We began contacting Shinnyo-en in 2019. They have refused our polite requests. Shinnyo-en simply continues to enlarge their program. Floating Lantern Hawai'i drew 45,000 on Memorial Day in 2023. More would attend on Sunday.
DOWNLOADS
BOYCOTT Shinnyo-en Responds to Public Criticism
Participants WARNED About Loss, Misfortune for Attending
Goold Requests Valerie Richarson Write Hawai'i Story
Goold Requests New York Zen Center Educate Shinnyo-en
Communications Between Shinnyo-en, Goold and Tingstrom
Goold Alerts Officials of DoD Authorization to Neutralize Goold (SPOOF)
Goold Responds to SFA President Pete Tingstrom with DoD SPOOF
Goold Responds to Criticism Over Tone
SFA President Pete Tingstrom Publicly Humiliates Scott Goold
OVC Resignation Request. Lantern Lighting Punchbowl Proposed
Goold Responds to Letter from O'ahu Veterans Council (OVC)
Goold Responds to Letter from Reverend Eitaro Hayashi
Goold Responds to Letter from Gold Star Dad
Japanese American Veteran Association DENIES Our Fallen Heroes
DRAFT Letter to O'ahu Veterans Council
LtCol (Ret) Pete Tingstrom Request to Shinnyo-en
USAR (Ret) Scott Goold Call to Save Memorial Day
Appeal to Japan Minister for Foreign Affairs
We made a personal appearance at Shinnyo this week and requested their progrm director get back to us. Shinnyo-en refused to answer us. Instead, they "scrubbed" their websites of pictures of Her Holiness Shinto Ito and text speaking about peaceful, harmonious relations. Veterans have been pleading for years to change the day.
Governor Josh Green has ignored us. Shinnyo-en refused to provide a local contact person. Said the person in charge lived in Japan, Atsushi Matasunaga. He has not reached out to us. We followed up with this letter:
Honorable Her Holiness Shinto Ito
Honorable Atsushi Matasunaga
Honorable Reverend Eitaro Hayashi
Hawai’i Governor Josh Green
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Aloha e Reverend Hayashi ~
With deepest appreciation, Pete and I thank you for your kindness while speaking with us today. We thank staff members who also extended us your gracious attention. We have reached out to Shinnyo-en for five years seeking compromise on this sacred American observation. We are now near a red-line in conflict.
We were impressed that your team knew the origins of Decoration Day. There might be some misunderstanding between our two distinguished cultures, about Decoration Day, now observed as Memorial Day. The day was always intended as an observation of the men and women who fell while serving in military uniform to defend the United States of America and our shared national values. We believe many of our values are also shared by the honorable citizens of Japan. We have become such loving and respectful friends.
Speaking with all of you, it is clear how humble, sincere, compassionate, and thoughtful of others and their culture that is the Shinnyo-en Hawai’i Buddhist Order. Her Holiness Shinso Ito, an extraordinarily honored and recognized woman, expresses overwhelmingly deep commitment to peace and harmonious relations with people of the world. Her Holiness inspires us.
Her Holiness Shinso Ito claims commitment in the beliefs that spiritual traditions and practices can help foster peace and understanding in the world; and Her Holiness travels the world cultivating harmony between cultures and religions. We deeply admire her efforts and are motivated by her words.
Unfortunately, the words of Her Holiness are not harmoniously aligned with the actions of Shinnyo-en Hawai’i. Our only request is that the beautiful ceremony of Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai’i is held on Sunday (or Saturday), and leaves the sacred observation of the sacrifice of our comrades for Monday — Memorial Day. Your touching event tramples on the memory of those who gave their lives for ALL our freedom. They have no voice. We must speak for and defend our national heroes now in return.
We see no operational reason to continue this conflict. At this time per your website, you note that HOURS are not yet announced. Shifting to Sunday from Monday will not only resolve this conflict, but increase attendance. Participants have expressed Monday evening is difficult. Families must return to work or school early the next day. Costs are higher both for you and the city due to the holiday. Your current date also prevents many of our military families from attending.
No Time on Website. Due to our visit and follow up letter, Shinnyo-en "scrubbed" their website of harmonious, peaceful language and set the time.
We truly hope Her Holiness Shinso Ito will respect our sacred observation and wish to avoid unpleasantness or further conflict. Our Veteran groups are not appreciative. During the Christmas holiday, we rallied over 5,000+ roaring motorcycles to parade through Waikiki to raise funds for our Toys 4 Tots program. Hawaii’s Veterans LOVE our keiki. Imagine their love for their fallen mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, uncles, aunts and cousins. We believe, if necessary, that we will rally a group far larger if we cannot reach peaceful, harmonious compromise.
Imagine 10,000+ motorcycles flooding the Ala Moana Park area, thousands of Veterans holding signs, while asking our local community not to support your event. We do not seek such negativity. We believe Her Holiness Shinso Ito certainly does not. Our ‘Ohana does not. We all win by working together cooperatively, peacefully and harmoniously … the stated values of Shinnyo-en Hawai’i.
There is no need for conflict on this date. Our motivated Veterans would LOVE to attend on Sunday. We would JOYOUSLY help promote your beautiful tradition. You had a reported 45,000+ last year. Working together, we will INCREASE attendance, love, harmony and both spiritual and cultural understanding between our nations, religious and spiritual traditions, and cultural values.
We humbly pray as we ask Her Holiness Shinso Ito and your esteemed organization to join with us harmoniously at this time.
With great admiration and gratitude, Pete, myself and the Veterans of Hawai’i thank you graciously for your time, consideration and anticipated harmonious cooperation.
どうもありがとうございます ~
Mahalo nui loa and much love ~
Scott Goold
Pete Tingstrom
Shinnyo-en Hawai'i Has REFUSED Veterans For Over Five Years
Many Japanese Americans served; not all made it back alive. Shinnyo-en does not respect the Ultimate Sacrifice of our fallen American heroes.
Military-US Army-AJA. # 21,827: Ten Maui soldiers return after 18 months in Italy with the 100th Infantry Battalion. They are, left to right, Pvt. Kenji Nikaido, Pvt. Nobuyoshi Furukawa, standing: Pvt. Edward Nashiwa, Pvt. James Kalei Kaholokula, Pfc. Richard Iriguchi, seated on hood; Pfc. Hisao Tsutsumi, Pfc. Donald Uchimura, Pvt. Clifford Saruwatari, Pfc. Toshio Umetsu, and T/Sgt. Hideo Sato.
Shinnyo-en Hawai'i Buddhist Order
ATTN: Reverend Eitaro Hayashi
2348 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
TEL: 808-947-2814
FAX: 808-949-3045
hayashie@shinnyoenusa.org
Shinnyo-en Talks Peace, Kindness and Harmony. They Further Conflict and Refuse Compromise
Masako "Shinso" Ito First Float at Ke’ehi Lagoon on Memorial Day. She did not consult with the military or Veterans
USA Veterans Ask ONLY That Floating Lantern Hawai'i Be Held on Saturday or Sunday; Not Memorial Day
