One of the first language schools had been founded in 1896...Soon the idea of teaching the Japanese language to Nisei became extremely popular, especially since the schools facilitated communication and cultural transmission within the Issei family and provided a child-care center for working parents.  With the proliferation of Buddhist institutions, the Japanese language schools came under the control of a more "Japanesey" leadership. Besides instruction in the language, reverence for the emperor and a strong attachment to things Japanese dominated the curriculum of the Buddhist-operated language schools. Many young Nisei would therefore attend not only public school, learning American culture and language, but would study the ways of Japan at the language schools. (Source: Dennis M. Ogawa, Kodomo no tame ni: For the sake of the children, The University of Hawaii Press, 1978,  p. 141)

In the Hakalau Kuleana, between Kolekole (at about the 14 1/2 Mile Marker on the Highway 19) and Poupou Stream in Ninole (at about the 20 Mile Marker), we know of four Japanese Language Schools. Hakalau's was the largest.

Between July 1904, when the first Hakalau Japanese Language School started in the Hakalau Lower Camp (Down Camp) bakery owned by Shotaro Shimizu, and October 1927, a total of 4 Hakalau Japanese Language Schools were built on the one acre site in Hakalau Upper Camp (Up Camp) now occupied by the Hakalau Jodo Mission and the "Stairs to Nowhere" . These language school buildings frequently incorporated dormitory space. In addition, a separate dormitory for girls was built behind behind existing dormitory space. These buildings, built over a short period of time, reflected the increasing demand for both education and childcare. 

DATE	MINISTER	DESCRIPTION
Nov. 3, 1904	Soma	The school was moved from the Down Camp bakery of Shotaro Shimizu to a one-acre site in Up Camp provided by the plantation that is still the site of the Hakalau Jodo Mission today. ​The 2 story building measured 30' x 20'.
July 8, 1906	Soma	The 1904 building became too small. A new 2-story building with 7 rooms and a kitchen was added. At this point, there were about 50 students.
July 4, 1909	Soma	Another new 2-story building measured 66' x 31'. The upper floor contained the church with a classroom on each side. The lower floor included a meeting room, self-study room, entertainment room, teacher's room, and dormitory.
1918	Tachikawa	Another 2 story building was built as a dormitory for girls in back of the existing dormitory (of 1909)
1927	Itakura	The final Hakalau Japanese School was dedicated 10/9/1927. The new building was 96' by 36' and included 4 classrooms, a guest room and teachers' room. Today, only the "Stairs to Nowhere" remain.

​Photo Gallery and Newspaper Articles

Contact Us if you have photos of the Hakalau Jodo Mission to share on this website! We want to know more about the students and activities at the school.

1917

Kakuichiro Morikawa (male - 1st generation who came from Japan) sent his children's certificates back to relatives in Japan.

​Certificate of graduation
Yoshiko Morikawa
I certify that you have graduated from the
​regular course of study (2 years).
April 8, 1917
Sae Tachikawa, princpal
Hakalau Jogakkan girls' school
Hawaii Island, U.S. Territory Hawaii

​
​A student who completed the regular course 5th grade 
Toraichi Morikawa
We prove your diligence.
April 1, 1917
Hakalau Jodo Shu Elementary School

A student who completed the regular course 5th grade 
Akiyo Morikawa
We prove your diligence.
April 1, 1917
Hakalau Jodo Shu Elementary School

Certificates provided courtesy of Leanne Kirk.

​1918

Hakalau Japanese Language School circa 1918-1920. Rev. Tachikawa is sitting in the front row to the right of center. Assistant Ministers Yamaguchi Ryukai and Soga Tetsuzui stand behind him. Note: men wore Western attire, while many of the women chose to wear traditional Japanese attire in their official Japanese Language School picture. The banners read: Jodo shu kyokaijo (Jodo shu church) and Fuzoku? Hakalau Nihingo gakko (Affiliated Hakalau Japanese School). Photo courtesy of Jaime Yugawa, great grandson of Tetsuo and Yae Yugawa.

A dormitory for girls was built in back of the existing building from 1909 containing the church and dormitory for boys. 

1920

Alumni of the Hakalau Japanese Language School, 1920. Source: copy of photo currently hanging in the Hakalau Jodo Mission.

1921

Hawaii Hochi, 9/28/21 accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki:

An amicable resolution of Hakalau school merger issue is desired. The issue of merging the Hakalau Jodo Mission School and Wailea School has been in discussion for more than a year, and two or three volunteers have been trying, but it has not been successful because of recurrent bad feelings between the parents of the two schools from the time of the separation. 
The Wailea School became independent during Rev. Tachikawa's tenure at the Hakalau Jodo Mission School.  The current enrollment is just over 80 students, and monthly fees are $2 for one student, $3.50 for two students, and $4.25 for three students per month, which is relatively high for the parents. On the other hand, Hakalau Jodo Mission School has a little over 140 students, monthly fees range from 75 cents to $1, and the plantation owner provides a monthly subsidy of $15, making it a much lower cost than Wailea School.  Therefore, some students prefer to move from Wailea School to Hakalau School.

Wailea School held a parents' meeting and tried to accommodate them by offering monthly fees of $1.25 for one student, $2.25 for two students, and $3.50 for three students, but these monthly fees were not enough to maintain the school, so they asked people for donation.  

It is not good for education when two schools are built on a single plantation farm and they treat each other's students and teachers with disrespect.

The Hakalau Jodo Mission School volunteers said that they will not propose a merger with the Wailea School because if they merge with the Wailea School, they will lose support from the plantation owner and will be at a disadvantage in terms of management, but if the Wailea School makes a proposal, they will not oppose the merger.

​For the sake of peace and children's education in the plantation, we hope that both sides will make concessions and reach an amicable solution.

1923

Hawaii Hochi, 9/11/23 accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki:
​
Yesterday, four schools on the Big Island of Hawaii - Haikuu, Paauilo, Keauhou, Kawaikapaa Nichiren - filed a petition against the Foreign Language School Act.  The Paiela School merged with the Haikuu School, and the complaint was withdrawn.  The Hakalau Jodo Mission School changed its name to Hakalau Japanese Language School, thus changing the name of the school in the complaint.
​

1926

Hakalau Japanese Language School Class of 1926, from Left to Right: 1st Row: Tsuro Motoda, Yutaka Hirata, Jitsuo Muranaka, Seicshi Tadokoro, Kenichi "Johnny" Oda, ___ Yamada, Rev. Itakura, Chiyono (Goto) Fujimoto, Shegeko Shiraishi, Kauru Tawara, Tonoyo Nishiyama, Yoshiko Kishimori. 2nd Row: Tameshichiro Noji, Yukino Hamada, Harold Fujimoto, Kazuo Yamamoto, Terumi Koya, Hisayo (Mrs. Imai) Nishiyama, Ayako Yokoyama, Mrs. (Rev.) Itakura, Mitsuo Arita, Riichi Goto, Harry M. Urasaki. Top Row: _ _ _, _ _ _, _ _ _, _ _ _, _ _ _, Kikujiro Yokoyama, _ _ _, Chojiro Koya, _ _ _, _ _ _, Shuzo Sugimoto? Photo provided to the Hakalau School and Community Reunion, courtesy of Waichi Ouye.

Hawaii Hochi, 10/15/26 accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki:
Hakalau Japanese Language School held an academic affairs committee election and elected new officers.  
Chairperson: Kikujiro Yokoyama
Vice Chairperson: Chojiro Koya
Treasurer: Tameshichiro Noji
Auditors: Toyomi Okaji, Shuichi Yamamoto
Committee members: Toyoji Kikuchi, Taro Shinbo, Usaburo Hamaoka, Toyokichi Hirata, Soshichi Ito, Heikichi Shiraishi, Sensuke Soken, Tsurukichi Goto, Usaku Ishiki, Jiro Nakasato, Yoshiaki Motoishi, Kame Kaneshiro, Ekichi(?) Kitano, Ichita(?) Egami, Toshizo Sugimoto, Zenzo Oue, Kihachi Miyashiro, Shichinosuke Tawara

1927

The last Japanese Language School was built in 1927, with its dedication on October 9, 1927.

The building on the left is the Hakalau Japanese Language School, built in 1927, showing the ​"Stairs to Nowhere" with white bannisters. The building on the  the right included the Temple, dormitory and "old" language school. This building, believed to be the one built in 1909, was demolished in 1936 to make room for the current temple, social hall, and parsonage. Photo from Light on the Ocean, published in 1934.

The Honolulu Advertiser, October 15, 1927, accessed via Newspapers.com

Nippu Jiji 10/14/1927, accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki
Hakalau Jodo Mission Japanese school dedication ceremony was held on 10/9/1927. The new building is 96 feet by 36 feet, has 4 classrooms, guest room and teachers’ room.  Desks and chairs came from the mainland, same quality as ones for public schools. The Academic Affairs Committee Chairman was Kikujiro Yokoyama, vice-chairman was Chojiro Kotani, treasurer was Ichiro Nojima.  Donations raised:  $8031, costs: $6270

The dedication ceremony included:
Words of thanks, Principal Itakura
Congratulatory messages:

• Waichi Yamato, representative of students
• Masao Mihara, representative of Young Men Assn.
• Satoru Fujinaga, representative of alumni

Congratulatory speeches:

• Jiro Nakaguro, representative of parents
• Toyoji Okaji, representative of Academic Affairs Committee
• John M. Ross, Hakalau Sugar Plantation owner (interpreted by Toraichi Morikawa)
• Eugene Capellas, Hakalau School principal (interpreted by Toraichi Morikawa)
• Hiroshi Tahara, Central Education Association
• Shutetsu Uenoyama, representative of Jodo Mission ministers
• Bishop Fukuda’s message read by Rev. Ninryo Nago
• Consul-General of Japan Kuwashima’s message read by Kikujiro Yokoyama

(Ross and Capellas suggested Hakalau Japanese School and Wailea Japanese School merge.)  

---

Graduating Class of 1927 in front of the brand new Hakalau Japanese Language School. Assistant Minister Yamanaka and his wife, Yoshi, both of whom taught at the school. Also pictured here: Toraichi Morikawa, back row, 2nd from left; Satoru Kurisu, below and to the right of Morikawa; Kikujiro Yokoyama. last row, middle; and Masae Noji (first row, 3rd from the left), whose granddaughter Leanne Kirk provided this photo.

1928

Photo taken in front of the old Japanese Language School, Temple, dormitory. The caption reads, "The 27th class, 1928". Photo courtesy of Leanne Kirk, great nice of Gene Noji, second row, sixth person from the left.

1929

Circa 1928-1929. Rev. Itakura and Assistant Minister Yamanaka sit in the front row directly in line with the center of the steps. The building on the left, constructed in 1927, was the Japanese language school and later, at different times, also served as the the plantation personnel office (later the ILWU office) and aikido studio.

1929 picture of the Hakalau Jodo Mission and Japanese Language School and students from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.
Left to right: 1st Row: ?, ?, Taeko Tadokoro, Sadame Yoshimura, Masako Hirata, Masako Fujimoto, Rev. Itakura, Mrs. (Rev) Itakura,
Akiko Morikawa, ? Yokoyama, Haruyo Hashimoto, Shigeko Shiraishi, Tomeyo Yoshida, Kaoru Tawara;
2nd Row: ? Fukunaga, Yasuhiro Uyechi, Waichi Ouye, Hiyokichi Fujioka, Katsutaro Yoshida, Hideo Ochiai, Yukio Hamada, Henry Urasaki, Kazuo Yamamoto, Toraichi Morikawa, Satoshi Fujinaga, Takuma Mizuguchi, Hajime Nishioka, Yoshikazu Kishimori, Shuichi Furuyama,
Tsutamo Tawara, Hoichi Uyeda, Toshio Hamada, ?Yoshimura, Masao Mizuguchi;
3rd Row: Susumu Kimura, Kazumi Ueda, Takeo Okazaki, Hiroshi Ikawa, Tadashi Nishioka, Makoto Tawara, Harold Noboru Fujimoto, Shigeharu Furusho, Masao Mihara, Masami Uyeda, Sadakichi Yoshida, Kaoru Mizuguchi, Terumi Koga, Yutaka Hirata, Naotaka Hiroshige,
Shigeo Nishiyama, Masao Oshiro.

​1931

Nippu Jiji 5/26/1931, accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki
New board members of Hakalau Jodo Mission Japanese School elected on 5/17/1931:

• Advisors: Matsutaro Tanaka, Kenjiro (Kanejiro?) Fujinaga, Chojiro Kotani, Toyoji Kikuchi
• Chairman: Kikujiro Yokoyama
• Vice Chairman: Toyomi Okaji
• Treasurer: Reio Yamagata
• Auditors: Yososhichi Ito, Shuichi Yamamoto
• Managing directors: Shinichi Saito, Satoru Kurisu, Genjiro Shimabukuro​

We have no pictures of students, alumni, and teachers after 1931. If you have any, please contact us!
Here are the photos we do have:

1934

Hakalau Japanese Language School 30th Anniversary, circa 1934. Honorees (left side): front row from left to right: Mr. Koya, Mr. Miyashiro, Mr, Yokoyama; back row; Mr. Fujinaga, and Mr. Kikuchi. Others in Attendance (right): Mr. and Mrs. John M. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. George Ross, and Rev. and Mrs. Yamanaka. Source: copy of photo currently hanging in the Hakalau Jodo Mission.

For information about the individuals above, click on the highlighted names: Mr. Koya, Mr. Miyashiro, Mr. Yokoyama, Mr. Fujinaga, Mr. Kikuchi, Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, Mr. and Mr. George Ross, Rev. and Mrs. Yamanaka.

1936

THE WAR YEARS: 1941-1945

We are assuming the Hakalau Japanese Language School was shut down effective December 7, 1941 and do not know when classes and other activities resumed. If you know, please Contact Us!

1941

​Hawaii Mainichi 5/28/1941, accessed from the Hoover Institute's (Stanford University) Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection, translated by Rev. Junshin Miyazaki
Hakalau Japanese School board members are all Nisei
Hakalau Jodo Mission and Japanese School had a general membership meeting on 5/24/1941 and elected Japanese School officers.  They are all Niseis,  and Isseis are happy because they are influential persons in the local society.

• Chairman Toraichi Morikawa
• Vice Chairmen: Reio Yamagata, Tomeo Kawamoto
• Secretaries: Heikichi Fujioka, Shigeharu Furusho
• Treasurers: Hideo Ochiai, Takuma Mizuguchi
• Auditors: Sanehiro Okaji, Ukichi Uratani, Shizuto Fujimori

1954

Insurance Valuation photo taken in 1954 by the Hakalau Plantation. Photo courtesy of the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association Archives at the University of Hawaii-Manoa - Hawaiian Collection within the Hilo Coast Processing Co. series.

The population of Hakalau was changing. Shifts towards mechanical harvesting required reductions in the labor force. The process of depopulating camps had begun. Buildings owned by the Plantation, such as the Hakalau Japanese Language School, were somewhat repurposed. The Plantation Personnel Office was located there at one time, as was the ILWU office in addition to the language school and other activities.

1960

Photos from the Voice of Hakalau, August 1960, Vol. 14, No. 8, from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

The language school is visible behind the yagura during the Bon Dance. Also, spectators watched the Bon Dance from the porch of the school. Note: the stool and the bench are still in use!

1963

Aikido class run by Takashi Nonaka and Takashi Yugawa sponserd by the Hakalau Jodo Mission, circa 1963. From the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

1975

The Hakalau Karate Club located in the Hakalau Japanese Language School Building. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

Hakalau [English Language] School closed in 1972 and children transferred to Kalanianaole School in Papaikou. By 1975, most residents of Hakalau had relocated, many to the Kulaimano Subdivision in Pepeekeo. 

In the climate of declining population in Hakalau, Rev. Tanaka (at Hakalau from 1975-1979) continued teaching at the Japanese language school for a small number of students, and started a Japanese language class for adults and a Karate class. ​

1984-1985

Photos courtesy of Rev. Hakushi Tamura, Hakalau Jodo Mission's 10th minister, from 1979-1996.

The Chief Abbot visited Hakalau in November 1984. The Hakalau Japanese Language School is visible through the dining room window, particularly in the enlarged version on the right. Rev. Tamura reported that the school was demolished in late 1984 or in 1985. The population had moved away, the sugar cane industry was disappearing, and the termites had taken their toll on the building.

2023

"Stairs to Nowhere" today

The "Stairs to Nowhere" are the only remains of the Hakalau Japanese Language School today. 

Stairs to the Hakalau Japanese Language School built in 1927.

Learn more about the Hakalau Japanese Language School and its relationship to the Hakalau Jodo Mission and the roles of its ministers.

Learn More