“John Clark has written a remarkable book about shoreline statues of Jizo, a Buddhist figure dedicated to our protection and enlightenment. Erected by issei, first-generation Japanese Americans, Jizo statues served as guardians of ulua fishermen casting in remote and dangerous coastal areas. John draws on interviews with more than three hundred individuals to document the location of these statues and in the process offers us a glimpse of the daily lives and spirituality of early Japanese Americans. We are indebted to him for making us aware of these Jizo monuments and their role in shaping Hawai‘i’s multicultural heritage.” —Dennis Ogawa, chair, American Studies Department, University of Hawai’i

“Here are stories meticulously unearthed and added to the rich cultural experience and legacy of Japanese immigrants in Hawai‘i. Initially, one would think that this is just an interesting sotry about statues of Jizo and where they can be found. But Clark’s book covers considerably more. We find, as Clark says, ‘the stories of these statues of Jizo are part of a much larger story.’ What a brilliant and fascinating way to see another side of early Japanese culture.” —Juliet S. Kono, author of Tsunami Years and Hoolu‘u Park and the Pepsodent Smile

“Here in the Aloha State of Hawai’i, where we have a bonding of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, we are protected by many different deities, including Jizo. We are grateful as we journey together on the waves of life that we can find solace and shelter in Jizo. Guardian of the Sea is an inspirational book for all.” —Bishop Dean Zenei Okimura, Koboji Shingon Mission of Hawai‘i

Jizo, one of the most beloved Buddhist deities in Japan, is known primarily as the guardian of children and travelers. In coastal areas, fishermen and swimmers also look to him for protection. Soon after their arrival in the late 1800s, issei (first-generation Japanese) shoreline fishermen began casting for ulua on Hawai‘i’s treacherous sea cliffs, where they risked being swept off the rocky ledges. In response to numerous drownings, Jizo statues were erected near dangerous fishing and swimming sites, including popular Bamboo Ridge, near the Blowhole in Hawai‘i Kai; Kawaihâpai Bay in Mokulç‘ia; and Kawailoa Beach in Hale‘iwa. Guardian of the Sea tells the story of a compassionate group of men who raised these statues as a service to their communities.

Written by an authority on Hawai‘i’s beaches and water safety, Guardian of the Sea shines a light on a little-known facet of Hawai‘i’s past. It incorporates valuable firsthand accounts taken from interviews with nisei (second-generation) fishermen and residents and articles from Japanese language newspapers dating as far back as the early 1900s. In addition to background information on Jizo as a guardian deity and historical details on Jizo statues in Hawai‘i, the author discusses shorecasting techniques and organizations, which once played a key role in the lives of local Japanese. Although shorecasting today is done more for sport than subsistence, it remains an important ocean activity in the Islands.

In examining Jizo and the lives of issei, Guardian of the Sea makes a significant contribution to our understanding of recent Hawai‘i history.

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John R. K. Clark, a former lifeguard and retired deputy fire chief of the Honolulu Fire Department, is the author of six books on Hawai‘i’s beaches published by University of Hawai‘i Press.

Read the prologue (PDF).

table of contents