Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Micah and Cori came to visit us in Oahu this month!  On March 5th, we drove to the east side of the island to check out the Byodo-In Temple in the valley of the temples.  The temple was pretty amazing...but I think the highlight of the visit (especially for the kids) was hand feeding the birds.  All we had to do was put the food in our hands and hold it out, and birds would eat right out of our hands!

This following text is typed exactly from the information sheet and is property of the park...

...and the pictures were all taken by me

(so please do not copy or repost them without permission).

The Byodo-In Temple situated at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park was established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.  The Byodo-in was built entirely without the use of nails.  It is a scale replica of a temple at Uji Japan that was constructed over 900 years ago.  The Byodo-in is built to represent the mythical phoenix, its wings upheld by pillars of stone.  Folklore tells of the phoenix arising from the ashes to reflect the promises of hope and renewal.

"The Magnificent Byodo-in Temple" translates "Temple of Equality - not to discriminate" and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha unique to the entire world.

The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times.  Towering more than 18 feet, the immense figure is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui.  When the carving was completed, it was covered with cloth and painted with three applications of gold lacquer.  Gold leaf was later applied over the lacquer finish.  The hall and all the artistry it reflects are regarded as representing the essence of the culture of the Fujiwara aristocracy.

The Hall is popularly known as Hoo-do, or the Phoenix Hall, because a pair of the legendary birds of good omen and of Chinese origin is seen perched on both ends of the roof with their wings spread and ready to fly away.  The hall containing two wings reflects stability as well as artistic beauty.

The Bell House, called kanetsu-ki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan.  It closely resembles the bell hanging in an identical Bell House at the at the Uji Byodo-In.  The original is said to be more than 900 years old and to have come from India.  It is revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, cleansing the mind of evil and temptation.  The resonant sound of the bon-sho creates an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels some distance.  A soft wooden log called the "shu-moku" is used to strike the bell.  The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha.

The Byodo-In Temple gift shop which is adjacent to the beautiful Sunra gardens, offers a variety of unique treasures, souvenirs and refreshments.

(this is the end of the information sheet text...now on to the other pictures!)

These next two are detail shots from some statues outside the gift shop

Small Buddha in front of the temple.

This was on top of a little gazebo behind the temple

 Feeding the birds!

Full statue by the gift shop and a black swan.

Palm tree huggers

Darwin's parents and his grandma are here visiting us for three weeks.  They got here on the 11th and are leaving on the 31st.  Sunday we drove out to the temple grounds with Dad and Grandma Nita (Mom wasn't feeling good and stayed home to sleep).  Grandma Nita got to visit with her granddaughter Holly and her family who are living in Laie while her husband Spencer is attending school at BYU-Hawaii.  The drive up took a lot longer than normal because the waves on the North Shore were really huge...almost big enough for the Eddie Aikau surf competition...but not quite.

Girls with Grandpa Jensen on the temple grounds

Darwin with his Grandma Ray...also Spencer and Holly with their two and the two they were babysitting.

Kids with their Grandpa Jensen

Brooklin at the Maternity fountain

Darwin hugging all the kids at once!  =)

Wow!  A picture with me in it!  hahaha!

Let the palm tree hugging begin!

Grandpa kept knocking on the trees because they sounded hollow.

Brooklin, the palm tree hugger

I'm getting in on the palm tree love.

Group hug!

Meeting old friends...and a huge turtle

We drove to Laie today to meet up with a friend of mine from high school and her husband.  I met Jennifer when we were 11 years old.  Her birthday is the day before mine and we had a double slumber party together at my house when we both turned 12.  I don't really know when I met TJ, but we went to high school together too. =)  TJ served his mission here in Hawaii, and this was the first time he had been back to visit.  They were staying with Jennifer's sister Tara, who's husband is stationed here in Oahu with the Navy.  I love being able to see so many people who come here to visit Hawaii.

Jennifer and I in the visitors center at the Laie Temple

Jennifer and TJ

Laie Temple

The family.

After visiting with Jenn and TJ, we drove to Laniakea beach on the north shore of Oahu to see if any turtles were out basking in the sun.  We were luck enough to see one big turtle!  There are volunteers who keep watch over the turtles so people don't bother them.  They put a red rope around the turtles as a kind of safety zone for the sun-bathing turtles.

The Gathering Place ~ Youth Cultural Celebration

Brooklin and Caleb were able to participate in the Cultural Celebration for the Laie Temple Rededication on Nov. 20, 2010.  It was one of the most amazing and spiritual performances I have ever witnessed!  President Thomas S. Monson was there and Henry B. Eyring came too.  The prophet spoke to all the youth and then we watched the performance (it was 90 minutes long). I was able to find some good video on YouTube, so I have added the videos after the photos (thank you so much to "Mikaele293" for the great video).

The evening started out with a speech by President Thomas S. Monson.  He told the kids he loved them and that they would always remember this time in their lives.  He told them to write their feelings down in their journals as soon as they got home.  He blessed the youth...and it was beautiful.  It was so amazing to be in the presence of a true and living prophet of God.

Act 1

Act 2

Hewahewa meaning "a great many"

Kala'au or stick dancing

Act 3

Pu'u Honua

a place of refuge, sanctuary

a place of peace and safety

Act 4
Honoring Johathan Napela and George Q. Cannon

This group sang a very beautiful version of "Teach Me To Walk In the Light"

(most of the pictures turned out blurry) =(

 

Act 5

Early Immigrants

Act 6
Joseph F. Smith (our stake)
Joseph F. Smith first came to Hawaii as a missionary at the age of 15.  He was a missionary in Hawaii for four years.  He was very sick at one point and had to be nursed back to health.  He returned to Hawaii several times during his life, and when he was the prophet he announced the building of the temple in Laie Hawaii, also known as "The Gathering Place".

Act 7

Building the Temple

Act 8
WWII

Act 9
Other Islands

Act 10
David O McKay
announces the building of BYU-Hawaii
and
King Kahmehameha

Finale
Every youth performer went to the floor and they all sang "Army of Helaman".  It was so powerful!  The temple rose up out of the ground while they were singing and I still get chicken skin when I think about it!

Our kids