Saturday · 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji in Hanapēpē, Kauai, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM.
Zenshuji traces its roots to 1903, when Japanese plantation laborers at McBryde Sugar Company's Wahiawa Camp established Kauai's first — and still only — Soto Zen temple. The annual Obon celebration has anchored Hanapēpē's Japanese American community for over five generations, drawing hundreds of chōchin lanterns strung across the temple grounds alongside taiko drumming, kimono-clad dancers, and traditional festival foods.
The two-night celebration is known for its flying saucers — the fried doughnut pastry that Hanapēpē bills as its own origin — alongside shoyu chicken, nishime, plate lunch, saimin, mochi, and manju from temple food booths. Hundreds of chōchin lanterns illuminate the grounds each year, many bearing the names of loved ones through the temple's Chochin Project, which invites anyone to sponsor a $25 lantern in memory or in honor of someone. Weekly bon dance practice sessions at Hanapepe Recreational Center on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. welcome newcomers before the festival.
- Temple founded 1903 by McBryde Sugar plantation laborers
- Two-night dance, 7:30–10:30 p.m. each evening
- Chochin Project: sponsor a $25 lantern honoring a loved one
- Hanapēpē billed as the 'Original Home of the Flying Saucer'
Food & vendors: Flying saucers, shoyu chicken, nishime, plate lunch, saimin, mochi, and manju from temple food booths
Parking & access: Parking volunteers direct traffic on-site from 3:00–7:30 p.m. both evenings
Plan your weekend on Kauai
While you’re out for Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
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Good to know
When is Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance?
Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM.
Where is Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance?
You'll find Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance at Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, 1-3500 Kaumualii Hwy, Hanapēpē, HI 96716 in Hanapēpē, Kauai.
Will there be food at Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance?
Flying saucers, shoyu chicken, nishime, plate lunch, saimin, mochi, and manju from temple food booths
What should I know about parking or access?
Parking volunteers direct traffic on-site from 3:00–7:30 p.m. both evenings
Should I confirm Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Kauai Buddhist Council; SOTOZEN official. 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: Verification source; Verification source; Verification source; Verification source; Verification source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.