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West Maui Buddhists to celebrate Hanamatsuri

By Staff | Apr 4, 2013

At the Hanamatsuri celebration, a statuette of the baby Buddha is enshrined in a flower altar, symbolizing Lumbini Flower Garden where Shakyamuni Buddha was born about 2,600 years ago. Sweet tea is poured over the baby to honor the Buddha’s birth.

LAHAINA – West Maui’s Buddhist community will celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth as Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival) on Sunday, April 14, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, 551 Wainee St.

The celebration is sponsored by the West Maui Buddhist Council (Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, Lahaina Shingon Mission and Lahaina Jodo Mission).

Co-chairs Richard Nishihara, Jane Imai and Donald Fujii invite all to join in this celebration.

The service will be officiated by Rev. Ai Hironaka of Lahaina Hongwanji, Rev. Gensho Hara of Lahaina Jodo Mission and Rev. Takayuki Meguro of Lahaina Shingon Mission.

Dr. George Tanabe, professor emeritus of religion at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, will be the keynote speaker.

The program includes the service, games and a fellowship gathering.

For more information, call 661-0640.