Manoaphobia 2012

Hey! 

I'm finally catching up on posts and I'm nearly back to the present so yay! On August 31 we held Manoaphobia this year. Unlike years past this year's event was way more planned and put together. We also timed it perfectly so that we would get to host Professor Kawasoe's students from Ryukoku University were here and able to see students at the center.

First all the students and most of the adults aside from Professor Kawasoe, who almost got to take a nap, went on a Scavenger Hunt through UH-Manoa.Cara designed the whole scavenger hunt and at least she gave them a map?!?

Here are Cara and Beau showing off the Scavenger Hunt clues. It was a photo scavenger hunt.

The winning team got to eat first and then everyone else got to eat. We had a good spread that night and I'm seriously not kidding. It's never pretty food, but it does taste good.

After dinner we were lucky enough to get entertained by the Ryukoku students first. I'm sorry I don't remember your names at all and I can't find the itinerary either. Here goes though:

First we had one of them show us Iadou,a form of Japanese Swordsmanship.He didn't bring the real sword, but he brought a nice dupe though.

Then the next performer showed us the art of Rakugo, Japanese story telling with minimal objects. He told us  two stories both of which were fairly amusing , although the stories probably sound different when translated from the original language.

The last performer was a Japanese magician, which I'll admit is just as amusing as an English magician.

After the last Ryukoku student performed Cara and Lacy performed a Japanese song for everyone. Umm...yeah I forget what the song was.

There was also a moment when Professor Kawasoe was teaching us to dance and we all danced around the room. When it was all over we had a few closing remarks by Rev. Kevin and Professor Kawasoe before the everyone headed home for the night.

A photo of all the performers

July Fun

I SWEAR that I was just blogging about the end of the school year and yet here I am blogging and another school year is upon us once again! I would be blogging about the Jr. YBA Convention but perhaps another year and another time that will fit into the comprehensive youth program. 

July was a extremely busy month for the Fellowship Club. Well, relatively at the beginning of the month we helped by making and selling musubis at the Moiliili Hongwanji Bon Dance and SummerFest. We also helped Jr. YBA with their shave ice booth which was right next door to ours. 

Josh showing off some of the musubis ready to sell!

Also in July we held another Director's Nite and the theme this time was ninjas. There were ninja ducks, ninja cheese. We made origami ninja stars and watched the movie Shinobi:heart under blade a definite must see.

We also celebrated Suzanne's birthday which was earlier that week. She  really enjoyed her birthday cake because it was just her style.

I'll be back again soon to report on a special collaboration project that we worked on earlier this month that deserved it's own post.

Also if you haven't signed up for the Young Adult Retreat IV, you still have time but you need to contact Jake ASAP if you want to attend. We have also set the date for Manoaphobia and it's going to be August 31. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Manoaphobia

The annual Welcome Back to School and Welcome to Manoa Party known as Manoaphobia was held on August 31 at the Buddhist Study Center. This year was a little different than most. Since there has been quite a rumbling among certain parts of the Hongwanji we really wanted to get the young adults more involved and try to do more things in general. There were lots of young adults that were interested in Buddhism that came out to the event, but we're starting small.

*random fact: Manoaphobia got its name from popular movie Arachnaphobia

Playing Zip Zap and apparently Wayde is REALLY bad at this game!

Jake trying to cover my notes during the strategy session

This event was meet and greet as well as strategizing for the coming year. We got quite a few ideas and are working on a few.

Events to note: September 6 will be a sitting meditation session with Rev. Muneto. We will be learning to meditate and having a short round table session.

September 17 will be The Races II cause we all really want to beat Sugi and we may want to take people that didn't get a chance to go the first time.

Since, I have an official piece of paper in my hand today I can officially announce this. As of January 1, 2012 the new Director of the Buddhist Study Center will be... Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki of Wahiawa Hongwanji! We're really sorry Wahiawa Hongwanji :(

There's a movement

Hey all!
Surprisingly enough there have been a few calls and a few visits to the office for classes for Buddhism geared toward Young Adults. Not sure what to do because both my boss and I are overworked as well are many others. However, we are trying. I'm looking to upgrade the BSC website with a little help from the high school perhaps that's going to be my official next project learning html and better website building.

I'm trying to put together events so if you're reading this and on Oahu or visiting I encourage you to come visit/hang out with us. There's probably going to be an event on Friday October 8, but I'll put more details soon.

Here are some videos I found recently
1. a YESS camp trailer made last year in Wailuku
2. paper rocket flying from Young Adult Retreat
3. a video blog from Young Adult Retreat
4. Kirk Shimabukuro playing my guitar gently weeps

It's been a while...

I know that it has been way too long since I've written here. Life has been changing in so many ways.

Youth Retreat happened for the second time in this decade. Jake was in charge with Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki of Wahiawa Hongwanji as the speaker. We went to Camp Kalopa on the Big Island.

Kona Hongwanji Taiko group, also known as Kristyn's Dad and Alan came and taught us taiko. We also got to make homemade taiko drums out of buckets and packing tape. We learned and flew paper rockets the same day, which is way more fun that you are thinking. If you don't believe me ask Bishop Okano or anyone who attended the Lay Convention in Kona :) We went for a hike and really enjoyed it. Rev. Kevin bought and taught most of his lecture out of Monshu Koshin Ohtani's latest book: Buddha's Wish for the World. I love that book almost as much as Dr. Ken Tanaka's Oceans so easy to read :)

If all this intrigues you then you should join us for Youth Retreat next year, I think it's July 4th weekend at Camp Kalopa again, but check with Jake for more details!

Manoaphobia happened on Friday August 27th and it was good. Although, it was a small turnout since UH had a concert that night as part of their back to school festivities. Perhaps, Manoaphobia will be moved to a different night near the beginning of school. Sorry there are no pictures. I didn't take any. Hopefully this blog will have more pictures in the future.

First YESS CAMP meeting is Friday September 17th at 6p.m. Buddhist Study Center. If you want to help out or know of anyone that wants to help out let me or Jake Thanks!

Manoaphobia 2010

ATTENTION EVERYONE!

The date for Manoaphobia has been set as Friday August 27th

It will be from 5:30-10:30p.m. the first friday after school starts!

Come check it out!

Message me for more details :)

Manoaphobia Reviewed....

Thanks to everyone who came out to Manoaphobia! You guys were awesome. For those who didn't come we were blessed to have Bishop Thomas Okano stop by as well as to hear an impromptu performance by Kirk Shimabukuro.

Thanks Sugi for finally starting the fire for the BBQ!

Proof that people do actually visit the BSC and that there are actually Young Buddhists in Hawaii!

Casey and Ken decided to spar and these are the best pics I got.

Here's the links to the videos since apparently blogger won't let me post the videos,LoL.

Kirk Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro performing Annon

This weekend is the Hawaii 750th Memorial of Shinran Shonin and Honpa Hongwanji's 120th Anniversary. I hope that you will be able to make it to some of the events.

Thursday 9-3-09: Ala Moana Centerstage performance by Jake Shimabukuro

Friday 9-4-09: Foster Garden's tree planting ceremony 3:30p.m.-5p.m. including entertainment by Jake Shimabukuro, HMS students, PBA taiko, and speeches by Mayor Mufi and GoMonshu Ohtani

Saturday 9-5-09: Ohana Conference 9a.m.-3:30p.m. workshops done by BJ Soriano, Dr. Matsumoto, Claire Tamamoto, and others

Commemoration Banquet: 5p.m. including performances by Jake Shimabukuro, Kirk Shimabukuro, PBA taiko, HMS students

Sunday 9-6-09: Commemoration Service 9a.m.

PBA dedication 3:30p.m.

Manoaphobia is coming

So admittedly I'm no good at blogging 'cause I'm easily distracted however in an attempt to keep everyone informed about the growing young Buddhists population wandering around Hawaii I'm starting this blog.

I'm not really excited for school to start again either, but UH Manoa starts in about two weeks. Yups, school's about to be back in session. Students start moving back to the dorms on Monday August 17th. Rev. Muneto and Alex Shanklin have volunteered to do the UH Shuttle service on Friday August 21st.

With all the craziness that is ensuing because of Shinran Shonin's 750th Memorial/ Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii's 120th Anniversary I had very few dates to schedule Manoaphobia on. Yes, Manoaphobia is still on! *drum roll* Clear off the calendars for August 28th from 6pm 'til about 11pm or so. There will be food, games, and other assorted good times.

More updates to come!