Bringing in the New Year with Mochi

Joseph Gusman gets the pots ready to steam sweet rice for mochi early Sunday morning at the Kona Hongwanji Mission.

Boxes of mochi sit ready for pick up Sunday at the Kona Hongwanji Mission.

Temple members make mochi from sweet rice Sunday morning at the Kona Hongwanji Mission. Mission members made about 1,200 pounds of mochi for the annual Junior Young Buddhist Association fundraiser.

Photos courtesy of LISA CIRIAKO.