The temple bell rang for the last time Wednesday at the Papaaloa Hongwanji Mission.
About 20 people sat together during the last service at the Buddhist temple in the small former plantation village.
Due to declining membership, the congregation will merge with the Honohina Hongwanji Mission in Ninole after 118 years of service.
Kamehameha Schools owns the property and will decide what the building will be used for at a later date.
Jerry Broughton, president of Papaaloa Hongwanji, and his wife and church secretary, Rose Broughton, were honored for leading the mission through its final stages while ensuring that everything in the temple has a destination.
“It’s been tough and sad going through this, but I think we’re all at peace with this,” Rose Broughton said. “We’ve gone from over a hundred members to around 21, and we’ve lost seven members in 2021 alone. It’s been hard to keep going. »
Joining a new hongwanji will not be difficult, as Papaaloa has shared many activities and fellowship among the other three temples on the Hamakua Coast – Papaikou Hongwanji, Honomu Hongwanji, and Honohina Hongwanji.
“We are all a community here, and we are thrilled to join Honohina and take our memories with us,” said Rose Broughton.
Annie Bedford entered the temple about 20 years ago and saw the congregation change dramatically during her time there.
“A lot has changed because we’ve lost so many wonderful family members, many of whom lived between the late 80s and 90s,” Bedford said. “It’s like losing someone. It’s not just mourning. You’re also thinking about the good things. It can be a celebration.
Bishop Eric Mastumoto traveled from Oahu to serve as the main officiant for Papaaloa’s final service.
During the service, Mastumoto spoke of gratitude for all the time spent in fellowship in the temple, and the gratitude that will continue through the congregation beyond the building.
“Whatever the future holds, we can be grateful for the historic past and thankful for the sacrifices of our ancestors as Papaaloa Hongwanji comes to an end,” Mastumoto said. “We are at the end, but also at the beginning. Let’s continue the journey together.
Many church members and friends with deep roots in the temple’s history gathered Wednesday to celebrate more than a century of community.
Harold Uyeno, president of the Honohina Hongwanji Mission, served as master of ceremonies at Papaaloa’s final service and spoke about the story of Papaaloa Hongwanji.
The Papaaloa Temple was built to serve as a safe gathering place for those working at the Hamakua Sugar Mill, and then survived tsunamis, wars and two global pandemics.
In 1941, Bishop Izumi was arrested and taken to the mainland to an internment camp during World War II. During his absence, the mission was forced to close, but one member, Tomo Sakado, decided to live there to maintain the temple.
According to Uyeno, Sakado’s dedication to the temple was one of the reasons he was able to survive such a tumultuous time.
Sakado’s granddaughter, Almara Abe, was a member of the temple as a child and joined the congregation Wednesday morning.
“It’s sad that this will be the last time there will be a service here, but there are so many fond memories attached to this temple,” Abe said. “There’s history here, and I’m glad we can be a part of it for as long as possible.”
Uyeno’s father built the memorial for the 24 students and teachers lost in the 1946 tsunami, which stands outside the temple. Former member Eileen Usagawa’s grandfather carved the lotus flowers that surround the immaculate altar.
Uyeno also spoke about the 2015 theft of the cherished temple bell, which was recovered with the help of the community.
The 102-year-old bell will now be used at Papaikou Hongwanji.
Generations of families have attended church, grown up together, and lived in the area their entire lives.
“You can’t separate the church from the community, and that’s the same for all churches and schools,” Rose Broughton said. “These are all vital parts of the community and they are spokes in a wheel that keep everything going. Even if we close, it won’t end.
Jerry Broughton delivered remarks at the end of the service in which he painted a picture of the past and how much Papaaloa has changed since the temple was built over a century ago.
“The 118-year-old temple will fall into the past, as will many things here,” Jerry Broughton said. “But we were part of something beautiful and wonderful that was a foundation for so many in the community.”
Hongwanji members will continue to hold their annual memorial service at Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park for those who lost their lives in the 1946 tsunami.
“It was amazing to be a part of history, but it’s time to move on,” said Jerry Broughton. “Our bonds will only grow outside the temple.”
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com
