Valley of the Temples Memorial Park facts for kids
Byodo-In temple.
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| Details | |
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| Established | 1963 |
| Country | United States |
The Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is a special place located on the eastern side of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. It sits at the base of the Koʻolau mountains, close to the town of Kāneʻohe. This memorial park was started by Paul Trousdale in 1963. It is a resting place for thousands of people from Hawaiʻi who followed different faiths, including Buddhist, Shinto, Protestant, and Catholic beliefs.
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What Makes Valley of the Temples Special?
This unique park is known for its beautiful and peaceful setting. It is not just a cemetery; it is also home to several important and interesting structures. People visit to remember loved ones and to see the amazing architecture and statues.
The Byodo-In Temple Replica
One of the most famous parts of the park is a replica of the Byodo-In Buddhist temple. This replica was built in 1968. The original temple is a very old and important Buddhist complex from the 11th century in Uji, Japan.
Inside the Temple
Inside the main part of the Byodo-In temple, you will find a large statue of the Amida Buddha. This impressive statue is about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. It shows the Amida Buddha sitting peacefully on a golden lotus leaf. The temple and its surroundings offer a calm and reflective atmosphere.
Other Important Features
The park also has many other significant areas and statues. You can find large Catholic statues that show scenes from the Passion of Christ. There are also statues of the Virgin Mary and various Catholic saints.
Resting Places of Influential People
The Valley of the Temples is also home to crypts and mausoleums. These are special buildings where people are buried. Some of the most important and influential people in Hawaiʻi are laid to rest here. For example, Walter F. Dillingham, a well-known Hawaiian businessman and leader, is buried in one of the mausoleums. For a period of time, Ferdinand E. Marcos, who was once the President of the Philippines, was also interred in a private mausoleum that overlooks the Byodo-In temple.
Valley of the Temples in TV Shows
The beautiful Byodo-In temple has been featured in several popular television shows.
- It appeared many times in the TV show Lost. In one episode, it was shown as the home of Sun-Hwa Kwon's father. Later, it was the background for Sun and Jin-Soo Kwon's wedding.
- The temple was also seen in Magnum P.I. in episodes like "Tropical Madness" (1981) and "Tigers Fan" (1987).
- It was even used in the original Hawaii Five-O series in episodes such as "The Singapore File" (1969) and "F.O.B Honolulu".
Images for kids
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Statue outside the temple
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View of the temple garden
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The Amida Buddha inside the temple
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The Peace Bell outside the temple
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Mausoleum at the Valley of the Temples
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