Bon dance · Hanapēpē, Kauai · 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
West Kauai Hongwanji Hanāpēpē Bon Dance
Hosted by West Kauai Hongwanji Mission
A Jodo Shin (Pure Land) Buddhist congregation, the West Kauai Hongwanji Mission formed in 1997 through the consolidation of three west-side temples—Hanapepe, Waimea, and Koloa—to better serve a shrinking but committed community. The Hanapepe congregation itself dates to 1909, when it was established to minister to Japanese plantation workers in ʻEleʻele, Port Allen, and surrounding areas.
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.
Source: JCCH 2026 statewide schedule; Kauai Buddhist Council; HHMH locator. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.