Bon dance · Kealakekua, Big Island · From 6 PM
Kona Hongwanji Bon Dance
Hosted by Kona Hongwanji Mission
Kona Hongwanji Mission has roots in the South Kona coffee-farming community: the temple was founded in 1897 in Hookena to serve newly arrived Japanese plantation workers, then relocated to its current Kealakekua site in 1906–07. A Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist temple affiliated with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, it celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2022 with a milestone bon dance.
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.