We have been keeping busy over the last few months on multiple projects and collaborations that will help generate interest and publicity for our historic temple.
Sometimes we receive publicity for things that may not be positive, which generates interest for the wrong reasons (i.e. our September 2019 break in), but often positive things emerge from it such as awareness, camaraderie among our peers and goodwill.
This page will highlight our projects and media exposure that we receive. We will also feature projects by our friends and colleagues that feature Hamakua Jodo Mission in them.
Our first collaborative project with the former NHERC Heritage Center was designing a Historypin website page dedicated to Hamakua Jodo Mission. Historypin is a digital archive collection of historical photos, documents, stories, events and more that is created to preserve our history.
You can access the website by clicking on the following link or scanning the QR code below:
http://Bit.ly/HamakuaJodoMission
While working on our second project with NHERC, we thought it would be a great idea to somehow incorporate our research into an educational tool at our Obon festivities. We created a mini display about the history of our temple that was met with a lot of interest and positive feedback.
We designed and debuted some swag merchandise at our Obon festivities. We have more available, so for a small donation, potholders or lightweight reusable shopping bags can be yours! Email contact@hamakuajodomission.org for more information.
Our official second project with NHERC was creating a display wall featuring Hamakua Jodo Mission in their permanent Historic Honoka’a Town exhibit. Their heritage center shut down permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic, however a new nonprofit organization, the North Hawaii Heritage Foundation dba Honokaa Heritage Center was born, and the exhibit was transfered to them at their location on Mamane Street.
The Honokaa Heritage Center is located at: 45-3490 Mamane St., Suite C, Honokaa, HI 96727
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii featured an article about HJM in their August 2019 newsletter. Based in Hilo, their active chamber consisting of 300 members got an opportunity to learn more about us through their monthly publication.
Local news station KHNL Hawaii News Now reported about the September 2019 break in that occurred at our temple. Their segment was the lead story of the night and was seen by many viewers who reached out to us.
A special thank you goes out to their executive producer Josh Meeks and reporter Ashley Nagaoka for taking an interest in our temple and wanting to help us.
If you live along the Hamakua Coast, you most likely receive the publication Hamakua Times in your mailbox. Hamakua Jodo Mission has been mentioned and featured in NHERC’s monthly column from time to time, the most recent in the December 2019 edition.
Ai Iwane, an award winning photographer from Japan, published an illustrated book titled “Hawaii Shima No Bon Dance – Bon Dance in Big Island”.
The story line takes place at the Hamakua Jodo Mission and our annual bon dance festivities. She incorporates illustrations of our temple, cemetery and grounds and even some members of our tiny congregation in this delightful book.
Ms. Iwane has visited our temple and attended our bon dances many times over the years. She has since gone on to publish a book of photos titled “KIPUKA” and was the recent winner of the Kimura Ihei Photography Award.
“Hawaii Shima No Bon Dance : Bon Dance in Big Island” is available for sale in Japan only.
The Hawaii Herald, a local Hawai’i Japanese American Journal publication featured a story on Katsu Goto and Hamakua Jodo Mission in their Big Island Issue (Feburary 7, 2020 edition).
Staff writer Jodie Chiemi Ching tells Mr. Goto’s story and the efforts to keep his legacy and our temple alive.
HJM is featured in the March episode of the popular local tv show “Seniors Living In Paradise” hosted by Derek Kurisu. This episode can be viewed on Spectrum channel 129 during the month of March 2020 or you can view it by simply clicking on the left image.
HJM was featured in the May-August 2020 edition Ke Ola Magazine, a former publication on the Big Island. This magazine is long out of print, but we have a few copies if you would like a complimentary copy!
Before the Honokaa Heritage Center officially opened in 2021, they were happy to let HJM place a small New Years display in their window featuring one of our kadomatsu arrangements.
There wasn’t a bon dance in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Obon season was still celebrated in different ways. Members from HJM and the Honokaa Hongwanji Mission collaborated with the Honokaa Heritage Center by doing an Obon Season window display. This display featured tenugui (bon dance towel) from multiple temples on the Big Island and many other items including chochin lanterns, taiko drum and taikobachi sticks from HJM.
HJM was mentioned in articles featured in both the Hamakua Times and Hilo Tribune Herald!
We often have visitors from all over the world that ask us if we have a website or if they can get more information about HJM, so we recently had some flyers and trifold brochures printed to hand out to them. Both include QR codes for our two websites and also a map on how to get to HJM.
HJM is featured in the AIA’s special publication “Hawai’i Island Architecture 2021.” Architect & friend John Hetherington selected HJM for his article submission. Mahalo, John!
Hamakua Jodo Mission 