1936, the new Hakalau Jodo Mission. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.
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1947 hand-drawn map prepared for the plantation.
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Bernice Hirai (née Yamagata), who grew up in Hakalau Upper Camp, shared her memories of the Hakalau Christian Church in Memoirs of the Hawai`i Hiroshima Heritage Study Group, 2012, republished here with her permission.
Hakalau Christian Church was a modest, little, old building, a rectangular floor space. Being of the Congregational sect, considered the plainest of the Protestants, everything was bare.
I think the plantation allowed the use of that little plot of land. It was located above the train station, close to the turnstile, a grassy, slopey yard which fronted the church with its corrugated iron roof and 2 x 4 lumber walls. When it rained, the pitter-patter of the raindrops was clearly heard, as there was no ceiling. There was a verandah with a railing, a favorite spot for the little boys (and girls) to climb, with their respective mothers constantly admonishing them, "Abunai, abunai!" When you entered, there was just a stark, brown cross at the top of the far end of the wall and a large picture of the Christ Jesus in an oval frame. I used to think He had the kindest eyes and lots of hair; he was the only hakujin in our midst. |
Photo taken in 1954. Provided courtesy of the University of Hawaii-Manoa Hamilton Library, Hawaiian Collection, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Plantation Archives.
Dedication of Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 19 in Hakalau with the Hakalau Lower Camp Christian Church in the background. Photo from the Jack Ouye Collection, courtesy of Akiko Masuda.
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This small temple was a satellite of the larger Hongwanji in Honomu. Once a month the minister from Honomu would come to Hakalau give a sermon. After the sermon he showed a movie. If you have more information and pictures of the Hakalau Hongwanji, please contact us.
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Photo taken in 1954. Built in 1907. Provided courtesy of the University of Hawaii-Manoa Hamilton Library, Hawaiian Collection, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Plantation Archives.
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Circa the 1971. Photo courtesy of Cal Motoda
Hawaii Herald, May 29, 1914, accessed via Newspapers.com
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Hawaii Herald, May 29, 1914, accessed via Newspapers.com
First Communtion, early 1950s. Stone altar in the background. Photo courtesy of Katherine Zoellner.
The Last Mention of this Church...that we've found.
Hawaii Tribune Herald, February 28, 1971, accessed via Newspapers.com
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Hilo Daily Tribune, February 4, 1922, accessed via Newspaper.com
Hilo Daily Tribune, April 8, 1922, accessed via Newspapers.com.
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Hawaii Tribune Herald, April 12, 1922, accessed via Newspapers.com.
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Honohina Hongwanji began in 1899 and developed as the population of sugar plantation workers and their families grew. Initially services were held at a temporary temple, then a small temple was built. In 1916 a larger temple and minister's residence was built, to be replaced 23 years later by a much larger temple. The population diminished with the demise of the sugar industry and the temple was dismantled. In 1969, the Ninole Hongwanji was renamed the Honohina Honwanji and continues to serve the population of the area.
Honohina Hongwanji today. It was originally the Ninole Hongwanji and became the Honohina Hongwanji when the 1939 Honohina structure was dismantled in 1969, along with the rest of the Honohina Upper Village.
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1916. The building on the left was originally the Japanese School, and the building on the right was the 1916 Honohina Hongwanji. The Hongwanji was replace by a new building in 1939 and the 1916 building became the YBA Hall.
A new Honohina Hongwanji was built in 1939 dedicated in 1950 when the altar arrived from Japan. Picture courtesy of the Lyman Museum
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