Hawaii's Summer Obon Dance Festivals

In remembrance of honoring the spirit of those passed on. The Obon Dance Festivals are held every weekend at various Buddist Temples around each island.

Here are the schedules for 2009 Obon Dance Festivals in Hawaii courtesy of the Hawaii Herald. Most temples will have services prior to the bon dance (bon odori). Times and locations are subject to change, call for more information. 

2009 Bon Dance Schedule

KAUA‘I

June 5-6 (Fri./Sat.): Koloa Jodo Mission, 7 p.m; O-Bon service on Sunday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m. (742-6735)

June 12-13 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple, 7:30 p.m. O-bon service on Saturday, June 13 at 4 p.m. (338-1537)

June 19-20 (Fri./Sat.): Lihue Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:45 p.m.; Hatsu-Bon and O-Bon service on Sunday, June 14 at 9 a.m. (245-6262)

June 26-27 (Fri./Sat.): Waimea Shingon Mission, 8-11 p.m. (338-1847)

July 10-11 (Fri./Sat.): Kapaa Jodo Mission, 7:30 p.m. (822-4319)

July 17-18 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple, 7:30 p.m.; O-bon service on Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m. (338-1537)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Kapaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6:30 p.m. (822-4667)

July 31-Aug. 1 (Fri./Sat.): Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, following 6:30 p.m. service (338-1847)

Aug. 7-8 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Koloa Temple, 7:30 p.m.; O-bon service on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. (338-1537)

Aug. 14-15 (Fri./Sat.): Kauai Soto Zenshuji, 6 p.m. service, bon dance at 7:30 p.m. (335-3521)

O‘AHU

June 6 (Sat.): Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, 6-10 p.m. (677-0110)

June 20 (Sat.): Ewa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (677-4221)

June 26-27 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m. O-bon service on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.; Hatsubon service by invitation only on Saturday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. (622-4320)

June 26-27 (Fri./Sat.): Honpa Hongwanji
Hawaii Betsuin, following 6 p.m. service; Also featured are a Bon Boutique (“things Oriental”), Bon Dance portrait taking, food booths and snacks. Practice sessions on June 22-24 at 7:30 p.m. (536-7044)

July 3 (Fri.): Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. (247-2661)

July 3-4 (Fri./Sat.): Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 7:15 p.m. service (949-1659)

July 10-11 (Fri./Sat.): Koboji Shingon Mission, 7-10:30 p.m. (841-7033)

July 10-11 (Fri./Sat.): Waipahu Hongwanji
Buddhist Temple, following 6:30 p.m. service (677-4221)

July 11 (Sat.): Tendai Hawaii Betsuin, following 7 p.m. service (595-2556)

July 17-18 (Fri./Sat.): Haleiwa Shingon Mission, 8-11 p.m.; 6:30 service; rehearsal: Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. (637-4423)

July 17-18 (Fri./Sat.) Shinshu Kyokai Mission, 7-10 p.m.; O-Bon service on Sunday, July 5 at 9 a.m. (973-0150)

July 18 (Sat.): Kailua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m.; Hatsu-Bon service on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. (262-4560)

July 18 (Sat.): Waianae Hongwanji, following 6 p.m. service (677-4221)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m.; O-Bon service on Sunday, July 5 at 9 a.m. (845-3422)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Palolo Hongwanji, following 7 p.m. service (732-1491)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Haleiwa Jodo Mission, 6:30 p.m. service; 8 p.m. bon dance; Sat. only: Toro Nagashi at 9 p.m. (637-4382)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m.; 7 and 8:30 p.m. taiko performances by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko; Sat. only at 9 p.m. Okinawan bon dance by Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai; Practice sessions July 6 , 9, 13 , 16 , 20  and 22 from 7-9 p.m.; O-Bon service on Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m., Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. (622-1429)

July 25 (Sat.): Kahuku Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m.
** This will be the final bon dance held at the temple. (622-4320)

July 31-Aug. 1 (Fri./Sat.): Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, following 7 p.m. service (531-9088)

July 31-Aug. 1 (Fri./Sat.): Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji, 7 p.m.; O-Bon service on Saturday, July 25  and Sunday, July 26 at 9 a.m., Monday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 29 at 7 p.m. (671-3103)

Aug. 1 (Sat.): Waialua Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. (625-0925)

Aug. 7-8 (Fri./Sat.): Pearl City Hongwanji, Hatsu-Bon 6:15 p.m.; bon dance starts at 7:30 p.m. (455-1680)

Aug. 7-8 (Fri./Sat.): Shingon Shu Hawaii, 7 p.m., following 6:30 p.m. service; O-Bon Hoyo on Sunday, July 26 at 9 a.m. (941-5663)

Aug. 7-8 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Aiea – Taiheiji, 7-10:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. taiko performance by Somei Taiko; Sat. at 9 p.m.: Okinawan bon dance by Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai (488-6794)
O-bon services will be held on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21 at 10 a.m. and Monday, June 22 at 7 p.m.

Aug. 14-15 (Fri./Sat.): Jodo Mission of Hawaii, following 7:15p.m. service (949-3995)

Aug. 14-15 (Fri./Sat.): Mililani Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. (625-0925)

Aug. 14-15 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Hawaii – Shoboji, Friday following 7:15 p.m. service; Fri. only: 8:30 p.m. taiko performance by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko Saturday, bon dance starts at 7:30 p.m.; Okinawan bon dance by Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai at 8:30 p.m. (537-9409)

Aug. 29 (Sat.): Aiea Hongwanji, following 6:30 p.m. service (488-5685)

Sept. 5 (Sat.): Okinawan Festival, 6 p.m. at Kapi‘olani Park (676-5400)

Sept. 19 (Sat.): Autumn Dance at Hawaii Okinawa Center, 6 p.m.; food booths open at 5 p.m. (676-5400)

** Not confirmed
Manoa Koganji (988-7214)

MAUI/LANA‘I/MOLOKA‘I

June 6 (Sat.): Lahaina Shingon Mission, following 6:30 p.m. service (661-0466)

June 13 (Sat.): Puunene Nichiren Mission, following 7 p.m. service (871-4831)

June 19 (Fri.): Wailuku Jodo Mission, following 7 p.m. service (244-0066)

June 20 (Sat.): Wailuku Shingon Mission, 6:30 p.m. service; 7-11 p.m. bon dance (242-5618)

June 26-27 (Fri./Sat.): Lahaina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (661-0640)

July 3 (Fri.): Lahaina Jodo Mission, O-bon service at 7 p.m.; toro nagashi at 8 p.m.; bon dance to follow (661-4304)

July 10-11 (Fri./Sat.): Paia Mantokuji Soto Mission, O-bon service at 6 p.m.; taiko performance at 7:15 p.m. Friday: Mantokuji Taiko and Maui Taiko; Saturday: Mantokuji Taiko and Zenshin Daiko; bon dance starts at 8 p.m. (579-8051)

July 11 (Sat.): Lanai Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 5 p.m. service (572-7229)

July 17-18 (Fri./Sat.): Kahului Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 7 p.m. service (871-4732)

July 24-25 (Fri./Sat.): Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6:30 p.m. service (572-7229)

July 31-Aug. 1 (Fri./Sat.): Wailuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 7 p.m. service (244-0066)

Aug. 8 (Sat.): Kula Shingon Mission, 7:30-11 p.m. (878-1833)

Aug. 8 (Sat.): Kula Shofukuji Mission, 7:30 p.m., following 6:30 p.m. service (661-0466)

Aug. 21-22 (Fri./Sat.): Guzeiji Soto Mission of Molokai, 6:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. taiko performance by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko (553-5197)

Aug. 22 (Sat.): Paia Rinzai Zen Mission, following 6 p.m. service (579-9921)

** Not confirmed
Kahului Jodo Mission (871-4911)

BIG ISLAND

June 13 (Sat.): Honomu Henjoji Mission, 8-11 p.m. (963-6308)

June 20 (Sat): Keauhou Shopping Center (Kona Hongwanji),  6 p.m. (323-2993)

June 20 (Sat.): Papaikou Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (964-1640)

June 27 (Sat.): Honomu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (963-6032)

July 3-4 (Fri./Sat.) Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (966-9981)

July 4 (Sat.): Keei Hongwanji Fukyojo (Kona Hongwanji), Cemetery service at 5 p.m.; O-bon service at 6 p.m. and bon dance to follow. (323-2993)

July 4 (Sat.): Kohala Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (775-7232)

July 10-11 (Fri./Sat.): Hilo Meisho-in, 8 p.m.; O-bon service on Friday at 7 p.m.; O-bon service also on Sunday, July 12 at 10 a.m. (935-6996)

July 11 (Sat.): Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m.; O-Bon service on Sunday, June 28 at 10 a.m. (322-3524)

July 11 (Sat.): Paauilo Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (776-1369)

July 17-18 (Fri./Sat.): Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, following 7 p.m. service (961-6677)

July 18 (Sat.): Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (775-7232)

July 18 (Sat.): Kurtistown Jodo Mission, following 7 p.m. service (966-9777)

July 25 (Sat.): Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Lantern parade begins at 6:30 p.m.; O-bon service at 7 p.m. and bon dance to follow. Hatsubon service is on Sunday, July 26 at 9 a.m. (323-2993)

July 25 (Sat.): Hilo Hooganji Mission, 8-11 p.m.; O-bon service at 6:30 p.m. (935-8331)

July 25 (Sat.): Papaaloa Hongwanji, following 6 p.m. service (962-6340)

Aug. 1: (Sat.): Paauilo Kongoji Mission, 7-9:30 p.m. (776-1417)

Aug. 1 (Sat.): Hilo Taishoji Soto Mission, following 7 p.m. service. Taishoji Taiko will perform at 9 p.m.; Toro Nagashi on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wailoa River (935-8407)

Aug. 8 (Sat.): Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, 7-9:30 p.m. (324-1741)

Aug. 8 (Sat.): Hilo Higashi Hongwanji, following 7 p.m. service (935-8968)

Aug. 15 (Sat.): Hakalau Jodo Mission, following 7 p.m. service (966-9777)

Aug. 15 (Sat.): Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (885-4481)

Aug. 22 (Sat.): Puna Hongwanji Pahoa Shibu, following 7 p.m. service (966-9981)

Aug. 29 (Sat.): Honohina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, following 6 p.m. service (963-6032)

** We could not confirm with the following temples. Please call them for the bon dance schedule.

Hamakua Jodo Mission (889-5456)
Hawi Jodo Mission (889-5456)
Kohala Jodo Mission (889-5456)