Bon dance · Waipahu, Oahu · 7 PM – 10 PM
Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji Obon 2026
Hosted by Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji
What to expect
Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji is one of Hawai’i’s early Soto Zen temples, its origins tied to the Japanese plantation workers who settled in Waipahu in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Formally affiliated with the Soto Mission of Hawaii, the temple has marked obon season for more than a century, gathering descendants of those early laborers to honor their ancestors through prayer and dance.
The two-night festival is anchored by live taiko drumming from the yagura, food booths offering hand-made andagi, and a sumie and shodo (ink painting and calligraphy) exhibition that runs alongside the dancing. A small number of community vendors also attend. Admission is free.
Program highlights
- Plantation-era Soto Zen temple affiliated with the Soto Mission of Hawaii
- Over a century of obon tradition in plantation-era Waipahu
- Live taiko drumming from the yagura both nights
- Sumie and shodo (ink painting and calligraphy) exhibition
Plan your visit
Food & vendors: Hand-made andagi from temple food booths
Parking & access: Limited parking on-site; overflow parking available at Waipahu Christian Church nearby
Plan your weekend on Oahu
While you’re out for Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji Obon, see who else is open — and meet the makers and farmers behind Hawai‘i’s markets.
Farmers markets this weekend
What’s worth a trip this weekend
One email a week: the makers worth seeking out, pop-ups, and Hawai‘i cultural events worth planning around.
Sources: JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; SOTOZEN official. Dates and times can change — confirm with the organizer before you go.