Friday · 6 PM – 9 PM
Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon
Friday, July 10, 2026
Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon is listed for Friday, July 10, 2026 at Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaiʻi in Pearl City, Oahu, 6 PM – 9 PM.
Rissho Kosei-kai is a lay Buddhist organization founded in Japan on March 5, 1938 by Nikkyo Niwano and Myoko Naganuma, rooted in the Lotus Sutra. Hawaii's connection began when Tomoko Ozaki, a Big Island coffee farmer, became the first member initiated outside Japan in 1951. The Pearl City church — one of three Hawaii dharma centers — opened in 1972, when founder Niwano enshrined the Statue of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni on site.
Food booths serve oden, BBQ plates, warabi mochi, ramen, shave ice, musubi, and chow fun across both evenings. Bon dance is led by the Young Okinawans of Hawaii. Visitors may also light a candle and place a name on the altar for ancestral prayer.
- Pearl City church opened in 1972 by RKK founder Niwano
- Two-night bon dance led by Young Okinawans of Hawaii
- Altar candle lighting with named offerings for ancestors
Food & vendors: Oden, BBQ plates, warabi mochi, ramen, shave ice, musubi, and chow fun from temple food booths
Plan your weekend on Oahu
While you’re out for Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon, 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 Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon?
Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon is scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026, 6 PM – 9 PM.
Where is Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon?
You'll find Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon at Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaiʻi, Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaiʻi, 2280 Auhuhu St, Pearl City, HI 96782 in Pearl City, Oahu.
Will there be food at Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon?
Oden, BBQ plates, warabi mochi, ramen, shave ice, musubi, and chow fun from temple food booths
Should I confirm Rissho Kosei-kai Hawaiʻi Kyokai Obon before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; RKK official / global center listing. 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: Verification source; Verification source; Verification source. Dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.