Saturday · 7 PM – 10 PM
Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, July 18, 2026 at Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission in Haleʻiwa, Oahu, 7 PM – 10 PM.
Founded in 1912 by Rev. Jitsujyo Muroyama, Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission was the first Jodo Mission established on Oʻahu, built to serve the Japanese plantation workers of the North Shore's sugar and rice fields. The mission relocated to its current beachfront grounds in 1913, taking over the former Haleʻiwa Seaside Hotel site. During World War II, the temple's ministers were interned, and in 1946 a tsunami destroyed the on-site Japanese language school and heavily damaged the temple building itself.
The two-night bon dance culminates in a toro nagashi—a floating-lantern ceremony the mission began in 1976—where over a thousand paper lanterns bearing ancestors' names are released directly into the ocean from the temple's rare beachfront site. Hundreds gather each evening for bon dancing, local and ethnic foods, and other Japanese cultural traditions, with the lantern float serving as a way to honor the departed and guide their spirits back to the Pure Land.
- First Jodo Mission established on Oʻahu, founded 1912
- Toro nagashi tradition since 1976; over 1,000 lanterns released into the ocean
- Rare beachfront temple; lanterns float directly out to sea
Plan your weekend on Oahu
While you’re out for Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
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Good to know
When is Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance?
Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, 7 PM – 10 PM.
Where is Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance?
You'll find Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance at Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission, Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission, 66-279A Haleiwa Rd, Haleʻiwa, HI 96712 in Haleʻiwa, Oahu.
Should I confirm Haleʻiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions. Event dates and times can change, so confirm with the host before you go.
About bon dances
Bon dance (bon odori) is the centerpiece of obon, the Japanese Buddhist season honoring ancestors. In Hawaii the tradition arrived with plantation-era immigrants and became its own local institution — most temples across the islands hold a dance on a summer weekend between June and September, and the whole community turns out.
The setup is consistent: a yagura (a raised tower) anchors the temple yard, taiko drummers and singers keep the beat, and dancers move in concentric circles around the tower. You don't need to know the steps or be Buddhist to join — follow the circle, copy the person ahead of you, and you'll pick it up by the second song. Around the edges you'll find food booths selling andagi, plate lunches, shave ice, and saimin, plus craft and game tables.
- No experience needed — step into the circle and follow along.
- Come hungry; the food booths are half the reason people go.
- Bring small cash for food, games, and craft tables.
- Dances run rain or shine and are free to attend.
Sources: Verification source; Verification source; Verification source; Verification source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.