Bon dance · Hilo, Big Island · 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home Bon Dance
Hosted by Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home
Hosted on the grounds of Hawaii's first and only state veterans care facility, this bon dance honors the memory of Yukio Okutsu — a Medal of Honor recipient from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team who single-handedly silenced three enemy machine gun emplacements in Italy in April 1945. The facility, which opened in 2008, bears his name as one of Hilo's most celebrated wartime heroes.
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; veterans home official page. Bon dance dates and times can change — confirm with the temple before you go.