Wāhiawā Ryusenji Soto Mission Bon Dance 2026

Wāhiawā Ryusenji Soto Mission was founded in 1904, its earliest congregation drawn from Japanese plantation workers at the Kawailoa sugar camp on Oahu's North Shore. As the plantation era wound down and the camp closed, the mission relocated to California Avenue in Wahiawā in 1976, where it has continued as one of nine Soto Zen temples in Hawaii serving the local Japanese-American community for more than a century.

The two-night bon dance features Ryugen Taiko performing live both evenings. Temple food booths serve chicken hekka, teriyaki chicken, bento, hamburger curry bowl, chili bowl, S&S saimin, fried noodles, barbecue teri hamburger, shave ice, makizushi, and fresh andagi — with a 'backdoor kitchen' drawing its own dedicated line for chicken hekka, hamburger curry, and chili that typically sells out within an hour of opening. Food purchases are cash only.