Bon dance · Hilo, Big Island · 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hilo Hooganji Mission Bon Dance 2026
Hosted by Hilo Hooganji Mission
Date
What to expect
Hilo Hooganji Mission is a Shingon Buddhist temple established April 20, 1908 by Rev. Hogen Yujiri and fishermen from Yamaguchi-ken who had settled in the Waiakea district. The mission's name traces to its founder's honorific title, "Hogen," which over the years became "Hooganji." After relocating to its Manono Street home in 1918, the temple lost its early printed records during World War II; pre-war history has been reconstructed from community memory. Following a 1997 reorganization of Hawaii's Shingon network, the Hilo mission became the administrative headquarters for the remaining thirteen Shingon Buddhist temples in the state, with the Bishop and district offices based on-site.
The Saturday evening opens with an Obon memorial service, followed by bon dancing — a sequence the temple has maintained consistently across seasons.
Program highlights
- Shingon Buddhist headquarters for 13 Hawaii temples; Bishop offices on-site
- Founded 1908 by Rev. Hogen Yujiri and Yamaguchi-ken fishermen of Waiakea
- Evening structured as Obon memorial service followed by bon dancing
Plan your weekend on Big Island
While you’re out for Hilo Hooganji Mission Bon Dance, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
Farmers markets this weekend
What’s worth a trip this weekend
One email a week: the makers worth seeking out, pop-ups, and Hawai‘i cultural events worth planning around.
Sources: Verification source; Verification source; Verification source; Verification source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.