This year Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple will host the 79th year of the war memorial that is on our front lawn.  The memorial bears the names of all Puna residents that were killed in action during the different conflicts.

Please join us on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to honor and remember our loved ones that were killed in action.  Family/friends of those listed below are encouraged to attend the ceremony as during the ceremony we call each person's name.  When the names are called a floral bouquet is presented in remembrance of each person.  All the names on the monument are not members of the Hongwanji, but a part of our larger community so we continue to recognize them and invite other Puna District churches to offer a prayer as well.  Our guest speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Alvarado.  Joining us will also be the Hawaii County Band who will play a prelude before our program begins.  We will also have the Hilo High School JROTC to help with the flag raising and accepting the floral bouquets from the veteran groups and families/friends.  After the ceremony, light refreshments will be served in the social hall.

World War II (Stanley Cabral, Yuzu Hayashida, John Hernandez, Seiji Higa, Isamu Kanetani, Yutaka Kawamoto, Morio Mizumoto, Frank Mugihira, Shoichi Nakahara, Tadao Nakamura, Mitsuru Ochiai, Eishin Oshiro, Seikichi Oshiro, Kazumi Tsutsui, and Alfred Veriato)

Korean Conflict (David Aspili, Julio Figueroa, Yoshimi Fukumoto, Isaac K. Hale, Koichi Moriwaki, Wilson Park, and Paul K. Ura)

Vietnam Conflict (Moses I Kuahiwinui, Jr., George G. Luis, Gilbert Olivar, Hayward K. Peleiholani, and George S. Salema)

Iraq-Afghanistan Conflict (Ray M. Furhmann II and Kirk Takeshi Fuchigami Jr.)

Flowers and foliage are being requested to make floral bouquets.  If you have anything to share, please drop off the flowers or foliage on Friday, May 22, 2026 by 8:00 a.m.  Our volunteers will be making bouquets for the memorial day event.