Bon dance · Hilo, Big Island · 7 PM – 9:30 PM
Hilo Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance
Hosted by Hilo Higashi Hongwanji Mission
Founded in 1928 as a Jōdo Shinshū congregation (Higashi Honganji branch), the temple was rebuilt at its current site after the 1960 Chilean tsunami destroyed its original home in Waiakea Town. The evening opens with a Hatsu Bon service honoring members who passed in the past year, then shifts to community bon dancing. The concession stand — known to sell out early — features andagi, saimin, and hot dogs.
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.
Source: JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Higashi official directory. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.