Tending to a tradition

Just makai of the busy H-1 freeway in Kalihi, a long-established Shinto Buddhist shrine accumulates quite a bit of blow-over dirt and dust over a year's time.

For more than a decade, Pam Igarashi and her two children -- plus her daughter's boyfriend -- have helped clean and prepare the Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine to receive the many visitors who come for "hatsumode," the Japanese tradition of visiting shrines on New Year's Day.

Hatsumode 2008 New Year's celebration: Midnight to 5 p.m. Tuesday » Place: Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha -- Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, 1239 Olomea St. » Admission: Free, with shuttle service from Damien Memorial School » Call: 841-4755 » Tip: Best times to get a bowl of ozoni (mochi soup) are midnight to 2 a.m. or 9 a.m. to noon.

Irene Takizawa, wife of the Rev. Masu Takizawa, said her cousin and her ohana don't just help with the "susubarai" (year-end cleanup). They also make mochi (for the thousands of complimentary bowls of "ozoni" soup to be served on Jan. 1), help with the "shishimai" (lion dance), fill in as priest's assistants and do the mundane chores of kitchen help and traffic control.

"They are an integral part of this enduring tradition," Takizawa said.

The rest of the year, Igarashi teaches English for Language Learners at Waialae Elementary School. Daughter Emi and her boyfriend, Brandon Lee, both 17, just graduated from Kalani High School, with 14-year-old son Kai still attending the East Oahu campus. (Igarashi's husband, Mitsuru, also helps at the shrine, when he's not busy at his Waikiki restaurant, Takeya.)

The family became involved with the shrine when Emi, then 7, started going to a small Japanese-language class there.

Igarashi said her children have been helping at New Year's for so long, they're valued as volunteers just as much as their much older counterparts.

"It's been so much of their annual tradition," she said, "plus, they like to watch and deal with all the people that come in. ... And my children's friends come by, too, and they're quick to help."

Takizawa said 6,000 to 7,000 people visit the shrine each Jan. 1 to offer prayers and be blessed for the new year as well as to discard "omamori" (good-luck amulets) and buy new ones. Not only do Japanese attend, but also a number of Catholics, Christians and Jews.

"It just shows how much of a cultural tradition this is in Hawaii, something that transcends religion," Takizawa said.

"It's fun," Kai Igarashi said. "As I'm getting older, I'm getting more responsibilities. I remember starting off by collecting money for the juice and coffee. Now, sometimes I wear the traditional Shinto kimono when I shake the bell over the people to bless them. Even Brandon has done that, and he's Chinese!"

Charms for the new year

"Omamori" -- good-luck amulets sold on New Year's Day -- are an important fundraiser for Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine. After visitors discard their old amulets into boxes that will be ceremonially burned later in the month, they purchase new omamori for $4 to $8.

The amulets are designed locally, made in Japan of nishiki-weave silk and blessed by the priest. Those with honu and hibiscus designs are popular with Japanese visitors, as well as one with a "Spirit of America" theme.

The shrine also sells omamori to promote children's education, car travel, golfers' games and, of course, some in green frog prints for auspicious trips to Las Vegas.