Hundreds of people pass by it each day, but few ever notice the small church building at 1710 Liliha St., one of only 10 remaining grand Buddhist temples in Hawai'i featuring traditional Japanese style of architecture.

Liliha Shingonji Mission, built in 1911, is among the 41 temples built in Hawai'i in a 22-year period, starting in 1898 with the building of Honoka'a Hongwanji and ending in 1921 with Kona Soto Daifukuji on the Big Island, in the traditional design that featured unique ornamentation and the ridge roof of temples in Japan.

Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo, an authority on Buddhist temple design preservation and research who is guest curator of the "Japanese Temple Architecture in Hawai'i" exhibit at the East-West Center Gallery through Oct. 14, notes that Liliha Shingonji has lost some of its traditional character because its front porch, or engawa, has been enclosed and changes have been made to its facade but that "much of its original beauty exists."

Palumbo participated yesterday in an East-West Center symposium, "The Endangered Buddhist Temples of Hawai'i: How Can I Help?"

"They're all treasures to me because they all tell the story of community development (in Hawai'i)," Palumbo said.

In addition to Liliha Shingonji Mission, located on the 'ewa side of Liliha Street next to the Liliha Medical Building and across the street from Yagura restaurant, the other existing temples featuring traditional designs are: Hamakua Jodo (1896), Kapapala Nichiren (1902), Hawi Jodo (1905), Kona Daifukuji Soto Zen (1914) on the Big Island; Koloa Jodo (1909) on Kaua'i; Pa'ia Mantokuji Soto (1907) and Lahaina Jodo (1912) on Maui; and Hawai'i Shingon Headquarters (1917) and Honolulu Myohoji (1931) on O'ahu.

At one time, there were more than 300 temples in Hawai'i built by seven Buddhist sects, said Palumbo. Honpa Hongwanji built 139 temple structures, she added. From traditional Japanese design, the architecture evolved into three other styles: Hawai'i eclectic, East-West and contemporary.

According to Palumbo's research, there are 22 Buddhist churches with "Hawai'i eclectic" designs, among them Waialua and Pearl City Hongwanji; 24 with East-West influence, such as the Indian-Western look of Hawai'i Jodo headquarters near the H-1 Freeway's Punahou Street off-ramp; and 42 with a contemporary design such as Honpa Hongwaji on Pali Highway.

Because of a shrinkage in congregations and neglect, many temples have fallen into disrepair. Some have been closed, while some that have been rebuilt have lost their traditional architectural character.

Yesterday's symposium focused on how to preserve the integrity of the historical architecture.

"We cannot keep every temple but need to determine which ones are unique and important and should be preserved," said Yoshiko H. Sinoto, senior anthropologist at Bishop Museum.

San Francisco-based Anthea M. Hartig, director of National Trust for Historic Preservation's western office, offered an option of preserving the structures but using them for other programs. "Demolition is forever," Hartig said.

It's case by case, Hartig added, but rather than closing the temples could be be converted into community centers or for use in other ways as long as the activity is "religiously sensitive" to what the buildings represented.

Joining Palumbo and Hartig in a panel discussion on the subject yesterday were Don Hibbard, former state historic preservation officer; Bill Chapman, of the University of Hawai'i's American Studies historic preservation program; and Rep. Corinne Ching (Nu'uanu, Pu'unui, Liliha). Michael Schuster, curator of the East-West Center Gallery, moderated the discussion.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.