Saturday · 3 PM – 6 PM
Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance is listed for Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Pāhoa YBA Hall / Puna Hongwanji community in Pāhoa, Big Island, 3 PM – 6 PM.
The Pāhoa YBA Hall is a community hall built in 1921 by Pāhoa's Japanese plantation community and is affiliated with Puna Hongwanji Mission, a Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land Shin Buddhism) temple founded in 1902 on land subleased from the Olaa Sugar Company to serve Japanese immigrant workers in the Puna district. The temple belongs to the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and was temporarily closed during World War II when Buddhist ministers were interned in relocation camps.
- Pāhoa YBA Hall built in 1921 by the local Japanese plantation community
- Puna Hongwanji Mission founded 1902, serving Puna district plantation workers
- Jodo Shinshu tradition under the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
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Good to know
When is Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance?
Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, 3 PM – 6 PM.
Where is Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance?
You'll find Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance at Pāhoa YBA Hall / Puna Hongwanji community, Pāhoa YBA Hall, 15-3003 Kauhale St, Pāhoa, HI 96778 in Pāhoa, Big Island.
Should I confirm Pāhoa Kaikan Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Puna Hongwanji Pāhoa branch page; Puna 2026 island schedule; https://punahongwanji.org/2026/05/hawaii-island-bon-dance-schedule-2026/; 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; Puna Hongwanji Pāhoa branch page; Puna 2026 island schedule; https://punahongwanji.org/2026/05/hawaii-island-bon-dance-schedule-2026/; https://www.jcchawaii.org/resources/2026-obon-schedule. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.