Lāhainā Jodo Mission is a Japanese-style Buddhist temple complex in Lāhainā, near the beach and an old Japanese burial site. Its courtyard is known for a 12-foot copper and bronze statue of Amida Buddha, installed in 1968 to mark the centennial of the first Japanese immigrants’ arrival in Hawaiʻi. You can also see the pagoda and temple buildings, then take a quiet walk around the grounds. Admission is free; come with time for silence and reflection.
A mission shaped by Lāhainā’s Japanese community
The mission was established in 1912 by Japanese immigrants working in Hawaiʻi’s sugar and pineapple plantations, under the leadership of Reverend Gendō Saitō. It first occupied a private house and moved to its present location in 1931. The site became a spiritual and cultural center for Japanese life in Lāhainā.
The temple is a reproduction of a Japanese Buddhist temple. Its pagoda and other buildings bring traditional Japanese architectural forms to a beachfront setting in Maui.
The Amida Buddha statue
The 12-foot copper and bronze Amida Buddha was installed in 1968 to commemorate 100 years since the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaiʻi. The statue is one of the largest of its kind outside Japan. In the courtyard, take time to look at its scale and setting alongside the pagoda and temple.
An old Japanese burial site lies beside the mission. Treat the area with care, remain quiet, and do not enter any section marked as off-limits.
Häufige Fragen
Is admission to Lāhainā Jodo Mission free?
Yes, admission is free.
How long should I spend at Lāhainā Jodo Mission?
Allow about 30 to 60 minutes to see the statue, pagoda and temple grounds.
Where can I park for Lāhainā Jodo Mission?
Parking is in a shared public beach lot outside the temple.
When is the farmers’ market nearby?
A farmers’ market is held on alternate Thursdays.
