Bon dance · Pearl City, Oahu · 3:45 PM – 9 PM
MegaBon
Hosted by JCI Honolulu / Todaiji Hawaiʻi
Launched in 2023 by JCI Honolulu and Todaiji Hawaiʻi Bekkaku Honzan — a Nuuanu temple affiliated with the historic Todaiji of Nara, Japan — MegaBon has quickly become one of Oʻahu's largest bon dance festivals, drawing thousands each year. Alongside the dancing, it features Japanese carnival games, live entertainment, local food vendors, and a beer garden.
Food & vendors: Yes; official site lists food + beer garden
Parking & access: Free parking stated on 2025 volunteer page; ADA likely on campus
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; MegaBon official; LCC official; volunteer page. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.