Saturday
Honbushin International Center Bon Dance
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Honbushin International Center Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Honbushin International Center in Mililani, Oahu.
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.
- 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
Food & vendors: Yakisoba, curry with rice, teriyaki burger, inari sushi, mochi brownies, turmeric lemonade, and butterfly pea cooler
Parking & access: Free parking on-site
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Good to know
When is Honbushin International Center Bon Dance?
Honbushin International Center Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026, but the source has not published a time yet.
Where is Honbushin International Center Bon Dance?
You'll find Honbushin International Center Bon Dance at Honbushin International Center, Honbushin International Center, 95-030 Waihonu St, Mililani, HI 96789 in Mililani, Oahu.
Will there be food at Honbushin International Center Bon Dance?
Yakisoba, curry with rice, teriyaki burger, inari sushi, mochi brownies, turmeric lemonade, and butterfly pea cooler
What should I know about parking or access?
Free parking on-site
Should I confirm Honbushin International Center Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Honbushin official; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule; https://hichawaii.com/odori-festival/. 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; Honbushin official; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule; https://hichawaii.com/odori-festival/. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.