Shinto Shrine Honolulu

The very humble Wakamiya Inari Shrine at Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu celebrated the 100th anniversary of their founding in a huge way on May 4. The Shinto shrine was feted with a historic image exhibit, an informative PowerPoint slide presentation, a colorful birthday cake, delicious okazuya-style meals and a unique rededication service done by Bishop Daiya Amano and also the Rev. Jun Miyasaka of this Izumo Taishakyo Mission, a Shinto shrine in Honolulu.

The afternoon occasion recalled the historic trip of Wakamiya Inari Shrine, that was originally built in 1914 in Kaka‘ako area by an architect known just as Haschun. Its founder was the Rev. Akio Akizaki, just who performed the shrine’s priestly duties and had been later been successful by their son, Takeo. In 1918, the shrine ended up being moved to Mö‘ili‘ili, in which it stayed before late 1970s, when it had been planned for demolition which will make technique a sporting items shop under brand new property owners. A team of preservation-minded community users got together and were able to save the shrine by having it relocated to the Waipahu Cultural Garden Park. The shrine, that was ritually deconsecrated before the move, helped anchor that which was to become Hawaii’s Plantation Village, a backyard museum and academic resource directed at keeping Hawai‘i’s plantation-era history. The shrine building is listed on both nationwide join of Historic Places in addition to Hawai‘i enroll of Historic Places. After becoming deconsecrated, the Wakamiya Inari Shrine’s kami, or nature, was moved to its new home within Izumo Taishakyo Mission.

The Herald last reported from the shrine in its March 1, 2013, edition. During the time, it sorely needed a fresh roofing. At the May 4 special event, that now-completed brand-new roof — restored close to its original integrity architecturally — ended up being a spot of pride and delight.

A family member associated with Akizaki household recently donated pictures associated with shrine from its times in Mö‘ili‘ili, providing valuable information to those who are assisting in continuous conservation and renovation attempts. Sculptor and preservationist Laura Ruby, who, among other things, is renowned for her management attempts in beautifying the Mö‘ili‘ili Japanese Cemetery along side volunteers, informed attendees that she hopes to someday restore the lion-dog statues to your Wakamiya Inari Shrine. The statues are currently housed only within the entrance of Hamilton Library on the University of Hawai‘i’s Mänoa campus.

Members of the original Wakamiya Inari Shrine Preservation Committee from the late 1970s had been acknowledged because of their pioneering preservation attempts that made the 100th gathering event possible. Amazingly, a number of them will always be engaged in looking after the shrine’s benefit, along with staff and volunteers of Hawaii’s Plantation Village, including more recent committee users who joined up in more the past few years.

How come historic conservation significant? an essay in the historical Hawai‘i Foundation’s web site helps respond to this question. “Authentic locations of history offer possibilities to encounter in which real history occurred, ” it describes. “Stories are the big image, and through the personal. Tales recount the challenges and possibilities faced by people, communities and countries. Tales tend to be shared history.”

Final thirty days, the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation honored the Wakamiya Inari Shrine Restoration at its 2014 Historic Preservation Honor Awards. Additionally recognized had been the Mö‘ili‘ili Japanese Cemetery Preservation work. These two community-driven tasks have actually aided to enhance historical understanding and protect items worth focusing on into Japanese neighborhood in Hawai‘i for many of the state’s residents and visitors to study from and enjoy for time immemorial.