[ A WALKING TOUR ]
Temple is devoted
to goddess of mercy
Also spelled Guanyin, Kuan Yin is the Chinese goddess of mercy, and there are Buddhist temples devoted to her around the world. Compared to some of the others, the Honolulu edition is modest, a traditional-appearing Chinese structure complete with red-painted pillars, a green-tile roof and an elaborate, carved altar inside the main room, which is open on all sides.
Luckily, the building is enfolded within Foster Botanical Gardens and the view from within is green, green and more green.
Fruits are stacked on the altar to promote fertility. The temple generally smells of incense, and shaven-headed Buddhist nuns discourage photography.
But if you're curious about that trappings of this ancient religion, they're happy to answer questions before the 2 p.m. closing time.
The temple has been on this site since 1880 and it is unknown how many editions of the structure have been built or modified.
As in other Kuan Yin temples, the goddess (she changed gender in the 12th century) occupies pride of place on the main altar.
She is depicted as a graceful, slender woman, generally in a modest, flowing white gown and bare feet. Flanking her are images of a barefoot, shirtless youth in prayer, and a modest maid hiding her hands inside sleeves -- these are sometimes referred to as Da Moh and Hua Tuo, or Wie Tor and Kuan Tai.
Kuan Yin is an abbreviated name for "One Who Sees and Hears the Cry from the Human World." Women are her primary worshippers, but this goddess also comforts the troubled, the sick, the lost, the senile and the unfortunate, as well as protects seafarers, farmers and travelers -- just the deity needed for an immigrant people building a new life far from home.
Kuan Yin Temple
Opened: 1880 Architect: Unknown Style: Buddhist Address: 170 N. Vineyard Boulevard National Register: No Hawaii Register: No
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BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
People flock to the Kuan Yin Temple this time of year to receive blessings for the new year.
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Quicktime VR Panorama
Click on pictures to view panaromas
BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
BURL BURLINGAME / BBURLINGAME@STARBULLETIN.COM
Every Sunday in the Star-Bulletin Travel section, rediscover the charms of old Hawaii through a tour created by the Honolulu Historic Trail Committee and Historic Hawai'i Foundation and supported by the city's Office of Economic Development. The yearlong project commemorates Honolulu's bicentennial.
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See Honolulu City Highlights
Various Honolulu historical organizations have clamored for years to have some sort of survey created of downtown Honolulu's historical sites. The mayor's Office of Economic Development stepped in last year to create order, and 50 locations were chosen as representative of Honolulu's history.
There is, of course, far more history in Honolulu's streets than indicated here, but these sites give the high points and can be visited on a walking tour lasting about three hours.
To commemorate Honolulu's bicentennial, the Star-Bulletin kicks off "Holoholo Honolulu" today, a year-long project to examine these historic properties. For the next 50 Sundays in the Travel section, stories and photographs will illuminate these sites.
But that's just the tip of the architectural iceberg. Viewers can step right into these locations via the magic of QuickTime Virtual Reality, a computer process that allows visitors from around the world to feel as if they're standing right there on the street.
WE'RE ALSO looking for old photographs of these sites to scan for public use. If you have anything, let us know:
Write to:
Holoholo
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
7-210 Waterfront Plaza
500 Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI 96813.E-mail:
bburlingame@starbulletin.com
