The Byodo-In Temple, situated in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, on the windward side of the island of O'ahu, was built in 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. The Byodo-In was built entirely without nails. It is a scale replica of a temple in Uji, Japan, that was built over 900 years ago. The temple buildings represent the mythical Phoenix its wings upheld by stone pillars - The phoenix of folklore rises from the ashes to reflect the promise of hope and renewal. Two Phoenix sculptures are on the roof of the temple main hall. In the main hall of the temple is the 18 foot tall golden Amida Nyorai Buddha, thought to be the largest Buddha carved since ancient times.