History of Hongwanji Mission School

Hongwanji Mission School, the first Buddhist school outside of Japan, was established in 1949 during the time of the Bishop Kodo Fujitani. Mrs. Aiko Fujitani, wife of the bishop, was instrumental in the building of the school. Although trained at the Normal School (teacher's college), Mrs. Fujitani was unable to teach as she was not an American citizen.

The school was built on land purchased from Mary Foster (of Foster Gardens) for $6,000. Mary Foster, who was from a Christian missionary family, became a devout Buddhist after traveling to India and finding a personal teacher.

Although she never taught at the school, Mrs. Fujitani was in the center of the school activities as the executive secretary of the school board and attending to the many necessary details in running the school.

The first classes were held during the summer of 1949. Mrs. Marion Winters, a graduate of Vassar, was the first principal of the Hongwanji Mission School. She had come to Hawaii for pleasure and decided to stay. The school opened for summer session for students in grades K through 8 and for special English classes for Kebei adults (those born in the U.S. and educated in Japan).

Over the years, the composition of the school varied. At times the school was for students in grades K-8, while at other times it was an elementary school with grades K-6. In 1950 Mrs. Mollie Yap, a Department of Public Instruction retiree, became the principal. Day Care classes were added. In 1951, Mrs. Blanche Hino was appointed the director of the day care and Kindergarten department.

The late Reverand Tsumika Maneki became the principal in 1955 and was at the school for the next ten years. During this time there were classes for non-English speaking children and special certificates were available for students to come form Japan to study at the school.

During the tenure of Mrs. Edith Tanaka as principal, fund raising luaus were held and as a result a three-story building was erected on the former grounds of the Hawaii Chugakko. Mrs. Cecelia lindo became a vice-principal and worked closely with Mrs. Tanaka. She also served as actign principal while Mrs. Tanaka was abroad for a year.

The Alma Mater was written in 1970with the music done by Jane Imamura and the lyrics by Janice Oguro. Mrs. Tanaka retired in 1972 and was succeeded by Joyce-Lynn Kimura who was prinicpal for ten years.

In 1983 Morris Otoshi, a retired DOE principal became head of the school. Craig Tsutsui was his vice-principal. Mrs. Rene Kimura joined the administrative team as a second vice-principal in 1991.

Dr. Gaylord Conquest assumed the leadership in 1992 and Mrs. Theodora Yagi joined the administrative team as vice-principal in 1993. In September of 1993, the middle school building was completed and the Class of 1994 was the first class to occupy it.

In May 1999, the school celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a School Fair. At that time the enrollment was 295 students ranging from pre-school to grade eight.
Today, the campus is now shared the Pacific Buddhist Academy which opened its doors for high school student in August 2003.