Posted on: Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Judge to determine temple's legal height

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

To some, the dragon in eastern astrology represents the idealist, who rushes headlong into action.

It is perhaps fitting that dragons top the sweeping ends of the ridge of the Korean Buddhist temple in Palolo whose builders 13 years ago pushed the roof a little too close to heaven to suit the city and some neighbors.

Today at 3 p.m., Circuit Judge Gary W. B. Chang will be asked to determine the fate of those dragons, and of the ridge and top of the classic roof line.

Now renamed Mu-Ryang-Sa, the temple and its attorney, Roger Mosely, will ask Chang to agree that years of hearings and lawsuits require the temple to remove no more than 6.2 feet from the building, measured from the highest point of the roof ridge.

The city agrees and will show up in court to say so.

But the band of neighbors called "Concerned Citizens of Palolo," and the conservation organization Life of the Land, say a 1998 State Supreme Court ruling makes clear at least nine feet must be removed.

"And at that point it would be a lot easier if they just took down the entire building," said Life of the Land leader Henry Curtis.

Fred Benco, attorney for Life of the Land and the group of neighbors, said the temple is supposed to cut the structure back about nine feet, "but nothing is happening. Now, 13 years later, they are asking to cut back only 6.2 feet."

Temple manager C. K. Kim says the temple dreads desecrating the structure but doesn't want to fight any more. "But we need to get a clear ruling from the court on exactly how much must come off."

No matter what happens today, the temple has invited the public to celebrate Buddha's birthday at the annual temple festival at 11 a.m. next Tuesday.

At 6:30 p.m., there will be a candlelight procession from the corner of 10th Avenue and Kiwila Street, winding up into Waiomao Valley for a mile and arriving at the temple gate at 2420 Halela'au Place just after sunset for ceremonies and refreshments.

"This symbolizes the long walk of all Earth's people toward the blessings of peace and brotherhood," Kim said.

And they will ring the temple bell, the one with the inscription about the lotus rising from corruption, about beauty and enlightenment springing forth even from a bad beginning.