Members Comments

"I am very happy to have my shrine and I haven't missed a day of performing the service.  I missed doing the evening service last night, but did the morning service twice today.  When I got the shrine, I was surprised when people in Tenri said "congratulations," but now I understand the congratulatory nature of  reaching the point in your life when you sincerely want to have a shrine installed at home."

Elmer Nakao, 50, January 8, 2009, commenting on his home shrine which was installed on October 28, 2008.

January Grand Service

Congratulations to Robert Miranda who recently installed a home shrine in his apartment on December 28.  See photo at our home page.  Copy and paste link below to your web browser.  For those of you who are considering to have a shrine installed please read below.

January is the Grand Service month and this year we are commemorating Oyasama's 123rd Anniversary since she withdrew from physical life.  Please join us in joy and gratitude on this January Grand Service.  Our sermon will focus on the time of Her withdrawal.

The Purpose of Having a Home Shrine

     We are prone to forget the truth of "a thing lent, a thing borrowed" even if we think we have understood it and feel as if we are living each day with gratitude for it.  Having the kanzane enshrined at our home can help counter this tendency by reminding us to express our gratitude to God every morning and evening. When we sit before God, our minds will become calm and spirited.  It is a good practice to sit before God whenever the opportunity arises – whether it be a difficult or a happy time. Such moments help us reflect on ourselves and purify our minds.

     The joy of faith, or the seed of the Joyous Life, is naturally passed on to our family and the people who visit our home if we live with God in the center of our lives while maintaining joy and gratitude in our minds at all times.

     By making daily offerings of food and drink, performing the daily and monthly services in gratitude for our blessings, we can strengthen our faith and our connection with God enabling us to walk on the path of spiritual maturity and the Joyous Life.

Shrine Installations

Congratulations to Robert Miranda who installed a home shrine (kanzane) on December 28, 2008, and had his first monthly (spring grand) service today on January 4.

The Mitsunaga/Kochi family also had their home grand service today.  They had theirs install five years ago.  Pictured are Mrs. June Mitsunaga and Mrs. Taeko Nakao.


Robert Miranda and Rev. Owen Nakao for the shrine installtion service.


Mrs. Mitsunaga and Taeko Nakao at the Mitsunaga Residence for their home grand service.

Holiday Prayer

In this time of Joy and Gratitude, let us be thankful for the gift of life, our health (our borrowed bodies), our family and friends, our work, the fruits of our labor, our people in uniform who work at the risk of this lives to protect and which allows us to enjoy the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today.  Let our heartfelt gratitude not stop at merely saying thanks, but to give back and to share in forms that will bring peace to this world and brotherhood among humankind!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Namu Tenri O-no-Mikoto!

Rev. Owen Nakao

Please join us in monthly service on Sunday!

Please join us in joy and gratitude in this last monthly service of the 171st year of Tenrikyo!

In our sermon we will continue on the Ten Aspects of God's Providence with #2 Omotari no Mikoto (warmth & fire).

Enjoy the photos:


If you go to the Kalihi Blood Bank, you will see along the wall between the donor room and the refreshment room a strange photo of a man wearing the "kyofuku" (ministers robe).


The Toriumi family attended our Thanksgiving Dinner at Pearl Church. It was Mr. Toriumi's first time, since he always had to work on Thanksgiving day! Twenty-four people shared their thanks and joy.


Roasted Turkey, donated by David and Annabella Taylor and roasted by Pastor & Taeko.


Drills at the recent Aloha Band Camp


Joint marching practice with Pom pom section.


Band group photo


Pearl Church participants.