HONOLULU—Nestled in the lush Nuuanu Valley on the island of Oahu, Nuuanu Chapter stretches from the forested hills above Honolulu to the neighborhoods surrounding the SGI-USA Hawaii Culture Center, a longtime hub of SGI activities in Hawaii. While many families have called the valley home for decades, a new generation of residents is creating fresh opportunities to introduce Buddhism and foster lasting friendships. Since the early days of the Soka Gakkai in Hawaii, generations of pioneer members have planted seeds of friendship by introducing countless people to Buddhism throughout Nuuanu Valley. Their sincere dialogues and steadfast encouragement built a supportive Soka community where friendships extend beyond meetings and members continue to support one another. For David DeMotto, Nuuanu Valley District men’s leader, that meant simply sharing his heart with a young man he sensed was struggling.