Bon dance · Hilo, Big Island · 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hilo Hooganji Mission Bon Dance
Hosted by Hilo Hooganji Mission
Hilo Hooganji is a Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 1908 by Rev. Hogen Yojiri and fisherman Shikozo Nishimura to serve Waiakea's Japanese immigrant community. The temple relocated to Manono Street in 1918, and its early records were lost during World War II — history since reconstructed from community memory. Its bon dance is one of the older Obon traditions on the Big Island.
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; Hilo Hooganji official directions/contact. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.