Byodo-In Temple, Oahu, Hawaii
Byodo-In Temple, located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, Oahu, Hawaii, is a replica of the temple of the same name built in Japan 9 centuries ago. It is a non-practicing Buddhist temple that still asks visitors to be respectful and cherish the peaceful setting and faithful devotion required in creating such a beautiful environment for visitors to enjoy. Built in 1963, it is a somewhat hidden treasure of Hawaii.
The Temple Grounds are open 8:30am - 4:30pm daily.
Last entrance to Temple Grounds is 4:15pm.
The Gift Shop is open 8:30am - 4:30pm daily.
HOLIDAY HOURS FOR THE GIFT SHOP:
Thanksgiving Day CLOSED
Christmas Eve 9:00am - 4:00pm
Christmas Day CLOSED
New Year's Eve 9:00am - 4:00pm
New Year's Day 10:00am - 4:00pm
Adult (13-64): $5.00
Senior (65+): $4.00
Adult (2-12): $2.00
Children under 2 are free.
Discounted prices for Kamaaina.
You can purchase tickets in advance using the “Admission” link above. Ticket purchases are good for any day, so you don’t have to schedule a specific date or time. You can also purchase tickets at the entrance to the temple grounds.
The Approach
The entrance to Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is off Kahekili Highway. If you are coming from Honolulu, it is about halfway between Honolulu and Kualoa Ranch. The drive is pretty easy, but it can get confusing once inside. There are a few branches off the main road, each of which can lead to a different memorial, like the Trousdale Chapel, the Yang Memorial, or the Tomb of General Chang Hseuh Liang and Edith Chao Chang. If you stay on the main road, you’ll see the temple on your right about 0.5 miles into the Park. Several parking spots are available, but you may need to park further away and walk in depending on traffic.
The Entrance
The entrance to the temple grounds is a classic Japanese walking bridge over a small creek. You begin to see the temple from the bridge, but its true beauty reveals itself once you reach the other side. In the distance, the Bon Sho (Sacred Bell) can be heard echoing through the air.
The Temple Grounds
The first thing that captures the attention is the temple itself. It is spectacular, with its intricate, ornate, and symmetrical design set against the lush green backdrop of the Ko’olau Mountains. Take as much time as needed to take in the beauty of this scene and the peacefulness of your surroundings. Let it carry away any anxious or rushed feeling you may have. Breathe deep and let go of your current burdens and worries as you prepare to experience the sacred serenity of this temple.
The Bon Sho (Sacred Bell)
To your left, as you cross the bridge and reach the temple grounds, you will likely see a small line of people waiting their turn to approach the Bell House or Kanetsuki-do. Inside the bell house is a three-ton, five-foot high brass bell called bon sho or sacred bell. This bell was cast in Osaka, Japan, and closely resembles the bell that hangs in an identical bell house at the Uji Byodo-In temple in Japan. The bell is revered for its distinctive shape and tone and is said to sound a message of deep calm and peace that cleanses the mind of evil and temptation.
To strike the bell, a person approaches the suspended soft wooden log called the “shu-moku.” Gripping the rope that hangs from the sho-moku, the person pulls back and releases the rope to let the log free fall to strike the bon sho. If they cannot generate enough motion to strike the bell, they can maintain contact with the rope and drive it forward to get additional speed on the shu-moku.
A single strike is all that is expected. Be aware and respectful of your surroundings.
Do NOT try to strike the bell as hard as possible.
Do NOT strike it over and over again.
Do NOT go inside the bell housing, touch the bell, or otherwise harass or vandalize any part of this structure.
The general rule of thumb here is to be respectful.
The bell is customarily rung before you enter the temple to purify the mind.
The Grounds
The temple grounds are breathtaking. The large central pond, the manicured rock garden, the Koi ponds and streams, and the meditation pavilion all reflect the care taken in maintaining this sacred landmark. Stay on the paths, walk slowly, and enjoy the beauty surrounding you. Pause often and look around in every direction. Allow yourself to be amazed that such a place exists and that you are experiencing it. You may see black swans in the pond or peacocks walking the grounds.
The Temple
The temple consists of three primary sections. The south hallway, the east and west corridors, and the central temple, known as Phoenix Hall, and contains the Amida Buddha. The design represents the Phoenix, with the south hallway as the tail, the east and west corridors as wings spread in flight, and the central hall as the body. Two gold phoenixs sit atop the roof ready to take flight.
You can approach the central temple from either the east or west corridor. Usually, small businesses sell jewelry, books, or other items in these locations. We sis not enter the south hallway, and we aren’t sure you can. Before entering the Phoenix Hall, several signs ask that you remove your shoes as a sign of respect before entering. Stands are provided for you to store your shoes while inside Phoenix Hall.
Phoenix Hall
This stunning central chamber, or Hoo-do, was built to house the Amida Buddha statue and columbarium. What’s a columbarium, you ask? It is a room or building with niches for storing funeral urns. We did see some alters on either side of the Buddha but did not see any urns that we recognized as such. It is hard not to get distracted by the Amida Buddha.
The Amida Buddha is nine feet high and weighs two tons. It was first designed in miniature by Masuzo Inui, a renowned Japanese sculptor. Jokei Sagawa then carved the full-size statue, which was covered with Urushi Japanese lacquer and finished with gold leaf.
The finished figure hovers over golden lotus leaves. The mudra hand position indicates the Buddha rests in the highest of the nine paradises, also reflected in the statue's height. Smaller sculptures representing enlightenment beings, or Bodhisattvas, show reverence for Buddha.
The overall grandeur of the Amida Buddha is awesome. The intricate details of the Buddha and the surrounding architecture are overwhelming. I could have stared for hours, uncovering new details with every inch. It was an incredible experience to behold such a figure in such a place. The culmination of being wonderstruck prompted reverence, humility, and joy.
The Courtyard
You are presented with the front courtyard as you stand before the Buddha and turn 180 degrees. Stretched out before you is an immaculate rock garden, perfectly grated in concentric lines along the rectangular edges and circles surrounding the bushes and statue bases with the garden. No footprints can be found, demonstrating the care and aptitude of those who raked the garden with such perfection. Take in the view from this spot and enjoy the serenity of the moment.
Meditation Pavilion
A small walking path will lead you up a hill behind the temple to the mediation pavilion. This is a great location to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the temple since it is usually less crowded. It was constructed with the traditional garden concept resembling a noble family’s fishing pavilion.
The Gift Shop
Finally, before leaving Byodo-In Temple, stop at the gift shop. It is located northwest of the temple. It was originally a Japanese tea house. You can buy fish food for the Koi or bird food for the peacocks here. There are a number of various lucky charms, Buddha statues, souvenirs, and much, much more.
Summary
This was a stop I wanted to make, but I wasn’t sure how others in our group would feel about it. It turned out to be a big hit. Everyone loved this gorgeous location that gave us a little reprieve from the bustle of our trip. Getting wrapped up in doing everything possible on a trip like this is so easy. I cannot express how nice it was to take a few hours to slow down and be at peace. If you plan to visit Kualoa Ranch, I would carve out some time to visit this location. If you find yourself drained and needing a break and inner peace during a hectic vacation to the island, visit this Temple. It was one of my favorite places from our trip.