Bringing in the New Year with Mochi

Boxes of mochi are ready for pick up Sunday at the Kona Hongwanji Mission. (Photo courtesy Lisa Ciriako)

Joseph Gusman gets the pots ready to steam sweet rice for mochi early Sunday morning at the Kona Hongwanji Mission. (photo courtesy Lisa Ciriako)

Left: Temple members make mochi from sweet rice Sunday morning at the Kona Hongwanji Mission. (Courtesy photos/Lisa Ciriako)

Above: Mochi is dusted and ready for packaging Sunday at the Kona Hongwanji Mission.

Members of Kona Hongwanji Mission made about 1,200 pounds of mochi for the annual Junior Young Buddhist Association fundraiser on Sunday.