Bon dance · Hilo, Big Island
Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Bon Dance 2026
Hosted by Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin
- When
- Jul 11, 20267 PM – 10 PM
- Where
- Hilo, Big IslandGet directions
- Host
- Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin
Sources
Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go. Historical dates reflect advertised schedules; a past date alone does not confirm the event took place.
Date
- Saturday, July 11, 2026, 7 PM – 10 PM
What to expect
Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin holds the distinction of being the first Japanese Buddhist temple established in Hawaiʻi — Rev. Soryu Kagahi founded it in April 1889 to serve Japanese plantation workers then settling in Hilo. A Jōdo Shinshū (Pure Land) sect temple, the congregation moved to its present home in 1926, a building designed by architect Charles Kohara with an eclectic blend of Spanish Baroque, Indian, and Japanese architectural elements.
Its summer bon dance brings taiko drummers and food booths to the temple grounds, with dancers circling the central yagura as part of the annual obon tradition of honoring ancestors.
Program highlights
- First Japanese Buddhist temple in Hawaiʻi, founded April 1889 by Rev. Soryu Kagahi
- Part of the Big Island's annual obon season, listed on the 2026 JCCH statewide schedule
Farmers markets this weekend
Plan your weekend on Big Island
While you’re out for Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Bon Dance, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
What’s worth a trip this weekend
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