Bon dance · Holualoa / Kona, Big Island
Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance 2026
Hosted by Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission
Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission follows the Koyasan Shingon tradition, one of 12 member missions under the Koyasan Shingon Mission of Hawaii, an organization established in 1915 whose ministers train and receive certification at Koyasan Kongobuji headquarters in Wakayama, Japan. The mission occupies a historic section of Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa's Kona coffee belt, a corridor shaped by early twentieth-century Japanese immigrant settlement that included daishido (small worship halls) and an 88-shrine pilgrimage walk built along the road between 1910 and 1930.
- Koyasan Shingon Buddhist mission, one of 12 member missions across four Hawaiian islands
- Set along historic Mamalahoa Highway in Holualoa's Kona coffee belt
- Mission ministers trained and certified at Koyasan Kongobuji, Wakayama, Japan
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Good to know
When is Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance?
Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, but the source has not published a time yet.
Where is Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance?
You'll find Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance at Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, 76-5945 Mamalahoa Hwy A, Holualoa, HI 96725 in Holualoa / Kona, Big Island.
Should I confirm Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Koyasan official listing / Kona Hongwanji newsletter; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule. 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; Koyasan official listing / Kona Hongwanji newsletter; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.