May 2026 Newsletter
| Presidential Message – V. Balaraman May signifies the transition of Spring to Summer and we here in Hawaii are bracing for hotter and longer days. May is a special month in many ways and started with Lei Day on May 1st, a very unique and meaningful Hawaiian tradition. Lei Day is celebrated statewide on May 1 to honor the Hawaiian practice of making and giving lei as expressions of aloha, respect, and community. We also celebrate the Matriarch of our families in the form of Mother’s Day. It is such a great way to recognize an individual who is such an integral part of our life that many a times we just take them for granted. It is also a month for celebration of achievements. Graduations abound whether it is Professional and Graduate degrees, College or High School events honoring the passage to the next steps in our life’s journey. I take this opportunity to wish all who are transitioning to the next level in their educational quest, congratulation and best of luck in the next steps. We should also not lose sight of the departed and this month I would at least like to share a few words about Ted Turner who died at the age of 84 and in many ways was a impactful philanthropist. Ted Turner gave more than $1 billion to charitable causes during his lifetime, including a landmark $1 billion gift that created the United Nations Foundation. He founded and funded multiple conservation and environmental organizations—most notably the Turner Foundation and the Turner Endangered Species Fund—and protected millions of acres of land. Turner also co‑founded the Nuclear Threat Initiative and supported initiatives addressing climate change, species conservation, and global poverty, making philanthropy a central and public part of his legacy. In our own small ways let us continue to do small things that would be impactful within our communities. Stay safe and healthy through this summer. Warm aloha, V. Balaraman President Temple Activities – May 17th, 2026 Our monthly pooja will start promptly at noon on the 17th. With Prof. Bhawuk traveling, we hope to get the pooja done with volunteers coordinated by Arup Halder. Hope to see you all there. Following the Pooja we will have a potluck lunch at the temple.  May and Jun 2026: May 17 – Wahiawa Shiva Temple Pooja Day May 25 – Memorial Day June 19 – Juneteenth June 21 – Father’s Day June 21 – Wahiawa Shiva Temple Pooja Day June 21 – Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere |
