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| 16th Annual Taiko Festival Tickets on Sale Now! |
| Dear Readers of the What's New, |
| Tickets are now on sale for the long-awaited 16th Annual Taiko Festival! This event takes place at Moanalua High School’s new Performing Arts Center on March 13, at 4:00 pm. The theme Kishikaisei, meaning rebirth, encourages us to persevere through a difficult situation. Join us in enjoying the art of taiko, song, and Sōran Bushi performed by our very own high school students. All seating is reserved this year, so be sure to choose your spot before tickets sell out! Please visit our website for more information about the measures that have been put in place to ensure audience safety. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, sponsorship forms can be downloaded here. All sponsors will receive complimentary priority reserved seating. Your support benefits enlightened learning. Together, we can spread Buddhist values, preserve beloved traditions, and nurture life-long practitioners of peace. Thank you in advance for supporting PBA and its elite taiko group Hyaku Sen Ki Kai. The students can’t wait to perform live and we hope to see you there! |
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| PBA Alumnus Begins His First Year As Moanalua Middle School's Counselor |
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Gavin Takeno ’14 recently completed his Chaminade master’s program in counseling psychology and accepted a new position as Moanalua Middle School’s counselor. Although the position can be stressful at times, Gavin says it’s worth it. “I work primarily with seventh and eighth graders, but essentially my services are accessible to all 600 plus students at the school. Finding the time in the day to ensure that I get to see everyone is difficult, but the most rewarding thing about this job is observing how the services that I offer can affect students,” said Gavin. |
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| from teachers and staff is that, as a working professional, there are times to be serious and times when it’s okay to be loose. Working with students, being able to distinguish between those two occasions is crucial to building rapport and also maintaining respect,” said Gavin. For Gavin, this balance helps him get to know even the most distant students. “I remember the first student I worked with who was partaking in self-harming actions. She came to me at the mere age of nine and I was definitely at a loss for words. We were able to connect on a personal level because I had my own struggles growing up. This is one experience that made me realize how much help children sometimes need. Someone who is not as familiar with counseling may not realize that it’s more than just being a good listener. “While I work with someone, I’m taking notes on much more than what’s being said. I’m constantly analyzing every aspect of the session and taking mental notes on how people say things. I focus on body behavior such as shaking legs or breathing patterns. I also look at the surrounding environment for distractors or for potential triggers. I take notes on the mood and vibe of the session, acknowledging tension in the atmosphere. Added together, it allows me to gain a better understanding of those who I work with,” explained Gavin. PBA congratulates Gavin on starting his new job! |
| Perpetuating Traditions for Each Generation |
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To the curious observer, these sounds may seem a bit odd, but to students of the PBA Buddhist Club it is a normal occurrence. For the past two months, members of the Buddhist Club practiced traditional Bon Dances to teach members of the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists (HAIB) diligently. The goal of the work is to perpetuate traditions for each generation. |
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“Shovel right, shovel left,” a voice bellows across the PBA Weinberg Building. The sounds of stomping and laughter are heard throughout the halls of the second floor. “That’s it, push forward, and safe!” | This activity is the continuation of a partnership with HAIB’s Intergenerational Program. “Our program tries to bridge the different generations together to share and understand the teachings of Buddhism from unique and diverse perspectives,” said Rev. Hirosato Yoshida, Director of Intergenerational Programs for HAIB. “We are very fortunate and happy to partner with PBA’s Buddhist Club to share with one another the values and experiences to find harmony between the different generations. Especially in this very fast paced world, having the opportunity to interact with the youth group brings new ideas and values that we can incorporate in our day to day lives as Buddhists.” PBA students led a series of virtual Bon Dance workshops guiding HAIB members in learning the Tanko Bushi, Toukyo Ondo, and the Shiawase Sanba. “Bon Dance tells stories from our ancestors, and we honor them through our dance,” said Chad (Chihiro) Okawa, President of PBA’s Buddhist Club. Once the dances were mastered, PBA students met and taught members of the HAIB community. Students explained the movements and story of the dance in detail. They demonstrated each movement step-by-step prior to performing it to music. The HAIB members learned quickly, and a good time was had by all. “It was a wonderful series of Bon Dance lessons,” remarked Rev. Yoshida. “It was really refreshing and fun for all of us to do.” “I’ve always worried that cultural traditions and practices get lost through each generation,” said PBA Buddhist Club Advisor Liane Viloria. “This program is a fun way for our students to understand the importance of keeping these traditions alive as well as bridging the generational gap.” With this partnership, the PBA Buddhist Club hopes to maintain traditions with the HAIB Intergenerational Program for many years to come. |
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With this partnership, the PBA Buddhist Club hopes to maintain traditions with the HAIB Intergenerational Program for many years to come. |
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“I’ve always worried that cultural traditions and practices get lost through each generation,” said PBA Buddhist Club Advisor Liane Viloria. “This program is a fun way for our students to understand the importance of keeping these traditions alive as well as bridging the generational gap.”| 30 Years of Unity Celebration To mark a milestone of the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists promoting unity in diversity among Buddhists in Hawaii for 30 years, and with collaboration of Kagyu Thegchen Ling, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche has been officially acknowledged by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa as the lineage holder of the Shangpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche is the reincarnation of Kyabje Dorje Chang Kalu.
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| Student Activity |
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| IMPORTANT DATES February 11 – Office Closed (Giseikai) |
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1754 Lusitana Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
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