Saturday
Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Lānaʻi Hongwanji Mission in Lānaʻi City, Lanai.
The Lānaʻi Hongwanji Mission traces its roots to 1923, when Rev. Yoshio Hino arrived to minister to Japanese pineapple plantation laborers after James Dole began acquiring the island. Volunteers from the Japanese community erected a two-story Buddhist temple, language school, and minister's residence on the town square in 1925. Affiliated with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i and following Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhist) teachings, the temple closed after the attack on Pearl Harbor when its resident minister was imprisoned in the Lānaʻi City Jail; in 1946, Rev. Tadao Kouchi returned and reestablished the mission in a converted plantation house at the edge of town. The mission marked its centennial in 2025.
- Founded 1925 by Lānaʻi's Japanese plantation-era community
- Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhist) mission under Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i
- Dance-only evening; bon service held separately on Friday, August 28
- Mission celebrated its centennial in 2025
Plan your weekend on Lanai
While you’re out for Lānaʻi Hongwanji 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 Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance?
Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, but the source has not published a time yet.
Where is Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance?
You'll find Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance at Lānaʻi Hongwanji Mission, Lānaʻi Hongwanji Mission, 1364 Fraser Ave, Lānaʻi City, HI 96763 in Lānaʻi City, Lanai.
Should I confirm Lānaʻi Hongwanji Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; HHMH temple locator; 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; HHMH temple locator; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.