Hāmākua Jodo Mission Temple. Photo by Sarah Anderson
Katsu Kobayakawa Goto shrine. Photo by Jan Wizinowich Like a guardian spirit, the Hāmākua Jodo Mission (HJM) sits on a slope above the old plantation community of Pā`auhau, backed by the gravestones of the many generations of members who attended and contributed to the temple and community.
On Saturday September 23rd, HJM was once again the center of a vortex of the heart, an intertwined whorl of people ranging from Hiroshima to Indiana, who came together to honor the memory of Honoka`a hometown hero, Katsu Kobayakawa Goto (1862-1889), whose plantation worker’s advocacy efforts led to his lynching.
Opened in 1896, the original temple, which was named the Hāmākua Bukkyo Kaido (Hāmākua Buddhist Temple), renamed the HJM in 1951, was located in Pā`auhau Mauka, the geographic center of the five sugar plantations. The oldest Japanese sanctioned Buddhist temple in Hawai`i and possibly the United States, the 24 by 36-foot structure stood on an acre of land, surrounded by sugarcane fields, with another acre designated for the cemetery, which is the final resting place of Katsu Goto.
On Saturday September 23rd, HJM was once again the center of a vortex of the heart, an intertwined whorl of people ranging from Hiroshima to Indiana, who came together to honor the memory of Honoka`a hometown hero, Katsu Kobayakawa Goto (1862-1889), whose plantation worker’s advocacy efforts led to his lynching.
Opened in 1896, the original temple, which was named the Hāmākua Bukkyo Kaido (Hāmākua Buddhist Temple), renamed the HJM in 1951, was located in Pā`auhau Mauka, the geographic center of the five sugar plantations. The oldest Japanese sanctioned Buddhist temple in Hawai`i and possibly the United States, the 24 by 36-foot structure stood on an acre of land, surrounded by sugarcane fields, with another acre designated for the cemetery, which is the final resting place of Katsu Goto.
Left to right: Draped in paper crane lei, Toyoko Saeki, granddaughter of Sekijiro Kobayakawa and her daughter Akemi were seated in the front row with their translator Akiko Furutani. All traveled from Hiroshima Prefecture for the celebration. Patsy Iwasaki and her illustrator, Berido. Photo by Jan Wizinowich Saturday’s event took place in the current temple, a community project with more than 270 people directly involved and completed in 1918. The gathering, which was the penultimate activity of the Katsu Goto Legacy Week, was organized by HJM president, Sandy Takahashi and U.H. Hilo professor Dr. Patsy Iwasaki, who has written a graphic novel, Hāmākua Hero: A True Plantation Story, about Katsu Goto’s life. Published by Bess Press.
Hannah Cheng and Madison Mattoon cast members from "Peace on Your Wings" share songs from the musical. Photo by Jan Wizinowich As people arrive, a trio of cast members from the `Ohana Arts musical, Peace on Your Wings, centered on the short life of Sadako Sasaki, sang purely voiced numbers from the play, calling forth the elder spirits of the 105 year-old temple. In Hawai`i we call that mana.
Patsy began her path of peace when she became the first recipient in 1993 of a research grant from the Goto Foundation of Hiroshima (GFH), established by Dr. Fumiko Kaya, Katsu Goto’s niece. Along with her Kaua`i plantation roots, Patsy was inspired to write her graphic novel and shares some of Katsu’s story:
Patsy began her path of peace when she became the first recipient in 1993 of a research grant from the Goto Foundation of Hiroshima (GFH), established by Dr. Fumiko Kaya, Katsu Goto’s niece. Along with her Kaua`i plantation roots, Patsy was inspired to write her graphic novel and shares some of Katsu’s story:
Honoka`a is a very special place and Hāmākua Jodo Mission, where Katsu Goto is laid to rest, is like ground zero for his story. Arrived in Hawai`i in 1885, Honoka`a was where he chose to settle after his contract was completed. Honoka`a was where he chose to open his store in 1888, which became a gathering place for the community and was a comfort for the Japanese workers because he stocked groceries from Japan that he shipped over from Honolulu. His store location is now a parking lot next to Gramma's Kitchen.
Honoka`a is where he became a liason between laborers and plantation management at Overend Camp. This is where he advocated for improved working conditions and wages. This is where he facilitated mediation and served as an interpreter because he knew English. This (Goto's store) is where plantation workers sought help when they had problems. He became a labor leader and community advocate. So it is very appropriate, very fitting to have this service here at Hāmākua Jodo Mission during Katsu Goto Legacy Week.
Although his story happened over a 130 years ago, it is essentially about identity and the migrant experience, which is very relevant today. It's a story about a regular ordinary person who did something remarkable. Who exhibited courage and bravery. That is something so inspiring and worth celebrating.
Honoka`a is where he became a liason between laborers and plantation management at Overend Camp. This is where he advocated for improved working conditions and wages. This is where he facilitated mediation and served as an interpreter because he knew English. This (Goto's store) is where plantation workers sought help when they had problems. He became a labor leader and community advocate. So it is very appropriate, very fitting to have this service here at Hāmākua Jodo Mission during Katsu Goto Legacy Week.
Although his story happened over a 130 years ago, it is essentially about identity and the migrant experience, which is very relevant today. It's a story about a regular ordinary person who did something remarkable. Who exhibited courage and bravery. That is something so inspiring and worth celebrating.
Dr. Katherine Wong and her family. Photo by Jan Wizinowich Several family members from Japan, O`ahu, Hilo, Indiana, and Arizona were in attendance. Two of Katsu’s siblings, Sekijiro and Yuku immigrated to Hawai`i and started families. Draped with lei made from origami cranes, Toyoko Saeki, granddaughter of Sekijiro Kobayakawa and her daughter Akemi were seated in the front row with their translator Akiko Furutani, who traveled from Hiroshima Prefecture for the celebration.
Dr. Katherine Wong, granddaughter of Yuku, stepped to the podium and introduced four of her eight siblings, their spouses and children. Born in 1934, Katherine Wong grew up during WW II, a time when the Japanese community in Hawai`i was overwhelmed by world events. “I grew up just a half a mile from here. We worshiped at this temple and visited the gravesite, but we didn’t know who he (Katsu) was because our mother never really talked about him. In retrospect we felt that at that time people were very afraid to talk about anything that was related to Japan. The war had started and they were hiding Japanese literature. They were burning many books,” she remembers.
Dr. Katherine Wong, granddaughter of Yuku, stepped to the podium and introduced four of her eight siblings, their spouses and children. Born in 1934, Katherine Wong grew up during WW II, a time when the Japanese community in Hawai`i was overwhelmed by world events. “I grew up just a half a mile from here. We worshiped at this temple and visited the gravesite, but we didn’t know who he (Katsu) was because our mother never really talked about him. In retrospect we felt that at that time people were very afraid to talk about anything that was related to Japan. The war had started and they were hiding Japanese literature. They were burning many books,” she remembers.
Graveside service officiated by guest minister Masanari Yamagishi, who serves as the reverend for Kohala, Honoka`a, Waimea, and Pa`auilo Hongwanji Missions. Photo by Jan Wizinowich But the way forward is found in understanding the past and in the last several decades, Katsu Goto’s legacy has re-emerged through the efforts of the Dr. Fumiko Kaya, Hāmākua Jodo Mission, Akiko Furutani, translator and board member of the Goto Foundation of Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Peace Foundation, as well as through the work of Dr. Patsy Iwasaki, Honoka`a Hongwanji Mission and `Ohana Arts.
A special graveside service was conducted by guest minister Masanari Yamagishi, who serves as the reverend for Kohala, Honoka`a, Waimea, and Pa`auilo Hongwanji Missions.
Katsu Goto’s legacy was the raising awareness of the need for an advocate as well as a spiritual and cultural center for the plantation workers, who had left their home behind and were facing great difficulties. The temple that followed his untimely death was built by the community and remained as its center.
“All of us feel that Katsu Goto's legacy was remarkable for the few short years that he spent here in Honoka`a. He accomplished more than any of us could possibly accomplish within that short period of time. Our family is very honored to be here and to continue the legacy of Katsu Goto,” concluded Katherine Wong.
A special graveside service was conducted by guest minister Masanari Yamagishi, who serves as the reverend for Kohala, Honoka`a, Waimea, and Pa`auilo Hongwanji Missions.
Katsu Goto’s legacy was the raising awareness of the need for an advocate as well as a spiritual and cultural center for the plantation workers, who had left their home behind and were facing great difficulties. The temple that followed his untimely death was built by the community and remained as its center.
“All of us feel that Katsu Goto's legacy was remarkable for the few short years that he spent here in Honoka`a. He accomplished more than any of us could possibly accomplish within that short period of time. Our family is very honored to be here and to continue the legacy of Katsu Goto,” concluded Katherine Wong.
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