Byodo-in Temple
Japanese arrived in Hawaii to work on the plantations between the 1868 and 1924. By 1920 people of Japanese descent made up 43% of the population of Hawaii, but that figure now is 16.7%. Byodo-in Temple is a half scale replica of the Byodo-in Buddhist temple at Uji in Kyoto. The original temple in Japan dates from 1052 while the Hawaiian replica was built in 1968 to celebrate the centennial of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants into Hawaii. Apart from the difference in scale, the Hawaiian version is built from very different materials. The original is constructed from timber without nails, the Hawaiian replica is built mainly from concrete. The replica is not an active Buddhist temple, it is actually part of a cemetery called Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Visitors are free to worship in accordance with their faith and the site is available to rent for funeral services, memorial services and weddings.
Temple Bell
The temple bell is 1.5 metres (5 feet) high and weighs 3 tonnes. It was cast in Osaka in Japan and it closely resembles the bell in the original temple. Visitors may ring the bell, indeed it is customary to do so before entering the temple in order to purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation.
Statue of Buddha
The centrepiece of the temple is a statue of Buddha known as the Amida Buddha, It is over 2,75 metres (9 feet) tall and was carved in wood by a famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui. The statue is covered in gold leaf.
Mountains & Byodo-in Temple
Byodo-in Temple is set against a backdrop of the towering cliffs of the Ko'olau mountains. It is surrounded by tranquil ponds and lush Japanese gardens. It seems unimaginable that this is only 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Waikiki Beach.
Koi Carp
The pond surrounding the temple is teeming with large Koi Carp. Food for the fish can be purchased in the gift shop.
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© Mike Elsden 1981 - 2025
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