Windward Mall Bon Dance 2026

Windward Buddhist Temple — originally established in 1968 as Kailua Hongwanji Mission under the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii's Jodo Shinshu tradition and renamed in 2019 — has co-organized this event with Kāneʻohe Higashi Hongwanji Mission, founded in 1924, since the inaugural indoor edition in October 2019. That year, the two congregations moved their yagura into Windward Mall's air-conditioned Center Court, launching what has become an annual autumn tradition on the Windward side.

The evening opens at 3:45 p.m. with a traditional blessing delivered from the top of the yagura — set up on the Center Court floor — before open dancing begins at 4 p.m. Live music combines taiko drumming, chimes, and flutes with the distinctive sounds of the Okinawan sanshin; past editions have also included an intermission performance by Ryugen Taiko and a shishimai (lion dance). Windward Buddhist Temple's food booth — rooted in Okinawan tradition — serves andagi, nantu mochi, and bitter melon namasu, while Kāneʻohe Higashi Hongwanji offers sekihan and sweet potato manju.