Shinshu Kyokai Mission and Dormitory — Local services in Honolulu

This Dormitory is a joke… have had my guests disrespected and almost feeling threatened (taking unsolicited pictures upon exiting the guest restroom by administration waiting for them outside the restroom while I was relieving myself too) before the situation could even have a chance of be cleared out, since they were with me (how does the saying go again? Innocent until proven guilty right? They didn’t get that memo). Although the dormitory itself would barely qualify as clean most days, the showers are an absolute mold infested mess, I’ve found on multiple occasions used plasters or bandages in the showers. Bathrooms are deplorable at best, found small amount of human excrements on the floor on two separate occasions and the sinks are the same as the showers. They will charge you $50 on top of your rent for a parking space with no guarantee you’ll have space… had to street park multiple times. Countless bikes and mopeds stolen off the property, got even my front license plate stollen. Beds are hard and uncomfortable, furniture ran down and the noise intense between emergency vehicles from the near by hospitals constantly passing or random homeless people screaming profanities at the top of their lungs. Had one case of an intruder during the night on the women’s floor putting them at risk… management’s way of addressing it was by blaming the residents after the fact (only night manager was proactive in trying to ensure residence safety and well being in general)… the last straw was the fact I checked into a dirty room that had not been vacuumed or mopped for at least weeks maybe months forcing me to do it myself and buy the utilities for that. Upon checking out I left the room precisely as I had initially found it, unmopped or vacuumed just like the check in form they conveniently “lost” indicated and they charged me $50 for mopping… I’m usually last to complain hence why I never really did during my stay but this place strives on broke and desperate students so they can slowly and subtly extort them. I am writing this review in hopes other vulnerable students will not fall into this trap. If you are looking for a stable place to stay, I would recommend you rather check into a hostel for the time being (there’s a great one on Sea View Ave near UH) you will get better facilities and service for about the same price. You will also have the opportunity to meet potential roommates to find a place to call home. Long story...

Regarding the minister at this temple for 9 A.M. on this Sunday.

This man quickly, fully, and continually gave the impression of being spiritually misguided and of being in the thrall of secularity. A temple should not be the place for such unchecked expression of personal biases.

In more concrete terms it felt like I was having a largely one sided interaction on the sidewalk with an insecure and prejudiced person who was using run-of-the-mill spiritual insights to legitimize and impress upon me questionable political viewpoints. It felt like there were some mundane insecurities he was projecting. He was, as typical of this sort, inclined towards sophistry and rhetoric rather than truth seeking and genuine discussion.

Maybe he's not a bad guy overall, but if this is at all typical, he shouldn't be in his position. He's just probably not minister material; it's not like he's young. I mean, maybe just have a silent hour instead. There were only 2 people there and he is barely audible, which might tell you something.

Rather surprising and possibly the worst experience I've had in any house of worship. Maybe tied with the "Buddhist" who told me to take hard drugs.

I share this because of the issue I take with glaring sacrilege of any variety. Beware the wolf. Not a wolf to a normal person -- but to one who openly seeks spiritual...

Transportation: Good. Bus station nearby. Custodian: very nice; hold activities often. Payment only in cash and wire transfer no card accepted (awful) Living condition: below average. Too much noise especially early morning and night. No freezer in kitchen only one public refrigerator. Only four stove allow 2-3 people to use at the same time. People living there are nice but bad living...