Category: World BWA

While Hawaii has hosted 3 World Buddhist Women’s Convention in the past  (1967, 1982 and 2006), we are on the threshold of hosting our 4^th on September 11-12, 2027 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  Join us to meet fellow BWA members from the Buddhist Churches of America, Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada, South America and Japan.  The steering committee has been hard at work planning meaningful religious services, a wide range of workshops, dynamic keynote speakers and panel representatives, delicious meals, outstanding entertainment, and time to reflect on the Convention’s theme:  “Live Peace, Live Aloha, Live as One in the Nembutsu.”

Click on the nearby Welcome Poster to see our WBWC 2027 main page for more information.  Early registration ends on June 30, 2026.

Recently the HFBWA was informed by the Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) that they will be undergoing major renovations.  To accommodate these improvements and repairs, the HCC will temporarily close in 2026 AND 2027, thus affecting our 2027 WBWC.  Our Federation President, Linda Nagai, working hard with our sales contacts and others, has successfully secured the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort as our new venue.

We know all delegates, including those from Hawaii, will enjoy the resort for its reasonably priced rooms.  The nearby famous Waikiki beach and the many top notched amenities at the site can be enjoyed by the entire family too.  The religious services, meetings, workshops speakers, panel, entertainment, meals, marketplace etc. will be easily handled at this one-site venue like we enjoyed at the 2019 World Convention at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis

So in the spirit of Aloha, please join us on September 11-12, 2027 at the  Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort for the 18th World Buddhist Women’s Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Mahalo!!!

Click logo to view WBWC Main Page.

The Hawaii Federation of BWAs will be hosting the 18th World Buddhist Women’s Convention on September 11-12, 2027 at the Hawaii Convention Center.  The selected theme is “Live Peace, Live Aloha, Live as One in the Nembutsu .”  About 2,500 delegates, ministers, spouses, volunteers, etc. from Japan, South America, Canada, mainland US and Hawaii plan to attend.

The Steering Committee led by Linda Nagai (Convention Chair), Rev. Blayne Higa (Minister Adviser), Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani (Honorary Adviser) and Yoshiko Umitani (BWA Honorary President) has been meeting via zoom.  While this is not a perfect system, we gather in this manner since members of the group live on different islands and represent different United BWA districts. We thank the BWA members who have already joined the various planning committees and welcome others to join. See your United President for more details.  (September 2024)

It was only three days after the solemn Investiture and festive Welcome Luncheon for Bishop Toshiyuki Umitani as our 17th Bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, that the Maui Wildfire blew up in unimaginable force (August 8).  Today the historic Lahaina town, along with Lahaina Hongwanji and many of their members’ homes and businesses are in ruins and we mourn the loss of lives including those who are still missing.  We are grateful for the outpouring of support for the survivors who face the enormous task to rebuild their lives.  Along with many other social agencies, the HHMH has established several ways that you can help, so go to their website at https://hongwanjihawaii.com  Namu Amida Butsu.

Linda Nagai, President states “The Hawaii Federation of BWAs guided by the all Encompassing Wisdom and Compassion of Amida stands with Lahaina Hongwani and the Lahaina community with hands extended to support their relief and recovery efforts.”

Sharon Higa,  President of Maui United BWA shares:  “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear.  If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today”.  Thich Nhat Hanh

“As I speak to our Lahaina Hongwanji’s members, I see hope.  They share heartbreaking stories of their Lahaina fire experiences.  For the most part, they seem to be coping well.  Their resilience stems from Amida Buddha’s guidance and compassion.  Our Maui temples have been helping our Lahaina temple members by giving them a place to gather, whether for spiritual or social healing.  Individually we are supporting our families as their needs arise.  We are all a link in Amida Buddha’s golden chain of love.”

“I am safe”, “I am fine.”  Those three little words made a huge difference to the friends of Sharon Nohara (HFBWA Secretary).  We worried about Sharon since she lives in Lahaina, Maui and had met full force the wildfires fueled by strong winds of Hurricane Dora so many miles away. Linda Nagai, Hawaii Federation of BWAs president first learned from Sharon on August 9th, a short reply to her text that she lost her home’s roof and evacuated to her Father-in-Laws place, some 9 miles north of Lahaina.

Her Japan trip (May 7-21) roommate, Susan Morishige of Moiliili heard next.  “My husband is at a rehab facility (in Wailuku).  The subdivision that I live at is in the highest area of Lahainaluna Road.  The fire bypassed us and went down the hill and engulfed all the houses below me.  I think only 4 members’ houses survived the fire.  Everyone’s houses were burned as well as our temple…”

Picture of Sharon (on right) with Jean Heselden of Makawao, and Susan during breakfast on Japan trip.

I have known Sharon for many years since we are both involved with the HFBWAs.  I contacted Sharon’s daughter, Jessica who lives on Oahu.  She encouraged me to text her mother directly.  So on August 21 (13 days later), I wrote a simple message to Sharon, “How are you faring?  Can I get something for you?”  Sharon’s text reply of 700 words was overwhelming.  Again it began with “I am fine” and ended with “Please thank everyone for their concern and sympathy.  I am grateful that my house was saved, and I have my health.  I have so much more than the hundreds who have suffered tremendous loss.  In Gratitude, Sharon”

In her message, Sharon basically shares her perspective as a survivor who remained in the west Maui area while the majority evacuated to central Maui (Kahului & Wailuku).  Since then, I have shared her message with close to 40 friends.  Email me if you wish to see her entire text.  Dhigashi46@hawaii.rr.com

Metta, Donna Higashi, Moiliili Hongwanji BWA

Led by HFBWA President Linda Nagai and 1^st VP Claire Tamamoto, Hawaii BWA members and guests will meet their counterparts from the Buddhist Churches of America, and Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada, South America and Japan at the Kyoto International Conference Center on May 11-12, 2023.

As an attendee, here are some items needing your attention.  CONTACT YOUR UNIT OR UNITED BWA PRESIDENT FOR DETAILS.

1. Convention Registration fee – $200 – contact your Unit/United BWA President (deadline Feb. 3, 2023)
2. Convention Program – TBD
3. Uniform – BWA Purple Polo shirt (similar to previous one) – $25.00 – Oct. 31, 2022 deadline to order
4. Lei Making (added to convention Uniform) – TBD
5. Entertainment – New Buddhist Women’s Pledge (singing/ukulele playing/American sign language) sign up if interested in participating
6. Montoshikisho – optional; designed by Japan BWA; available at HHMH HQ Bookstore; $45 (a reduced cost is being offered through your temple or BWA Unit – $40.50) click here for design on new montoshikisho
7. Five Nights Stay in Kyoto (RT air (Honolulu to Osaka); transportation to/from airport to hotel, to/from hotel to Honzan and convention site; Designated hotel; some meals, etc.) – Kintetsu Hawaii (should be confirmed already)

The one-and-a-half-day convention follows our participation at the Hongwanji Founder’s Hall (Honzan) on May 10, 2023 as part of the Joint Celebration.

Please join us when Maui United BWA hosts the State Conference on April 23-24, 2022.  The format will be virtual only, using Zoom, due to concerns about COVID and variants.  The theme is “Building Healthy Sanghas—Connecting with Others.”  Two keynote speakers will be featured:   Deidre Tegarden, Maui, “Connecting with Others” and Janet Umezu, California, “Diversity and Acceptance.”  The business meeting will be conducted by the Hawaii Federation of BWAs’ President in preparation for the 17th World Buddhist Women’s Convention to be held in Kyoto, Japan on May 11-12, 2023.

#6 Flyer BWA 2022 Conf. Virtual Format dated Jan 13 2022

BWA2022 Conf Reg Form VIRTUAL Attendance deadline Jan 31 2022

NOTE:  As of January 9, 2022, the Maui committee formally adopted a change in the format of the 2022 Membership Conference.  The conference will be in virtual format only, via Zoom.  The registration cost is $100 per person.  If you have not previously registered, please use the form above with a deadline of January 31, 2022.  If you have already registered, you do not need to do more.

Deadline for requesting a refund of prepaid Maui Beach Hotel reservation is January 23, 2022.  If you need additional information, please contact Sharon Nohara at sharon.nohara@gmail.com.