Bon dance · Mililani, Oahu
Honbushin International Center Bon Dance 2026
Hosted by Honbushin International Center
Date
What to expect
Honbushin International Center is the Hawaii branch of Honbushin, a Japanese religious organization founded in 1961 by Ōnishi Tama — a Tenrikyo-derived tradition, not a Buddhist temple or mission. The center was established in Mililani in 1984 and has held its annual Odori Festival bon dance since approximately 2015, framing the event as giving gratitude to ancestors and to what one has in the present.
The festival features a multi-group lineup of seven or more dance clubs performing in sequence, including Hawaii Eisa Shinyuukai (Okinawan drumming and dance) alongside standard bon dance groups from across Oahu. A Kids' Mikoshi program invites children to carry a portable shrine during the opening ceremony. An on-site organic farm supplies vegetables and farm-grown produce to the accompanying market and food booth.
Program highlights
- Tenrikyo-derived organization, not a Buddhist temple or mission
- Seven or more dance clubs perform in sequence at the festival
- Kids' Mikoshi carry included in the opening ceremony program
- On-site organic farm supplies produce and drinks to the event
Plan your visit
Food & vendors: Yakisoba, curry with rice, teriyaki burger, inari sushi, mochi brownies, turmeric lemonade, and butterfly pea cooler
Parking & access: Free parking on-site
Plan your weekend on Oahu
While you’re out for Honbushin International Center 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: JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Honbushin official; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule; https://hichawaii.com/odori-festival/. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.