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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 31, 2009

Summer of bon dancing set to kick off

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kenichi Kunichica plays the taiko drum at a Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii Bon Dance in Nu'uanu. The annual O-bon event honors one’s ancestors.

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Participants dance around the yagura at the annual Koboji Shingon Mission bon dance, which will be held July 11 and 12 outside the temple at 1223-B North School St.

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If it's June in Hawai'i — June, July or August, in fact — it's time for O-bon — the season of remembrance of the dead, celebrated in the Buddhist community at temples, shrines and by organizations and families with special services and festivals.

O-bon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during O-bon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world to visit.

In a modern vein, this Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion during which people return to ancestral family places, clean ancestors' graves and visit household altars.

Buddhist services are held at temples and homes for ancestors, relatives and friends who died in the past.

Eager to properly guide the spirits of ancestors on the day, it is customary to light lanterns at houses and temple grounds for bon odori (bon dances). Some such lanterns were formerly very elaborate, specially made for the occasion.

Likewise, usually at the end of the season, candle-lit little boats, holding prayers or inscribed names, in an observance called toro nagashi, light the way to guide the spirits of the departed back to the other world.

The most important feature of the service is the offering of food. Therefore, to the ancestors are offered rice, vegetables, fruits, cakes, sweets and flowers. There are prepared special foods to be served to invited guests and friends.

It is religious day, but also quite a joyful social occasion.

Traditionally, graves are visited and food offerings are made at household altars and temples.

Also called the Feast of Lanterns, it has been celebrated in Japan for hundreds of years and traditionally includes a dance of religious folk nature in origin, known as bon odori.

As O-bon occurs in summer, bon dance participants traditionally wear, though they're not required, yukata, or light cotton kimonos.

Many O-bon celebrations include a carnival with rides, games and food.

Note: Bon dance listings will also be included in our TGIF listings on Fridays.

HONOLULU

  • June 26-27: Honpa Hongwanji, Hawaii Betsuin, 6:30 p.m., 536-7044.

  • July 3-4: Moiliili Community Center/Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 949-1659.

  • July 11: Tendai Mission, 7 p.m.; 595-2556.

  • July 17-18: Shinshu Kyokai Mission, 7:30 p.m.; 973-0150.

  • July 24-25: Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 845-3422.

  • July 24-25: Palolo Higashi Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m., 732-1491.

  • July 31-Aug 1: Higashi Hongwanji Betsuin, 7:30 p.m.; 531-9088.

  • July 31-Aug. 1: Manoa Koganji Temple, 5:30 p.m.; 988-7214.

  • Aug. 7-8: Shingon Mission of Hawaii, 7 p.m., 941-5663.

  • Aug. 14-15: Soto Mission of Hawaii, 7:30 p.m., 537-9409.

  • Aug. 22: Kapahulu Senior Center, 5 p.m., 737-1748.

  • Aug. 29: Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, 6:30 p.m., 595-3517.

    O'AHU

  • June 6: Hawaii's Plantation Village, Waipahu, 6 p.m.; 677-0110.

  • June 20: Ewa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 677-4221.

  • June 26-27: Wahiawa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 622-4320.

  • July 3: Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m., 247-2661.

  • July 10-11: Waipahu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 677-4221.

  • July 11-12: Koboji Shingon Mission, 7 p.m., 841-7033.

  • July 17-18: Haleiwa Shingon Mission, 8 p.m., 637-4423.

  • July 18: Kailua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 262-4560.

  • July 18: Waianae Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 622-4320.

  • July 24-25: Haleiwa Jodo Mission, 7 p.m., 637-4382.

  • July 24-25: Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m., 622-1429.

  • July 25: Kahuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 293-5268.

  • July 31-Aug. 1: Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji, 7 p.m., 671-3103.

  • Aug. 1: Waialua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 625-0925.

  • Aug. 7-8: Pearl City Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 455-1680.

  • Aug. 7-8: Soto Mission of Aiea-Taiheiji, 7:30 p.m., 488-6794.

  • Aug. 21-22: Mililani Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 625-0925.

  • Aug. 29: Aiea Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 488-5685.

    KAUA'I

  • June 5-6: Koloa Jodo Mission, 8 p.m.; 808-742-6735.

  • June 12-13: West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-338-1537.

  • June 19-20: Lihue Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:45p.m., 808-245-6262.

  • July 10-11: Kapaa Jodo Mission, 7:30 p.m.; 808-822-4319.

  • July 17-18: West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-338-1537.

  • July 24-25: Kapaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-822-4667.

  • July 31-Aug. 1: Waimea (Kaua'i) Higashi Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m., 808-338-1847.

  • Aug. 7-8: West Kauai Hongwanji Koloa Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-338-1537.

  • Aug. 14-15: Kauai Soto Zen Temple — Zenshuji, 7:45 p.m., 808-335-3521.

    MAUI

  • June 6: Lahaina Shingon Mission Hokoji Temple, 7:30 p.m.; 808-661-0466.

  • June 13: Puunene Nichiren Mission, 7 p.m., 808-871-4831.

  • June 19: Wailuku Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-244-0066.

  • June 20: Wailuku Shingon Mission, 7 p.m., 808-244-3800.

  • June 26-27: Lahaina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-661-0640.

  • July 3: Lahaina Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-661-4304.

  • July 10-11: Mantokuji Soto Mission, 8 p.m., 808-579-8051

  • July 11: Lanai Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 808-572-7229.

  • July 17-18: Kahului Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 8 p.m., 808-871-4732.

  • July 24-25: Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-572-7229.

  • July 31-Aug.1: Wailuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 8 p.m., 808-244-0406.

  • Aug. 8: Kula Shingon Mission Shofukuji Temple, 7:30 p.m., 808-878-1833.

  • Aug. 15: Kahului Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-871-4911.

    BIG ISLAND

  • June 13: Honomu Henjoji Mission, 8 p.m., 808-963-6308.

  • June 20: Papaikou Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-964-1640.

  • June 27: Honomu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-963-6032.

  • July 3-4: Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-966-9981.

  • July 4: Kohala Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-775-7232.

  • July 10-11: Hilo Meishoin, 8 p.m., 808-935-6996.

  • July 11: Paauilo Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-776-1369.

  • July 11: Kohala Jodo Mission, 8 p.m.; 808-889-6719

  • July 11: Daifukuji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m., 808-322-3524.

  • July 17-18: Honpa Hongwanji, Hilo Betsuin, 7 p.m., 808-961-6677.

  • July 18: Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-775-7232.

  • July 18: Kurtistown Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-966-9777.

  • July 25: Papaaloa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-962-6340.

  • July 25: Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-323-2993.

  • July 25: Hilo Hooganji Mission, 8 p.m., 808-935-8331.

  • Aug. 1: Paauilo Kongoji Mission, 7 p.m., 808-776-1417.

  • Aug. 1: Hawi Jodo Mission, 7 p.m., 808-889-5456.

  • Aug. 1: Taishoji Soto Mission, 7 p.m., 808-935-8407.

  • Aug. 8: Hilo Higashi Hongwanji, 8 p.m., 808-935-8968.

  • Aug. 8: Hamakua Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-775-0965.

  • Aug. 8: Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, 7 p.m., 808-324-1741.

  • Aug. 15: Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-885-4481.

  • Aug. 15: Hakalau Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., 808-963-6110.

  • Aug. 22: Puna Hongwanji Pahoa Shibu, 7 p.m., 808-966-9981.

  • Aug. 29: Honohina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 6 p.m., 808-963-6032.

    MOLOKA'I

  • Aug. 15: Guzeiji Soto Mission of Moloka'i, 6:30 p.m., 808- 553-5197.

    LANA'I

  • July 11: Lanai Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 7 p.m., 808-565-6817.