History of the Buddhist Women's Association in Hawaii
In 1889 when Myonyo Shonin was the Monshu at the Honzan in Kyoto Japan, Rev. Soryu Kagai was sent to Hawaii to do missionary work among the Japanese contract laborers. Spiritual guidance was lacking and there was no priest to provide any religious services, even the simplest funeral rites.
Later in 1898, Rev. Honi Satomi arrived as the first Bishop of the Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and organized the Betsuin Fujinkai, the first Jodo Shinshu women's organization in Hawaii. Much of the groundwork of the Fujinkai however, is credited to the second Bishop Rev. Yemyo Imamura and his wife, Kyoko. That same year, Rev. Gyoshin Sato of Kona also organized a group called the Buddhist Women's Club and it included members from the six satellite temples along the Kona Coast.
In October of 1903, the Hawaii Betsuin Fujinkai elected the Bishop's wife, Mrs. Kyoko Imamura as the president. On March 4, 1904, Lihue Hongwanji formed their Fujinkai and elected Mrs. Mineo Miyazaki, wife of Rev. Hiseki Miyazaki as their president. Wailuku Hongwanji Mission formed their Fujinkai in March 1905, and Mrs. Hojo Miterai served as the president. In the next few years, many district fukyojyo (Structurally smaller than a temple, but fully equipped like a temple. A place to propagate missionary type of religious work.) and temples throughout the island chain established their Fujinkai groups.
(Taken from "Hosha")
Copyright©1989 by The Hawaii Federation of Honpa Hongwanji Buddhist Women's Association
Revised January 2006
Copyright© Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Federation of Buddhist Women's Association 2001 All Rights Reserved