Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund
Ways You Can Make Donations
Photo taken Tuesday, August 8, 2023, courtesy of Jason Duques as shown on the CNN website.
August 10, 2023 — Earlier tonight the Buddhist Temple of San Diego Board of Directors voted to make a significant donation to the Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund.
Knowing that many of you reading this article will want to know how you too can help, the Temple is sharing the following letter from the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, which oversees over 30 temples in the state. In it, the Hawaii Bishop provides three options to donate to the relief fund. Temple members may also recognize one of the signers, Rev. Blayne Higa, who by Zoom provided our Dharma Messages for Hanamatsuri in April 2022 during the pandemic.
August 10, 2023
Dear Dharma Friends,
We have been watching in disbelief the tremendous destruction caused by the recent wildfires on Maui. The loss of life, livelihood, and property has been devastating. Lahaina Hongwanji and its Sangha were directly affected by the fires. The temple, columbarium, classroom building, and minister’s residence were completely destroyed in the horrific fires that devastated historic Lahaina town. Many temple members were forced to evacuate, and many homes were burnt to the ground. Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by this disaster. As residents and our fellow Sangha members begin the process of rebuilding and healing, Hawaii Kyodan is committed to supporting relief efforts on Maui.
In the spirit of compassionate action, we have established the MAUI WILDFIRE DISASTER RELIEF FUND. You can donate in the following ways:
1. Online at www.hongwanjihawaii.com by clicking on the “Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief” button under the “Donate” tab.
2. Through GoFundMe at the following link: https://gofund.me/ff77a520
3. Check and cash donations can be sent directly to Hawaii Kyodan Headquarters. Please make check payable to HHMH and in the memo line designate “Maui Wildfire Disaster Relief” to ensure proper credit.
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
1727 Pali Highway
Honolulu, HI 96813
All donations collected will go to support Lahaina Hongwanji and relief efforts on Maui. The Office of the Bishop and Committee on Social Concerns will prioritize addressing the immediate and short-term needs of temple families displaced by the fires and supporting the greater community as it rebuilds. The Committee will select reputable relief agencies and organizations to support in order to ensure our donations will directly aid those impacted by this disaster. Updates will be shared on our website at www.hongwanjihawaii.com.
Mahalo for your generosity and support during this time of tragedy.
In Gassho,
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii is recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. Tax ID #99-0073500.
Personal Note from Rev. Hōkai “Smitty” Smith
The evening of the wildfire, Rev. Smitty sent the following note to BTSD President LuAnn Lee, as shared here. Rev. Smitty provided information gleaned from her Hawaiian colleagues.
“Rev. Ai Hironaka of the Lahaina Temple and his family evacuated in time and are safe, but the temple, parsonage, columbarium, and other buildings (like most of Lahaina) burned down. (BTW, Rev. Hironaka provided lectures last August at our Kyoshi Kyoshu at the JSC.) Rev. Kerry Kiyohara of the Makawao Temple and his family also evacuated and are safe, and last I heard the Makawao temple was safe and not burned. HHMH Bishop Rev Umitani (who was just installed as bishop less than a week ago!) has sent out the [above] letter on relief efforts for the Lahaina Temple and its sangha. The Go Fund Me page from the Bishop's office is the same one that Rev Kiyohara started, and can be accessed at this site: https://gofund.me/ff77a520.”
UPDATE on Maui Wildfires and Relief Effort
This dedicated blog on the HHMH website provides even further detail, and may be is updated regularly.
Please note: The link is the same as the first link above on options to donate. .Go to the blog here..
Note from Temple Member Roger Coppock as to Climate Change
Please tell all your Dharma friends that sad events like the wildfires in Hawaii will be exponentially more likely in the future. Expect these tragedies to eventually happen so fast that attempts to address the suffering of a single event at a time will be overwhelmed.
The wisest and most compassionate strategy is to significantly reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide, by reducing the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas. Expect Nature's response to our reductions to be slow, a delay of about half a human lifetime. If we are patient, we can slow the rate of climate disasters to a manageable level. Our grandchildren will thank us.
- Roger Coppock