When I first attended Jikoen on Houghtailing Street, I looked up and thought, “Wow, the church is so high up!!”

I remember Lily Miyasato was the organist and would lead us in the Nembutsu when the minister was away. I enjoyed the Hanamatsuri festival at Kapiolani Park.

My most cherished memory was on February 22, 1959, when the Abbot from Japan came to Honolulu and at the age of 15, I received my Buddhist name.