A few weeks ago, a random magazine picture I had glued to my vision board several years ago materialized into an almost identical picture I took myself while standing in front of the Byodo-In Temple, one of Oahu’s hidden gems.
Last updated: August 23, 2024
From Dreaming about to Visiting the Byodo-In Temple, Oahu
Several years ago, when the whole manifestation thing finally caught up with me (up to that point I’d been projecting and forcing my dreams into materialization on a more intuitive level), I bought a large poster paper and went full force to fill it with clippings and pictures from different magazines.
Over the years, I had collected a small stack of old periodicals, mostly complementary airline magazines from our previous trips to Kauai, Alaska, and Europe. So naturally my vision board, loaded with images of exotic places from around the world, represented my passion and curiosity about the world’s most elusive natural and cultural treasures.
In the top left corner of the poster, I glued a medium-sized picture of a beautiful red-walled Asian temple with traditional curved gable.
Is It Hawaii?
A few weeks ago, we flew to Hawaii. With school still on vacation, we decided to stay in the tropics longer than we normally allow ourselves while traveling and do some island hopping between Oahu and the Bid Island of Hawaii. Since airfares were slightly cheaper and flight options abundant, Oahu became our first choice by default.
On the first day on the island and after visiting the historic Pearl Harbor, we headed out of Honolulu. With its busy streets, tall buildings, and world-famous beaches of Waikiki, the city looked strangely similar to Santa Monica. A different version of our backyard halfway across the Pacific? We longed for different sights.
A short drive along H-3 freeway felt like a detour rather than a direct route to our next destination. Surrounded by lush tropical greenery descending along steep mountainsides, the road looked like it had chiseled itself straight into a jungle. On an overcast day, the peaks of the mountains turned into an expansive playground for heavy clouds and opaque fog.
A Temple from the Vision Board
The vistas changed drastically. And it hadn’t even been ten minutes since we left Honolulu.
Distracted by such a quick and unexpected transition, we lost all track of time and direction until GPS instructed us to pull into one of a few remaining parking spots in front of the Byodo-In Temple.
A narrow footbridge with red and black railings perched over a small creek at the front end of the parking lot. Behind it, a massive structure built in Japanese architectural traditions was nestled at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains.
Stretching out their wings as if ready to take flight, a couple of golden phoenixes set atop a curved roof of the temple. Two wallless twin wing corridors supported by symmetrical red columns lead to a central room. A large pond encircled the main building, separating it from smaller structures to its right and left.
I was standing in front of the Asian temple from my vision board…
About the Byodo-In Temple, Oahu
One of the best kept secrets of Hawaii, the Byodo-In Temple, which translates from Japanese to “Temple of Equality”, is a non-practicing Buddhist temple located in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park on Oahu.
The traditional religious center was built in 1963 as a scale replica of a thousand-year old temple in Uji, Japan. Precisely following the traditional Japanese design, the Hawaiian Byodo-In Temple was made without a single nail. It was dedicated in August 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.
Visiting the Byodo-In Temple
We didn’t go straight inside the Byodo-In Temple. A resonant sound that filled the air from time to time prompted us to get to the tail of the line in front of the Bell House.
Sacred Bell
The Bell House, or kanetsuki-do in Japanese, looks like a red wooden cage without walls and is topped with a curved roof similar to the one that covers the Byodo-In Temple. Inside it hangs a massive, three-ton brass bell, known as bon-sho (sacred bell). The Hawaiian sacred bell was cast in Osaka, Japan. At five foot high, it closely resembles the bon-sho in the Byodo-In Temple in Uji.
A soft wooden log or shu-moku is suspended at a 90-degree angle to the bon-sho, held in place by two thick ropes attached to the ceiling. Another rope with its loose ends pointed to the ground rests on the log. It serves as a grip to swing the log so it can strike the bell.
In Japanese culture, the unique tones of the bon-sho remind us of the fleeting nature of time. It’s also believed ringing the bell clears the mind of negatively and imparts deep peace and happiness.
Phoenix Hall
Phoenix Hall, the central room of the Byodo-In Temple, is home to the Amida Buddha statue. The nine-foot high, two-ton sitting buddha was carved by Jokei Sagawa, then covered with Urushi Japanese lacquer and gold leaf.
Meditation Pavilion
We separated here. While Roshan and Dylan, taking off their shoes at the entrance, aimed to walk through the entire length of the main structure of the Byodo-In Temple, I headed to the left.
Here a stone throw’s away from the crowd, on a hill at the end of a muddy trail was a meditation pavilion. A single bench adorned the traditional garden booth with a kara-hafu (curved) rooftop.
Fish Pond and Gift Shop
I reunited with Dylan and Roshan at the far end of the circular pond, on the other side of the Byodo-In Temple. Right next to a gift shop where I spent two dollars to buy fish and bird food. For the next 30 minutes, we sat at the pond bank, luring fin-tailed creatures closer to us by tossing the food in the water. Our new feathered friends were comfortable eating from our hands, literary.
Things to Know before Visiting the Byodo-In Temple
Address
47-200 Kahekili Highway, Kaneohe, Hawaii
Hours
The Byodo-In Temple is a non-denominational Buddhist temple. It’s open for people of all faiths and religions from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last entrance is no later than 4:15 p.m. The temple closes its doors only two times a year, on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Admission
General Admission
- Adult (ages 12-64): $5
- Senior (ages 65 and older): $4
- Child (ages 2-12): $2
- Child (under 2): free
Kamaaina Admission (With Hawaiian ID)
- Adult (ages 12-64): $3
- Senior (ages 65 and older): $2
- Child (ages 2-12): $1
- Child (under 2): free
Photography at the Byodo-In Temple
Commercial photography, including special events photography, is allowed only with permits. You don’t need any official authorization to photograph the grounds of the Byodo-In Temple for personal use. Drones are not allowed at the temple.
Dress Code
The Byodo-In Temple doesn’t have an official dress code. But it does request that the guests dress respectfully. It’s a place of worship and meditation. So no beach attire or any overly revealing clothes.
Additionally, restrain from speaking loudly, running, climbing trees, and threatening or bothering wildlife in any way.
Fish and Bird Food
You can purchase a small bag of fish and bird food at the gift shop. Bringing fish meal from outside is not allowed.
Pets at the Byodo-In Temple
No pets can enter the Byodo-In Temple, except for service animals. Emotional support animals don’t fall into the category of service animals.
Read More
If you want to learn more about Asian culture and architecture, read the following articles.
- ASIAN TEMPLE: The 6 Most Beautiful Asian Temples in the Los Angeles Region
- HSI LAI TEMPLE: Finding Zen Inside Hsi Lai Temple, Los Angeles
