Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the July 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

When you eat at an all-youcan- eat restaurant, oftentimes you pile a lot of food on your plate and end up throwing away what you could not finish. This is like having a free day but spending the whole day without accomplishing anything. How are these situations expressed in Japanese? The phrase is mottainai, referring to when something useful, such as food or time, is wasted.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the June 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

A couple of years ago, my family and I took a vacation to Los Angeles. We visited many places such as Orange County Buddhist Church, Disneyland, Japanese American National Museum, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and Santa Monica Pier. It was a very exciting and fruitful trip, and I was very happy being able to establish a wonderful memory with my family.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the May 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

It has been raining in Hilo almost every day for the past few months. Before I moved to Hilo last year, some people said to me, “Oh, you will move to Hilo. Hilo is really nice place, but it rains a lot in Hilo. Even if you forget lunch, you must not forget an umbrella!”

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2009 Big Island Bon Dance Schedule

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the April 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

As I become older, I realize how inconceivable it is, that I am here in Lihue to celebrate Buddha Day or Hanamatsuri with the Kauai Buddhist Sangha. The first Hanamatsuri celebration that remains with me is a photo of the Gila Rivers Relocation Center’s celebration. Hundreds of youth and adults with the priests in front of a barrack stand on all sides of a cardboard elephant with a Flower Garden/Hanamido with an infant Buddha in the center. What a joyous memorable event it was!