Guests are not limited to church members. "That's the true nature of our religion," Matsuda said. "We're all-compassionate and all-encompassing, so we welcome anybody."

Like many Buddhist temples in Hawai'i, Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji is no stranger to an aging congregation. Membership numbers have dwindled through the years, but that hasn't really fazed the organization's leaders.

The new temple was completed in 1964. Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji

Serving the community always has been a priority for the Windward temple, which is actually celebrating two significant anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of the founding of the temple and the 40th anniversary of the building of the present building.

Events include an art show opening tonight, and special services tomorrow and Sunday.

The art show features two collections: "Muryo-Doji — A Child of Immeasurableness," Buddhist paintings by Kohei Takagaki, and "Everything Buddhism," watercolors by Island artist John

Dumas. The artists will attend tonight's opening reception.

Rev. Takeo Maeda Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji

"In Japan, whenever we have some kind of (important) service, we have traditional Japanese music with chanting," said the Rev. Takeo Maeda, resident cleric of the Kane'ohe temple.

Tomorrow, the temple service will be followed by a kikyoshiki, or confirmation ceremony, in which temple members will receive Buddhist names.

In the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism, the kikyoshiki represents a confirmation of one's Buddhist belief and role as a seeker of dharma, which are the teachings and practice of the doctrines, Matsuda said.

Chosen path

Jim Dote Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji

"It's a deep, personal decision I made," said Dote, a 51-year-old personnel specialist.

"It means to cast off a lot of ... ego-centered thinking and actions."

Doing away with such traits means taking a step forward, Dote said.

"Life is a journey, one that we should respect," he said. "Along this journey, we each choose a path, and I'm choosing a path of Buddhism. ... (Kikyoshiki) is a deep commitment to this path."

Dote, a third-generation Kane'ohe resident and longtime church member, prepared a photo exhibit on the history of Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, on display alongside the art show.

Building of the temple

In 1924, a group of plantation-camp residents from Kane'ohe began a Buddhist club. They received an agreement from the bishop of the Higashi Hongwanji Mission in Honolulu to have clerics travel down the old Pali road to conduct services in Kane'ohe, Dote said.

The founding members purchased an old dwelling and reassembled it piece by piece next to the Kaneohe Theater property. A dedication was held Aug. 9, 1924. The same wooden structure was moved and rebuilt in 1929 at the present site on Kea'ahala Road.

The current Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji on Kea‘ahala Road, mostly built by volunteers, was completed in 1964. Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji

In 1959, Tadashi Dote held a memorial service for his father and received the customary monetary gifts from attendees, Jim Dote explained: "My father turned around and gave that money to the Rev. Nobuo Matsumoto (then minister of the temple), and I think that was what sparked the planning stages of a new temple."

After 14 months of construction, mostly by volunteers, the temple was completed in 1964.

Anniversary organizers expect about 80 guests from Japan and a contingency of Higashi temple members from Hilo and Waimea.

Guests are welcome to contribute personal comments, which will be sealed in a koa box at the temple, not to be opened until the temple's centennial celebration 20 years from now.

"We want nothing more than to show this tremendous gratitude we have for all those who were a part of this in the past and all those who will follow," Matsuda said.