Situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is where cultural exchanges between East and West have been taking place for many years. Hawaii has produced its own unique lifestyle by integrating its own island heritage with several different cultures and customs that were brought over by immigrant groups. Buddhism, which came to Hawaii over 100 years still remains an important part of our culture and heritage.

Buddhist temples in Hawaii were founded after a contract labor agreement was signed between the Hawaiian government and the Japanese government in 1885. The early immigrants to Hawaii felt the need to have the support of their Buddhist faith and began petitioning their respective headquarter temples in Japan to have Buddhist clergy come to Hawaii. In other cases, Buddhist priests came to Hawaii at their own expense because they were well aware of the struggles of the early immigrants. Those priests lived in the areas from which the immigrants came. In both cases, temples and meeting halls were built with the funds generated by the early immigrants, and those buildings soon became the home bases for the “Kenjin Kai” or club for the same place of origin. As such, Buddhist temples assumed the Japanese language education for the children of immigrants. Many temples began language schools and Japanese culture classes on their premises. Through such activities, Buddhist priests became not only the spiritual leaders but also the educators of Japanese culture.

The Soto Zen School of Buddhism began its propagation effort in much the same way as other schools of Buddhism. The year was 1903 when the first door opened in a few designated locations on all islands. After securing its foundation, in 1921, the Soto Zen School held a major service to commemorate the newly built Honolulu Betsuin, the Headquarter Temple. Arai Sekizen Zenji, the Abbot of Sojiji Head Temple in Japan, came to Hawaii for this occasion. After this auspicious event, Arai Zenji remained in Hawaii, visiting various Soto Zen School temples throughout the islands, and presided over “Jukai-e” (the precepts-initiation ceremonies) for members. Because of his efforts and dedication, he is revered as the pioneer teacher among Hawaii's Soto Zen followers to this day.

Soto Zen Buddhism Hawaii Office, with its aforementioned background, has its administrative office within Soto Mission of Hawaii, Betsuin Shoboji, in a central area of Honolulu. Currently nine Soto Zen School temples and one zen center are serving its members and the community.

The nine temples and zen center are as follows: Shoboji and three other temples on Oahu (Taiheiji in Aiea; Taiyoji in Waipahu; Ryusenji in Wahiawa); Mantokuji on Maui; Guzeiji on Molokai; Zenshuji on Kauai; Taishoji and 'Alaneo Zendo in Hilo and Daifukuji in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

To date, there have been six Sokans, who also have served as the head priest at Soto Shu Hawaii Betsuin: Rev. Hosen Isobe (1918-1922), Rev. Zenkyo Komagata (1938 - 1970), Rev. Zenshu Komagata (1972 -1975), Rev. Koryu Oyama (1975 -1981), Rev. Gyokuei Matsuura (1981 -1997), Rev. Jiho Machida (1997 -2008).

Since 2008, the seventh and also the current director, Rev. Shugen Komagata has been serving in the Soto Zen Buddhism Hawaii Office for Propagation. The role of this office has expanded since the time of the current director's appointment. In recent years, we celebrated “The Hawaii Soto-Shu 110th Anniversary and Soto Mission of Hawaii Centennial Celebration” which was planned and organized by the Hawaii Office. Both events achieved rousing success. Also in recent years, each individual temple successfully celebrated its own respective anniversary. It is still fresh in our memory that Soto Zen School has taken a strong step toward the future.

Since its inception, each Soto Zen School's temple in Hawaii has been established and maintained by its own members' financial contributions, and this makes Hawaii's temples unique in that the individual temple is responsible for its own management. However, based on the fact that each temple adheres to the same Soto Zen School doctrines, the organization called Hawaii Soto Mission Association was created. Members of this organization consist of priests and designated temple members (delegates) from each temple. This organization meets twice a year and aims to foster trusting relationships among the temples throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Another important organization is called The United Hawaii Sotoshu Women's Association, which not only serves as an umbrella organization for each temple's Women's Association, but also provides opportunities for women members to exchange ideas so as to take a greater role in each temple's activities. The role of women in local temples is another unique feature of Hawaii's Soto Zen School. It is well known that their contributions are vital to the successful events and activities of each temple.

Throughout its 100-year history, Hawaii's Soto Zen School has consistently followed the “Shushogi” doctrinal principle of living. Especially following Arai Zenji's tour of the Hawaiian Islands, each temple established a “Busshin-Kai” (Buddha Mind Group) and emphasized the practice of “Zenkai Ichinyo” (The unity of Zen and the Precepts). In North America and Europe, the practice of Zazen (sitting meditation) is the focus of Zen outreach. However in Hawaii, Soto Zen priests become a part of the members' lives and take on the role of spiritual guides so that members may achieve peace.

Dogen Zenji left Japan and studied in China to further his understanding of Buddhism. Upon his return to Japan, he opened a monastery and trained the next generation of Zen teachers without having to send them to China. The same holds true in Hawaii. Unless we produce our own priests who understand the local tradition and lifestyle, we will not be able to establish a Soto Zen School rooted in Hawaii.