and medicines.
Goto’s financial success, sympathy with labor, and encouragement of other Japanese businessmen led to animosity and eventual confrontation with plantation staff. At the age of only 27, his body was found hanging from a telephone pole in Honokaa. Three men were prosecuted and jailed, though two escaped.
Although his story was quietly shelved for many years, the Hamakua community has continued to honor his memory with temple services and visits to his memorial near Honokaa Public Library and his grave at Hamakua Jodo Mission in Paauilo mauka.
In a modern, manga-style re-telling, “Hamakua Hero: A True Plantation Story” by Patsy Iwasaki and illustrated by Avery Berido, helps share these historic events with a new generation. The story is presently being made into a live action documentary. A faculty member of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Iwasaki produced two short videos on Goto for Honolulu’s Bishop Museum’s current exhibit, “Tradition and Transition: Stories of Hawaii Immigrants.” She has received funding support from the Hawaii State Legislature, YWCA, UH Diversity and Equity Initiative and others, and is presently working on a full length documentary on Goto and his niece, Dr. Fumiko Kaya.
The State of Hawaii has authorized the installation of a Peace Pole in Goto’s memory and he will be honored today, as part of special anniversary celebrations at Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. A combined commemorative and memorial service at the temple, 10 a.m., will be followed by the unveiling of the Peace Pole adjacent to the Katsu Goto memorial. Festivities conclude with a luncheon and festival in the temple’s social hall at noon.
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Attend the Free Agriculture and Food Security Symposia at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School coming up the next two weeks. How will you be able to afford food in 20 years? What if the boats don’t come? What if a virus wipes out bananas on this island? Agriculture and energy are inevitably intertwined!
Join these free presentations and discussions on these topics and more. The Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation, HHCDC, wants to engage the Hilo Hamakua communities in a bigger picture conversation through this series of discussions. In conjunction with Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School, LCPCS, you are invited to join others for an informative, thought-provoking sessions. All sessions will be at LCPCS Bandroom from 6-8:30 p.m. They will run Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Thursday, Nov. 13. Topics will cover an overview of the topic current agricultural economic drivers, methods and practices.
This Wednesday, hear from these current agricultural economic drivers — Jason Moniz, Cattle &Dairy Industry; Leslie Hill, Paradise Plants; Lori Beach, executive director, Hamakua Ag Co-op; Dylan Shropshire, ag community building; Jill Andrade, manager, Paauilo Slaughterhouse; Eric Tanouye, president, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Brad Duff, manager, Big Island Dairy; Max Bowman, organic farmer, Hamakua Ag Co-op; and Derrick Kiyabu, Beginning Farmer Training Program director, Kohala Center.
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Paauilo’s Blue and White Fair is on Saturday, Nov. 15, just in time for your Christmas shopping! The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Paauilo School grounds. Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate Tigers will be roaring their approval as you arrive to ‘shop till you drop’ enjoying the bargains of the day and the specials only to be found at this yearly event.
There will be entertainment all day with Gail and the Plantation Boyz and Na Lei Punahele Kumu Tiffany Hatico.
Come to enjoy the games like catching real fish, duck pond, clown toss, wheel of fortune, penny toss, face painting, tattoos, soda ring toss, balloon pop with darts, bean bag toss, apple bobbing, dunking booth, Portuguese horseshoes and roping.
Just check out these foods to stimulate your appetite with these hot meals: Choose from hamburger stew, sweet sour meatballs, fried rice loco, chili/nachos/Dorito salad, Portuguese bean soup, pork and peas or grab a snack to go with snack bags, Spam musubi, Portuguese sweet bread, baked goods, cotton candy and Mamane Bakery bread. Throughout the day, cool off with ice cream, Brudda Pops, lemonade or shave ice.
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Be our guest: Step into the enchanted world of Broadway’s modern classic, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” as Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Ka Makani Players bring the Academy-Award-winning film to life.
The romantic and beloved classic fairytale will be presented Nov. 13-16 at the school’s Gates Performing Arts Center. Shows begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 13-15 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16.
Tickets, which only are available at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, please call 881-4002.
Submit items for this column to Carol Yurth at waiukahenutz@gmail.com.