Wakamiya Inari Shrine, Shinto shrine in Waipahu, Hawaiʻi
Wakamiya Inari Shrine is a small traditional structure built in 1914 with bright red paint and a hip-and-gabled roof made of wooden shingles. The building displays classic Japanese architectural features including decorative roof elements called chigi and katsuogi, exposed rafters, and a raised wooden frame with vertical plank siding.
The shrine was originally built in 1914 in Kaka'ako and relocated to Moiliili in 1918 to better serve Japanese residents. Community members saved it from demolition in 1979 and moved it to its current location in Waipahu, where it was rededicated during its 100th anniversary in 2014.
The shrine served as a spiritual center where Japanese immigrants could practice their traditions and seek blessings from Inari, the god of prosperity. Today visitors can see ritual objects and understand how this small building helped keep cultural practices alive in the local community.
The shrine is located within Hawaii's Plantation Village and is easy to explore due to its compact size and accessible layout. The peaceful setting makes it a good place for reflection and suits visitors who want to learn about Japanese religious practices without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
This is the only example of its kind of traditional Shinto architecture on the island of Oahu, showing how Japanese design principles traveled across the ocean to Hawaii. The shrine was founded by Reverend Yoshio Akizaki and later cared for by his son Takeo until the community saved it from demolition in 1979.
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