The sounds of taiko drumming, Baika chanting, and ukulele come from the newly painted Daifukuji Soto Mission in Kealakekua on Hawai‘i Island. Daifukuji means “The Temple of Great Happiness.” Besides being a center for Buddhist study and practice, this landmark site provides a place of peace and wholesome activities for local community. Thanks to an historic preservation grant from the Freeman Foundation, in cooperation with Historic Hawai‘i Foundation, this community mainstay has been refreshed.

Established in 1914, Daifukuji is the oldest Soto Zen Buddhist Temple on the Kona side (and one of the oldest Soto Zen temples in the state). The Temple is listed as a Kona Heritage Building and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is exemplar of community efforts for its construction, maintenance and preservation. In 1914, the Reverend Kaiseki Kodama walked around the entire island twice in order to collect the donations needed to build a temple. The first contributions (financial, materials, and labor) were offered by merchants, tofu makers, coffee farmers – friends or business owners living near the temple.

This communal care is still evident.

Due to over twenty years of volcanic nature, weather, ocean salt and hot sun, it is time to work to preserve. One hundred-year-old buildings that are used by the community on a regular basis always need loving care and preventative care – just like people.  ~Community member Teri Hollowell

Daifukuji Soto Mission’s rich history is reflected in its interesting architecture, art, and furnishings. The two rounded koa wood pillars at the front of the main altar were brought down from the mountain on sleds by a church member who was an immigrant from Hiroshima. His son and grandson made the pews in the early 1960s for the temple and they are still in use.

The preservation project repaired and painted all the Temple roofs, replaced the corroded roof screws, treated rusted areas, and pressure washed all metal roofing.  Then all building exteriors were pressured washed, primed and painted – restoring the Mission to a vibrant, eye catching red with white trim.

Daifukuji hired a local painting contractor, Summit Painting, and painters Keola and Keoni Ascino (twin brothers) were so inspired by the project they brought their mother to the Temple to see their work. Reverend Jiko Nakade hopes the next step for the Temple is asbestos removal from the abandoned crematorium in order to turn it into a workshop for taiko drum repair, once again, emphasizing the cultural and community nature of the Daifukuji Soto Mission.

Images below: Views of the finished, treated, painted roofs flank Keola and Keoni Ascino from Summit Painters on the steps of the temple.