The Rev. Chikai Yosemori, the 14th bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, who was instrumental in founding the first Buddhist high school in the U.S., died April 13. He was 84.

As bishop of the state’s largest Buddhist sect during his 42 years of ministry, Yosemori was deeply committed to the creation of the Pacific Buddhist Academy, now 13 years old and attended by one of his granddaughters, according to a news release from the Honpa Hongwanji headquarters.

“Yosemori’s dream was to develop graduates who had the courage to nurture peace and the ability to recognize the uniqueness of every person, culture, country, and religion,” the release said. He was once quoted as saying, “We try to convey who is Buddha by the way we live.”

Yosemori and his family belonged tothe Waipahu Hongwanji Mission but moved to Japan when he was 4. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, the Rev. Chiro Yosemori, after learning about the history of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and of the Okinawan immigrant experience. He received a master’s degree in Shin Buddhism from Ryukoku University in Kyoto and was ordained as a Jodo Shinshu minister by Nishi Hongwanji in 1961.

In 1964 Yosemori and his wife, Chihoko, left Kyoto for the sugar plantation fields of Maui for his first assignment at Paia Hongwanji Mission. Its dwindling membership was made up mostly of first-generation issei immigrants who faced eviction from their homes due to the closure of the plantation. The temple also was badly deteriorating, and there were no plans for its future.

Because of his profound respect and gratitude for the sacrifice of the issei pioneers to make life easier for those of his generation, Yosemori and his congregation painstakingly raised the funds to “literally build their temple piece by piece with their own hands,” the release said. The temple was completed in 1971 and is now known as Makawao Hongwanji.

In 1981 Yosemori was assigned to Jikoen Hongwanji Mission, which was founded by his father. The Kalihi temple was a spiritual and cultural gathering place for the Okinawan community. Several years after his arrival, Jikoen was able to survive a critical financial challenge with the support of other Hongwanji temples and through 64 fundraising projects by its elderly congregation. Yosemori even gave up his salary and said that it was his members who instilled hope in all to persevere, the release said.

In 1996 Yosemori was the first bishop of Okinawan ancestry to be selected by the Honpa Hongwanji. He retired in 2007 after 42 years of bridging and building communities, the release said.

Yosemori is survived by wife Chihoko, daughter JoAnn, son Eric, sister Sonoko Ikeda and granddaughters Kayla Yosemori and Sydnie Ito.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. April 30 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway. Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m.