9/02/26:
As Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Karina approach the islands, we want to take a moment to remind everyone to please stay safe and take care of yourselves, your families, and one another.
If weather conditions become unsafe, the temple will close to the public out of an abundance of caution. The safety and well-being of our temple community and all who visit us are always our highest priority.
The winds have already begun to pick up a bit, so please take the necessary precautions, stay informed, and be prepared for changing conditions.
8/24/26:
Photos from our 2026 Obon Festival are now available on our website!
We’re excited to share photo galleries from talented photographers Sarah Anderson and Nic Tanaka, along with additional photos submitted by our members and friends. We also have a few videos, too!
To view the galleries and videos, simply visit the “Media” section in the website menu and scroll through the drop-down tabs to find them.
Thank you to everyone who helped capture and share these wonderful memories from this year’s Obon Festival!
8/20/26:
We hope everyone throughout Hawaii is safe and well, and that you and your loved ones came through Hurricane Lala with minimal damage. With a tropical storm approaching the islands this weekend, we encourage everyone to stay informed, remain prepared, and use caution as you make plans.
Our grounds became very wet and muddy during our Obon Festival and had not yet had a chance to fully dry before Hurricane Lala arrived, leaving the lawn even more saturated. As a result, some vehicles driving on the front lawn have experienced reduced traction and skidding.
With the forecast calling for additional stormy conditions and heavy rain in the coming days, we ask that you use extra caution when visiting the temple and driving on the front lawn until the grounds have had sufficient time to dry.
The temple will be closed to the public if the storm arrives and conditions require us to do so. Should the temple close, we will post a notice on this webpage. Stay safe, take care of one another, and continue to monitor local weather and emergency updates.
8/14/26:
Our temple will be closed to the public starting tomorrow, Saturday, August 15th through Monday, August 17th due to Hurricane Lala. We are prioritizing the safety of our members, volunteers, and visitors so please stay safe as we navigate this impending storm. Your kokua is greatly appreciated!
7/20/26:
Rain, rain, go away….it has been raining here every day for weeks now, whether it is a light shower or down pour. Not a day goes by without it raining at some point during the 24 hour period. This means weeds, grass, and moss are growing faster than we can keep up with. This is where YOU can help us out as we prepare for our Obon Festival. If you can volunteer a few hours helping us weed whack, mow, pull weeds, or scrub off moss from the walkways, it would be an ENORMOUS help to us. Please reach out to us if you are able to help: contact@hamakuajodomission.org
6/15/26:
We are seeking hard working, dependable volunteers to help make this year’s Obon Festival a success. In particular, we need volunteers who are able to assist with heavy lifting, moving equipment and supplies, climbing ladders, setting up tents and decorations, and performing other manual labor tasks before and after the event.
Volunteers are needed for setup, staffing activity booths during the festival, and teardown and cleanup the following day. These roles require individuals who are comfortable performing physically demanding work and being on their feet for extended periods.
Whether you can give a few hours or a full day, your time and effort is invaluable to us. If you are interested in volunteering, please send an email to: contact@hamakuajodomission.org
6/01/2026:
5/20/26:
Our newsletter for the month of May is now uploaded to our website. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive newsletters and updates via email, please reach out to us at: contact@hamakuajodomission.org
We will also be having our monthly Beautification Day this Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 8am. Please RSVP if you plan on volunteering so we can reach out to you directly via text or a phone call if there are any last minute cancellations due to inclement weather.
4/27/26:
Save the date! Our Obon festival will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026 with a gravesite service starting at 5pm followed by an indoor service (hatsubon) inside the temple at 6pm, and the much anticipated bon dance at 7pm! More information will be available soon as we start organizing this time-honored event.
4/08/26:
We will be having our next Beautification Work Day on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 8am, rain or shine. If you plan on volunteering that day, we ask that you RSVP so that we are able to contact you should we need to cancel in the event of severe weather conditions. Mahalo!
4/06/26:
Our 2026 Donation Drive Campaign is now underway! Learn how you can support our historic temple, by clicking HERE.
3/26/26:
Our friends at the Honokaa People’s Theatre have asked us to help share information about a special film they will be showing this weekend.
They will be screening Kokuho on:
- Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM
- Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a great film while supporting a historic local theatre that has generously supported our temple!
3/18/26:
We hope that our members, friends, and volunteers across Hawaii experienced little to no damage during the recent Kona Low storm. With another system forecast to approach the islands later this week, we encourage everyone to stay informed and take any necessary precautions to remain safe.
At this time, our Beautification Work Day scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, will proceed as planned. If you intend to participate, please RSVP so we can contact you directly in the event that inclement weather requires us to cancel or reschedule.
Information regarding the upcoming Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. HST has been sent to all members. If your dues are current and you have not received your meeting packet, please reach out to us at (808) 775-0965 or via email at contact@hamakuajodomission.org
2/08/26:
Due to severe weather conditions, the temple will be closed to the public until this storm system passes to ensure the safety of our members and visitors. We encourage everyone to remain safe and heed the Mayor Kimo Alameda’s request to avoid all non-essential travel during this time.
We appreciate your understanding and hope this severe storm system leaves the island soon!
1/11/2026:
Our Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 10am HST. Information about the Annual Membership Meeting will be mailed to all HJM members via USPS as the meeting date approaches.
The meeting will be held in a hybrid format, allowing members to attend either remotely via Zoom or in person at our dining hall.
1/06/2026:
We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and memorable holiday season and a great start to the new year! As we welcome the year ahead, we look forward to continuing time-honored traditions while embracing new ones with the support of our members, friends, volunteers, and community. Together, we are committed to preserving and sustaining our historic temple, ensuring it continues to thrive. Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu!
Hamakua Jodo Mission 