The Sacred Falls Mediation Center is a non-profit Buddhist temple open to anyone who wishes to volunteer their time to do service or those who want to meditate to find peace of mind, said the center’s manager. The center is located three miles outside of Laie in Hauula. It is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
Bhante Sumana Athale, the manager of the international meditation center, was born and raised in Sri Lanka. Athale became a Bhante, which translates to the word monk, in 1987.
Athale said, “At Sacred Falls, we use the traditions of Theravada, a more conservative branch of Buddhism, at this meditation center. We have several religious ceremonies offered at this meditation center. Some of these ceremonies include religious ceremonies, funeral services, home blessings, and mediation.” The center is open to anyone as a place to meditate, serve, and to understand one’s self.
For those individuals who just want to serve or donate their time, the Sacred Falls Mediation Center is always looking for people to help work on the grounds or help out with the landscaping. This organization is also in the process of building a new temple so it is accepting donations to help fund this temple as well.
Ammon Brown, a freshman from Utah studying exercise and sports science, attended Sacred Falls Meditation Center last semester. “Last semester I was stressed. It was my first semester of college so a friend suggested to me that I go to this meditation center.”
Brown continued, “At first I felt weird because I’ve never meditated before, but this place really helped me clear my mind and focus. I would recommend it to students.”
Athale said, “In the future, we hope to have an organic farm here and offer healthy food to people who attend this meditation center.”
Kelsy Simmons, a BYU–Hawaii alumna, said she has attended the Sacred Falls Meditation Center and shared her experience: “The international mediation center was a great example of how people from all different backgrounds can come together for a common cause. “The whole place is slowly built up by donations from the people of that faith. The monks are from different countries, but they've all build this beautiful temple and center.”
Simmons said she went last year during a service trip and she recalled the monks being open and inviting. “Their message was nondenominational and about peace and health,” she said.
The Sacred Falls Facebook page also offers times and scheduled events for meditation or yoga. The Sacred Falls Meditation Center offers the following services:
∙Mediation is always open throughout the day or night
∙Yoga
∙Religious Ceremonies
∙Every day at 7:30 p.m. Chanting and Meditation is open for everyone
∙Every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. meditation is practiced and is open to everyone
Address: 53-088 Puhuli Street
Hauula, Hawaii 96717
Phone: 808-200-1726