Hongwanji Inches Closer To Rebuild Plan

Members of Kailua Hongwanji Mission will break ground at 10 a.m. Saturday on a new temple and multipurpose center at 263 A Kuulei Road.

It marks the beginning of a new era for the half- century-old Kailua sangha (congregation), which has been waiting on various planning steps in the proj- ect process for nearly three years.

With resident minister David Nakamoto, the group has obtained its zone change and expects the building permit to come through soon for a new two-story building that will house the temple (above) as well as a center on the ground floor for a variety of uses and wellness activities by the larger community.

The plan is to offer senior day care (for 20- 22 people), and church president Keiji Kukino said they already have an interested operator.

“We’ve really looked forward to having this expansion,” he said. “We’ve talked about it since the 1960s. The day care will be an important service to the community, and it will keep the area occupied during the week- days when we’ve experienced a lot of vandalism.”

Significant funding comes from the bequest of members Dorothy and Tadaso Ono, with about $400,000 more to go. Kukino said Dorothy Ono was a Kailua resident, former public health nurse and devoted follower of Shin Buddhist teachings.

For more information about the church, call 262-4560.