Puna Hongwanji Bon Dance 2026

Puna Hongwanji Mission was established in 1902 as Olaa Hongwanji, when a Jodo Shinshu minister was sent to serve Japanese plantation workers in the Puna District. The temple was built on land subleased from the Olaa Sugar Company; the present building dates to 1937, constructed with donations from congregation members. In 1957, the mission was renamed Puna Hongwanji to reflect its ministry to the broader district, and the temple grounds were later donated by the Shipman family, with the deed formally transferred in 1976.

The bon dance evening opens with a Hatsubon service honoring members who passed in the preceding year, followed by a lantern-making workshop and a memorial lantern procession led by the reverend from the temple steps down to the yagura (dance tower) area, accompanied by Puna Taiko drumming. Puna Taiko performs a second set during the dance later in the evening. Temple food concessions in 2024 included smoked meat bowls, chicken hekka, poke bowls, andagi, manapua, spam musubi, tonkatsu burgers, and anpan.