Saturday · From 5 PM
Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Hāna Buddhist Temple in Hāna, Maui, From 5 PM.
The Hāna Gakuen Hongwanji Temple traces its origins to 1907, when Reverend Ryogen Teramasa organized the Honpa Hongwanji mission in Hāna to serve the area's Japanese plantation-era community. The current temple building was constructed in 1940 by Japanese immigrant sugar workers. Following the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941, congregants were forced to disperse, the reverend was interned, and the temple closed; the local sugar plantation shut down by the late 1940s, and the bon dance tradition at the temple ceased around 1977 after roughly 40 years of continuous observance. The Hāna Buddhist Temple Preservation Association formed in 2015, completed structural and ornamental restoration, and revived the annual bon dance in September 2017.
The evening opens with a blessing ceremony, followed by food service and a live performance by the Taiko Drummers of Maui. Past editions have drawn more than 500 attendees, making it a significant community gathering in rural Hāna. The dance marks the close of the Maui obon season.
- Hongwanji mission in Hāna founded 1907; temple building completed 1940
- Bon dance revived in 2017 after a ~40-year hiatus
- Features live performance by the Taiko Drummers of Maui
- Closes the 2026 Maui obon season
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Good to know
When is Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance?
Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, From 5 PM.
Where is Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance?
You'll find Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance at Hāna Buddhist Temple, Hāna Buddhist Temple, 1819 Hāna Hwy, Hāna, HI 96713 in Hāna, Maui.
Should I confirm Hāna Buddhist Temple Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Hāna Buddhist Temple Preservation Association; https://mauinow.com/2026/06/05/2026-maui-bon-dance-schedule-annual-buddhist-observance-honors-loved-ones-embraces-gratitude/; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule; https://hanabuddhisttemple.org/. 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: JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Hāna Buddhist Temple Preservation Association; https://mauinow.com/2026/06/05/2026-maui-bon-dance-schedule-annual-buddhist-observance-honors-loved-ones-embraces-gratitude/; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule; https://hanabuddhisttemple.org/. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.