STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 The construction of the torii in Moiliili sparked a separation of church and state debate.

Spiritual torii gate is
a gift from Hiroshima

The thing about gates: You're either in or you're out, depending on which side you're on. Pass through a gate and you know you're getting somewhere. No wonder the Shinto religion makes such uses of gates as symbols -- gates that, ironically, have no walls. They are a portal of the soul.

The torii gate is heavily identified with Japan, an icon through which one departs this mortal coil for the spiritual. One of the most famous is on the tidal flats of Miyajima Island, beckoning toward historic temples at Itsukushima Shrine, near Hiroshima.

The Miyajima torii is a classic piece of decorative architecture, striking in its harmonious grace. At high tide it seems to float atop the waves.

But you don't have to go to Miyajima. Honolulu has its own torii gate at the intersection of King, Beretania and University, in front of Star Market, a gift from our sister city of Hiroshima. (We should have given them the Dole Pineapple tower in return.)

The original Miyajima torii is made of centuries-old wood. This one is burnished steel and titanium. Before it was painted vermilion, it gleamed like a science-fiction adventure. It was all part of a Moiliili beautification project.

When the gate was erected, the city spent more than $100,000 to prepare the site. This caused a fuss because the torii is so closely allied to the Shinto religion, and tax dollars aren't supposed to be spent on religious displays. But apparently enough, experts declared it was a cultural rather than religious symbol.

Now remember to pass through it on your spiritual quest -- to Star Market.

STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 The completed torii in the triangle at the groin of King and Beretania streets near University Avenue.