| Lahaina Jodo Mission | |
Many people who visit the island of Maui, make it a point to visit the historic whaling town of Lahaina. Much of their exploration, however, is confined to the waterfront areas and the historic sites nearby. Located away from downtown Lahaina to the north on Ala Moana Street, you can find the Lahaina Jodo Mission. This mission is one of the most beautiful and serene places in Hawaii and one which should not be missed.
A few years ago, the members of the Lahaina Jodo Mission conceived the idea of building an authentic Buddhist Temple complemented with the symbolic surroundings that are typical of the great Buddhist temples in Japan.
The great Buddha and the Temple Bell were completed in June 1968, in commemoration of the Centennial Celebration of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. In 1970, the main Temple and Pagoda were built with the generous and wholehearted support of the members of the mission and the general public.
The property is owned by the Lahaina Jodo Mission. The task of maintaining as well as improving the premises is dependent on voluntary contributions.
The Temple
photo by John Fischer
The temple is located on Puunoa Point, Lahaina, overlooking the islands of Molokai, Lanai and Kaho`olawe. The Lahaina Jodo Mission is a beautiful Buddhist temple with unique Buddhist architectural structures. The old wooden temple which stood exactly where the new one stands now, burned to the ground in 1968. The new structure was built in 1970 and the design is in all ways authentic and true to the traditions of old Japan.
One of the interesting features is the solid copper shingles which cover the roof of both temple and pagoda. All of these shingles were individually formed by hand and are interlocked on all four sides so as to make a solid copper sheathing.
Inside the temple, five outstanding Buddhist paintings adorn the walls. They were painted in 1974 by Hajin Iwasaki, a noted Japanese artist. In later years, the beautiful floral ceiling paintings were added by the same artist.
The Great Buddha
photo by John Fischer
The statue of the Amida Buddha is the largest of its kind outside Japan. It was cast in Kyoto, Japan during 1967-1968. It is made of copper and bronze, stands 12 feet high and weights approximately three and one-half tons. The Great Buddha was completed in June 1968, just in time for the Centennial Celebration which commemorated the immigration of the first Japanese to Hawaii 100 years prior.
