Buddhist temples in Hawaiʻi face closure as membership declines

Buddhist institutions in Hawaiʻi are facing an existential crisis as membership numbers dwindle, threatening the future of traditional bon dancing.

The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi faces a potential collapse by 2036 because older members are dying without enough younger generations to replace them. This decline has already forced the closure of the Waiʻanae Hongwanji in 2025 and the upcoming final service of the Waialua Hongwanji.

Because these temples provide the funding and infrastructure for Obon celebrations, their disappearance puts the local bon dancing tradition at risk. To combat this loss of cultural heritage, musicians and dancers are working to preserve the spiritual roots of the festival. Anju Madoka, a master of min’yō (Japanese folk songs) from Osaka, opened a local branch of her music school in 2021 to ensure people can perform live music at temple dances.

She aims to train local residents so they can eventually teach the next generation. Meanwhile, dance troupes like Hawaiʻi Shin Kobukai are blending traditional movements with contemporary styles and pop music to engage younger participants. Community leaders say the survival of these temples depends on a shift toward community-focused spaces. Nate Gyotoku of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi stated that temples must give younger people a leadership voice to remain relevant.

By pivoting from elder-centric activities to family events, these institutions hope to create a space where the youth feel connected rather than excluded.