Bishop Shokai Kanai of Nichiren Mission in Nu‘uanu observes as longtime member Sandra Taga rings the temple bell a few minutes before Jan. 1, 2020. The ringing of the bell signifies the arrival of the new year.These two dogs joined their human family in receiving their New Year’s blessing at Daijingu Temple in Nu‘uanu. (Photos by Wayne Shinbara)Early New Year’s morning visitors to Daijingu Temple crowded around the omamori (good luck amulets) stand to purchase their omamori for the new year.Sherri Miyakoda holds a bowl of ozoni (mochi soup) that visitors to Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha – Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu received at the shrine on New Year’s Day.Misaki Mizunuma, age 9, and her 6-year-old brother Kento smile after enjoying their ozoni at Kotohira Jinsha.Shrine-goers at Izumo Taishakyo purify their body by washing their hands before entering the shrine for their blessing.This young girl tied her unfavorable omikuji (fortune-telling paper) to this tree, joining unfavorable fortunes that other shrine-goers had tied to the tree at Daijingu TempleAt Izumo Taishakyo Mission in Chinatown, 6-year-old Lena Amano and 10-year-old Aina Yamauchi offered sweet treats to shrine visitors after they had received their blessing.People lined up all the way down Kukui Mall to receive their blessing at Izumo Taishakyo Mission.
