Bon dance · Honokaa, Big Island · From 7 PM
Honokāʻa Hongwanji Bon Dance
Hosted by Honokaa Hongwanji Mission
Founded in 1904 to serve Japanese sugar-cane workers across the Hāmākua district, Honoka'a Hongwanji is a Jodo Shinshu temple listed on the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation registry. The evening begins with a Community Memorial Service in the social hall — anyone may submit names of loved ones and offer incense — before the outdoor bon dance circle starts to live taiko performed by Hilo's Taishoji Taiko group.
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; HHMH temple locator. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.