Buddhism in Hawaii

Buddhism in Hawaii is not for everyone. The local temples may state openly that they welcome people from all backgrounds and hold no bias toward any race or ethnic group – and they may truly believe this – but anyone who has ever stepped inside one of the many local Buddhist temples will see things differently.

Japanese people and deities are worshipped at the altars at Japanese temples, Chinese personalities – historical and otherwise – are prayed to at Chinese temples, and Korean mythical figures are revered at Korean temples. The same holds true for the local Vietnamese, Thai, Tibetan and Laotian Buddhist temples.

The ethnic adoration that permeates the various Buddhist traditions and is purveyed through the local temples makes it difficult for Buddhists from different racial backgrounds to worship together. Korean followers in Japanese temples feel uncomfortable worshipping an enshrined Japanese man; Tibetan followers don’t feel right bowing down to a deified Chinese military general at Chinese temples. Non-Asians will feel out of sorts at any temple. And lest anyone mistake one ethnic Buddhist temple for another, the name of the temple at the entrance makes it clear which ethnic group the temple is for. There is no “Honolulu Buddhist Temple” or the equivalent, no common temple with a universal name with which all Buddhists can identify. Instead, one finds “Higashi Hongwanji Mission” (Japanese), “Hsu Yun Temple” (Chinese), “Mu Ryang Sa” (Korean), “Chan Khong Monastery” (Vietnamese), “Wat Lao Sithammaram” (Laotian), “Kagyu Thegchen Ling” (Tibetan), and “Wat Buddhajakramongkolvararam” (Thai) – specific Buddhist temples for specific ethnic groups.

Why the deep ethnic and cultural trappings for Buddhism in Hawaii? Nothing fails like success. Buddhism is the first world religion. It is not the oldest one, but it was the first to transcend ethnic, geographical and cultural boundaries. Indeed, it was so successful in this endeavor that in China, Buddhism became Chinese. The same happened in Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Korea and elsewhere.

Everywhere, that is, except in Hawaii.

The forms of Buddhism transported to Hawaii from different places remain explicitly tied to their culture of origin. As a result, the Buddhist temples in Hawaii don’t observe the same traditions in the same way in the same place or at the same time. They are governed by different calendars and celebrate different holidays. Indeed, as illustrated in the accompanying photos, the Buddhist temples in Hawaii don’t even worship the same Buddha! The religion is fragmented.

Yet diversity can be a powerful tool, but there is still to appear a local Buddhist visionary who can take the principal message of the religion and repackage it in such a way that is attractive and understandable to everyone, regardless of ethnicity.

In short, there is no “Kama’aina Buddhism.” For local Buddhists this is unfortunate, as the conditions seem ripe for such a form of Buddhism to flourish.

-- Jay Sakashita, MidWeek, 5/7/14 (first column)