Izumo Taishakyo Shinto Temple

Izumo Taishakyo Shinto Temple

One of the most important stories of Hawaii is the migration of Japanese people to the islands. Japanese people began immigrating to Hawaii in the 1860s, many of them to work in the expanding sugar industry. In fact, in the early 20th century, Japanese people made up 40% of the Hawaiian population.

The trolly and the bus can take you to the shrine

In 1906, Bishop Katsuyoshi Miyao, a trained Shinto priest moved to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. The next year, the Bishop began offering Shinto services. A temporary temple was built in 1907, but the permanent structure, which you see in these pictures, was built in 1922.

Bishop Shigemaru Miyao became head priest after his father died in 1935.

Sadly, Bishop Shigemaru Miyao and his family were detained on the US mainland in 1941 after the States' entry in WWII. During the war, the City of Honolulu illegally took possession of the shrine and allowed it to fall into disrepair. After years and years of lawsuits, the shrine was returned to the Izumo Taishakyo of Hawaii in 1962. Much renovation followed and the shrine was reopened in 1968.

Visiting the shrine can be a fuller experience if you understand the rituals you are expected to observe. That said, you don't have to follow these rules, we saw lots of people at the shrine when we were there, and most of them did not conduct the rituals.

First, upon entering, you'll see a stone basin. Here, you purify yourself and prepare for entering the shrine by washing your hands using the dipper in the trough.

Water purification basin

Walking up to the shrine, you'll see ropes dangling down from some bells. Ringing the bells with the sacred straw ropes also purify worshipper.

Then, proceed to the offering box, place a small offering of money inside (my understanding is that 50 cents per person is appropriate), bow deeply twice and then clap twice. Finally, you can say a short prayer. From the website, they say you may recite this prayer (although I silently said own of my own)

“SAKI-MITAMA, KUSHI-MITAMA,
MAMORI-TAMAE, SAKIHAE-TAMAE”

Translated as follows:

“TO KAMI, THE SPIRIT OF HAPPINESS,
TO KAMI, THE SPIRIT OF WELL-BEING,
WE PRAY FOR THY DIVINE PROTECTION,
WE ASK FOR THY DELIVERANCE OF
HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING”

Alter inside the Izumo Taishakyo Shinto Temple

Inside the shrine itself is an alter where you can make offerings (food, sake, etc).

By far the most popular day at the Izumo Taishakyo Shinto Temple is New Year's Day. People will line up for hours to receive a blessing. If you want to go on New Year's, I've heard that the best time to go is at midnight on New Year's Eve because it is less crowded.

But, I think I may want to also visit on August 7th. This is when the annual Hiroshima Peace Commemoration takes place. Honolulu and Hiroshima are sister cities and, in 1985, Hiroshima gifted a replica of the Hiroshima Peace Bell to the recognize the two cities' relationship.

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