Sunao Miyabara, a Honolulu resident who was the most senior vice president of the executive council of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, died Saturday at home. He was 91.

Miyabara was born in 1919 in Pahoa on the Big Island. While serving in World War II as a Japanese language translator, he surveyed the ruins of the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal. He was able to restore Lumbini to a holy pilgrimage site in 1967, his family said.

Miyabara was a founding delegate of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1950.

He was honored with the organization’s Merit Medal for World Peace in 1990 and its Grand Merit Medal for lifetime service in 2000.

He was named honorary vice president for life in 2003.

In 1972 he was appointed honorary consul to Thailand. In 1986 he was recognized as Diplomat of the International Consular Academy.

He retired from Liberty Bank as a senior vice president in 1976, then managed his own import-export business. He was involved in numerous community organizations and served as executive director of the Young Buddhists Association and president of the Hawaii Kiwanis Club.

Miyabara is survived by his wife of 64 years, Chiyoko; daughter Lorayne Kimi Treschuk; son Colin Takumi Miyabara; sister Yurie Hagihara; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Visitation is at 4 p.m.; services, at 5 p.m.