Byodo-In Temple, Oahu, Hawaii

Byodo-In Temple

Heading north out of Honolulu, you soon reach the Wilson Tunnel leading you through the Ko'olau mountains to the windward side of Oahu and a completely different world from the crowded city. A few miles further on, near Kane'ohe, the the Valley of the Temples. This is actually a huge cemetery with thousands of Buddhist, Shinto and Christian Hawaiians buried here.

Snake around the road in the cemetery and eventually you'll reach the Byodo-In Temple.

Zen garden on the temple grounds

The temple is a half size replica of a 900 year-old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.

It was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Many of these immigrants came to work on the sugar cane plantations.

Light some incense

While the structure is called a temple, it isn't really a functioning Buddhist temple per-se. That's because it has no monastic community or congregation, though all people are free to worship on their own at the temple.

Giant Buddha statue inside the temple

Inside the beautiful structure is a giant Buddha statue, covered in gold and lacquer and an intricately designed ceiling.

The beautiful ceiling inside the temple

The grounds around the temple feature several koi ponds, peacocks and other birds along with a stunning view of the nearby mountains.

Koi pond

There is also a giant peace bell under a pagoda. A rope attached to a large log allows visitors to ring the bell.

Ringing the peace bell

If you go: There is a small admission to the temple grounds and free parking. The temple is one of the top attractions in Oahu, so it is always crowded with tourists, even on weekdays.
***
If you liked this post, you may like my new collection of short stories, "That Bird and other (very) short stories," available on Amazon. It's a bargain at only $2.99.