Posted on: Friday, July 9, 2004

Join the circle in honor of ancestors at bon dance

Left: Dancers make their way around the yagura (tower-like stage platform, where drummers and musicians perform) at the bon dance last week at the Moiliili Community Center. Japanese temples host bon dances to honor the spirits of family members who have died. Right: Megan Kaneshiro, 3, is refreshed with shave ice at the bon dance. Photos by Andrew Shimabuku • The Honolulu Advertiser

Advertiser Staff

Lighted paper lanterns, or chochin, are hung to help guide spirits back to their family and friends.

Masako Lee, right, helps her daughter Eleanor Yukino Lee, 3 1/2, with her obi (sash) at the bon dance at Moiliili Community Center.

We're in the middle of bon dance season, when Japanese temples big and small host tributes to the ancestors through music and dance.

The traditional rites are open to the community, so even if you don't know the dance movements, feel free to join in and follow the veterans next to you. It's always a grand and colorful spectacle, and there are food booths, too, to give you energy to keep on dancing.

Here's a list of this weekend's events on O'ahu (also see calendar for Neighbor Island events):

• Koboji Shingon Mission, 7 p.m. today and Saturday, 1223-B N. School St. 841-7033.

Admission is free to all events.