Friday · 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance
Friday, June 12, 2026
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance is listed for Friday, June 12, 2026 at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji in Waimea, Kauai, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM.
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji traces its origins to 1899, when Rev. Kenryu Yamada arrived on Kauai to share the Nembutsu teaching with the island's early Japanese plantation workers. His successor, Rev. Sueto Sato, worked with the lay community to construct a temple in Waimea. The mission belongs to the Higashi Honganji branch of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism.
The two-night bon dance draws crowds that overflow the temple's compact grounds along Kaumualii Highway. Live taiko anchors each evening — in 2026, Taiko Kauai performs on Friday and Tsunami Taiko on Saturday — followed by the community bon dancing circle. A food booth and mini country store open in the early evening each night, offering dinner plates alongside andagi, saimin, and a range of local island staples.
- Founded 1899 during Kauai's plantation era
- Two-night bon dance with live taiko each evening
- Crowds overflow the compact temple grounds
- Food booth and country store open nightly alongside bon dancing
Food & vendors: Nishime and dioja dinner plates (Friday), roast pork and akule dinner plates (Saturday); also andagi, flying saucer, pronto pup, inari and maki sushi, spam musubi, gandule rice, and saimin from temple food booths
Parking & access: Parking available at the Old Waimea Sugar Mill and across the highway at the West Kauai Technology and Visitors Center
Plan your weekend on Kauai
While you’re out for Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance, 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 Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance?
Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance is scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2026, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM.
Where is Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance?
You'll find Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, 9554 Kaumualii Hwy, Waimea, HI 96796 in Waimea, Kauai.
Will there be food at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance?
Nishime and dioja dinner plates (Friday), roast pork and akule dinner plates (Saturday); also andagi, flying saucer, pronto pup, inari and maki sushi, spam musubi, gandule rice, and saimin from temple food booths
What should I know about parking or access?
Parking available at the Old Waimea Sugar Mill and across the highway at the West Kauai Technology and Visitors Center
Should I confirm Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance before going?
Yes. Our listing is based on JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Kauai Buddhist Council; Higashi temple directory. 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.