Rev. Blayne Higa was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii and is a graduate of Waiakea High School.

He holds a Master of Divinity from the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, California with

a focus on Shin Buddhist ministry and chaplaincy. He previously served as Assisting Minister of

the Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and as Assistant Chaplain for the Pacific Buddhist

Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Before entering the ministry, he spent over 17 years working in state government and non-

profit fundraising. He received a Master of Public Administration as well as a Certificate in

Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He received his Bachelor

of Arts from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

He is the Co-Chair of the Committee on Social Concerns for the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of

Hawaii. A past President of the Moiliili Hongwanji Board of Directors and former First Vice

President of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. He also previously served on the Advisory

Council for Project Dana and on the Board of The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii.

Rev. Blayne received Tokudo ordination in 2012 and Kyoshi certification in 2018 from the Jodo

Shinshu Hongwanji-ha.