Weekly Group Sessions in Palolo
We meet Thursdays, 6:00 to 7:30 PM in Pālolo Valley.
Our next group meditation is on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Guest teacher June 4, 2026
Not every teacher’s path to the robe runs through Uganda and India on the way to a business degree. Bhante Buddharakkhita’s did.
He will be teaching at Aloha Sangha on Thursday evening, June 4, at the usual time-> 6 to 7:30 PM.
Bhante Buddharakkhita was born in Uganda and traveled to India to study business — and found Buddhism instead. He eventually ordained as a monk at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, and later studied and practiced under Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia.
In a 2020 Guardian interview, speaking about his work teaching Buddhism in Africa, he said:
I see a lot of people suffering in Uganda and Africa. I find this role as a game changer, or a paradigm shift from suffering to happiness in Africa.
He is the founder and abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Centre, a Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a Spiritual Advisor to Global Buddhist Relief in New Jersey.
Since 2005 Bhante has been teaching in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States. He brings genuine depth of practice to his teaching.
About our weekly group meditation
We practice Buddhist insight meditation, also known as mindfulness meditation. This is a simple, effective, and down to earth approach.
We began meeting weekly back in 1998 for meditation and discussions. These events are always free.
We start our meetings with a short period of standing qigong followed by two twenty-five minute sitting meditation sessions. We then have a break, followed by a short talk, with time for questions or discussion.
These weekly meetings are very beginner-friendly. They’re also a good way to introduce this simple practice to a friend who may be curious about your interest in mindfulness meditation.
Due to parking and space limitations, please follow to these guidelines.
Address and Parking
Note: the front door opens around 5:50 PM, as we are preparing our space for you. If you arrive early, please wait quietly by the front door, in consideration for our landlord in the house right in front of ours.
Our address is 2439 Holomua Place, #A, in upper Palolo Valley, adjacent to the Palolo Chinese Home.
Some GPS systems locate our place on the wrong side of Wai‘ōma‘o Stream. It’s better to follow the directions below.
Driving into Palolo Valley on 10th Avenue, as you approach the Palolo Chinese Home, turn right on Makanui Place, then turn left on Holomua Place.
Walk to to end of Holomua Place, it’s a cul-de-sac, where you will see a downward sloping driveway at the end of the street. Walk down that driveway and find our house on the far end of the driveway.
It would be ideal to park on 10th Avenue and walk five minutes to our home. If walking is a problem please contact us through the contact form on this site so we can arrange limited parking for you.
Cushions and chairs
- We have a limited supply of meditation cushions. There will be some chairs available, plus two long benches and a couch.
Consideration for our landlord/ neighbor
- As you enter and leave our place, please be aware our landlord lives in the adjacent house, so kindly keep conversations in a low tone.