HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
206 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE SUPPORTERS, WAYNE KOTOMORI, LORRAINE MINATOISHI PALUMBO, CHRISTIAN PORTER, ANN ONO, AND VIC HEJMADI, FOR THEIR WORK IN PRESERVATION OF THE SANJU PAGODA OF KYOTO GARDENS OF HONOLULU MEMORIAL PARK.
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that preserving the heritage and historic sites is valuable as it embraces not only cultural significance but the ethnic beauty of the islands and is important to the visitor industry as well as the film industry and therefore the overall economy of the State; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii established Honolulu Memorial Park as a community service cemetery in 1958 and whereupon in 1964 it was decided that a monument needed to be erected which would venerate the Buddhist faith, therefore President Herbert M. Richards, President of Honolulu Memorial Park, created the Kinkaku-ji memorial, along with the Sanju Pagoda, which were completed and opened in July 1966; and
WHEREAS, the Pagoda at Honolulu Memorial Park is the largest pagoda in the United States, and is an interesting blend of traditional and new techniques in the architecture of pagodas, and has remained a visual landmark for the past 38 years, in the Honolulu skyline for those looking out from the scenic stop along the Pali Highway, which receives Federal Highway Funds in part so that people may enjoy viewing the Pagoda among other things; and
WHEREAS, the Pagoda is a unique three-tiered concrete pagoda built in the likeness of one of Japan's honored national monuments: the wooden Minami Hoke-ji Temple near Nara, Japan; and
WHEREAS, the Pagoda in Nara is famous for its Thousand-armed Kwannon which is reputed to cure various kinds of illnesses for visitors who journey there from throughout Japan and was declared a National Architectural Treasure by Japan; and
WHEREAS, the Sanju Pagoda here in Hawaii is of the architectural classification Japonism, which is a quality characteristic of the Japanese or their products or art, and is modeled after the Roku-on-ji Temple in Kyoto, built in the Muromachi Period Style with a gentle roof slope form and less formal eave and kumimono structure which are historic and architecturally significant forms; and
WHEREAS, the Mirror Lake Garden surrounding the Pagoda is also designed in the style of the Muromachi Period, and is significant for its authentic design and use of symbolism, with, among other things, a special rock that represents the nine mountains and eight seas of the Buddhist mythological Paradise, and carp fish in the lake which is of historical and religious significance as through the carp, one's sins were washed clean; and
WHEREAS, Honolulu Memorial Park filed for bankruptcy and planned to tear down the Sanju Pagoda, citing over a $1 million in cost to renovate, but the daunting task of saving the Pagoda came together when individuals, by the end of 2002, rallied together and saved the cemetery park and its structures, as it was significant of culture, heritage, and religion statewide; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Kotomori spearheaded efforts to save the pagoda through organizing and rallying niche and plot owners, and was the initial person who called the impeding demolition of the pagoda to public attention; and
WHEREAS, Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo has a Ph.D specifically in Japanese Temple architecture and with her expertise she was able to recognize the significance of the pagoda and wrote the nomination papers to place the pagoda on the State and National Registers of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, Christian Porter as a lawyer donated his consultation and services pro bono through legal guidance and work to help the supporters navigate to their desired outcome; and
WHEREAS, Ann Ono, a retired elementary school teacher, was a pivotal person in the cohesion of the supporters and getting the word out that the Pagoda was threatened; and
WHEREAS, Vic Hejmadi, a businessman, is the president of the non-profit organization charged with running the cemetery and preserving the Pagoda; and
WHEREAS, after much struggle, legal battles and operational shut downs, the supporters tirelessly met to come up with ways to save the Pagoda and were able, through education and testimony to have the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park and the Sanju Pagoda placed first on the State Register of Historic Places last November; and
WHEREAS, those citizens involved in saving the Pagoda have the credit and honor of protecting a cultural treasure that is important not only to the State's heritage, but the Nation's history as well and in February 2004 the National Register of Historic Places listed the property for meeting certain national criteria; and
WHEREAS, the Pagoda, "embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possess high artistic values," moreover, the property had, an "association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history," in particular the Japanese-American community and their role in America's history; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that this body hereby recognizes and honors, Wayne Kotormori, Lorraine Minatoishi Palumbo, Christian Porter, Ann Ono, and Vic Hejmadi for their work in supporting the preservation of the Sanju Pagoda at Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park so that future generations may remember and appreciate one aspect of the multi-cultural heritage that makes up Hawaii.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Sanju Pagoda Supporters; Recognition