# 5257-58 - 2018 Priority and Express Mail Set of 2

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US #5257 – Byodo-In Temple

2018 $6.70 Priority Mail

Byodo-In Temple was built to honor the centenary of the first Japanese immigrants to settle in Hawaii.  The temple was dedicated in August 1968 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.

Byodo-In Temple is part of Hawaii’s Valley of the Temples Memorial Park and is a smaller scale concrete version of the wooden Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Japan.  The original temple is over 900 years old and was once a Buddhist monastery.  Both temples are beautiful sights to behold, but the Ko’olau Mountains make Hawaii’s replica temple appear even more stunning.   

Byodo-In Temple is a place of tranquility and natural wonders.  The grounds include a reflecting pool, lush gardens, meditation sites, and waterfalls.  Koi ponds, wild peacocks, and black swans can also be found on the grounds.  Inside the temple’s main hall is a nine-foot gold-covered statue of the Amida Buddha, carved by famed Japanese artist Masuzo Inui.  This icon is said to be the largest of its kind outside Japan.  On the roof of the temple are two phoenix statues, called Ho-o, that are said to be bringers of good luck.

Byodo-In Temple welcomes visitors from around the world with many different religious and spiritual views.  It is a reminder of the way Hawaii welcomed its first Japanese immigrants over 100 years ago.

US #5258 – Sleeping Bear Dunes

2018 $24.70 Priority Mail Express

A long the northwest coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the Sleeping Bear Dunes are a place of ancient lore and beautiful views.

The legend of the Sleeping Bear Dunes comes from the Chippewa people.  In their tale, a giant fire raged on the western shore of Lake Michigan.  To escape the blaze, a mother bear and her two cubs jumped into the lake and began to swim to safety on the opposite shore. 

The swim was too much for the cubs, who became tired and drowned.  The mother bear reached the shore and waited on the bluffs, but her cubs never arrived.  The Great Spirit was impressed by the mother bear’s faith and created two islands (North and South Manitou Islands) to honor the cubs.  Over time, wind covered the mother in sand, where she still waits for her cubs.

Established as a National Lakeshore in 1970, Sleeping Bear Dunes has been called one of the best-kept secrets in the US.  The 50,000 acres of land is home to 64 miles of beaches, two islands, and 26 inland lakes.  Over 1.5 million people visit Sleeping Bear Dunes annually for year-round activities including hiking, fishing, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing. 

Good Morning America named Sleeping Bear Dunes America’s most beautiful place in 2011, helping the area become a popular national tourist attraction.