The Hawaii Herald

In a few short weeks, the Buddhist O-bon season will be upon us once again. In the Buddhist tradition, the summer months of O-bon are the time of the year when the spirits of departed loved ones return to visit their families and friends, sharing in the fellowship and enjoying the lively music, festive dances and colorful chöchin paper lanterns that can be found at bon dances and cemeteries.

Throughout Hawai‘i, bon dances are scheduled from the first Saturday in June (June 7) until the last Saturday in August. The final bon dance opportunity is the Sept. 20 Autumn Dance Matsuri at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Certain Jodo Mission temples will also hold toro nagashi ceremonies, sending lighted paper lanterns out to sea and back to the spirit world. So, get out your yukata (summer cotton kimono) or hapi coat and welcome home the spirits this bon dance season.

The Hawaii Herald called each of the temples on this list to confirm these dates and gather additional information regarding o-bon services and toro nagashi ceremoies. Please note that the times are subject to change.

BIG ISLAND

June 14 (Sat.): Honomu Henjoji Mission, 7:45 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (963-6308 )

June 21 (Sat.): Keauhou Shopping Center (Kona Hongwanji), 6 p.m. (323-2993)

June 21 (Sat.): Papaikou Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (964-1640)

June 28 (Sat.): Honomu Hongwanji, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (963-6032)

July 4 & 5 (Fri./Sat.) Puna Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (966-9981)

July 5 (Sat.): Keei Temple (Kona Hongwanji), 7 p.m. bon dance (323-2993)

July 5 (Sat.): Kohala Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (775-7232)

July 11 & 12 (Fri./Sat.): Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (961-6677)

July 12 (Sat.): Paauilo Hongwanji, 6 p.m. bon dance (776-1369)

July 12 (Sat.): Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance, 9 p.m. performance by Daifukuji Taiko (322-3524)

July 12 (Sat.): Kohala Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (889-5456)

July 18 & 19 (Fri./Sat.): Hilo Meisho-in, both nights: bon dance at 7 p.m., Saturday service at 7 p.m. (935-6996)

July 19 (Sat.): Honokaa Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (775-7232)

July 26 (Sat.): Papaaloa Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (962-6340)

July 26 (Sat.): Kona Hongwanji, 6 p.m. lantern parade, 7 p.m. bon dance (323-2993)

July 26 (Sat.): Hilo Hooganji Mission, 6 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (935-8331)

July 26 (Sat.): Kurtistown Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (966-9777)

Aug. 2: (Sat.): Paauilo Kongoji Mission, 4:30 p.m. cemetery visitation, 5 p.m. temple service, 7 p.m. bon dance (776-1474)

Aug. 2 (Sat.): Hilo Taishoji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance, 9 p.m. performance by Taishoji Taiko (935-8407)

Aug. 2 (Sat.): Hawi Jodo Mission, 8 p.m. bon dance (889-5456)

Aug. 9 (Sat.): Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, 5 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (324-1741)

Aug. 9 (Sat.): Hamakua Jodo Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (889-5456)

Aug. 9 (Sat.): Hilo Higashi Hongwanji, 8 p.m. bon dance (935-8968 )

Aug. 16 (Sat.): Kamuela Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance, (885-4481)

Aug. 23 (Sat.): Honohina Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (963-6032)

Aug. 23 (Sat.): Puna Hongwanji Pahoa Shibu, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (966-9981)

Aug. 30 (Sat.): Hakalau Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (966-9777)

KAUA‘I

June 6 & 7 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (338-1537)

June 13 & 14 (Fri./Sat.): Lihue Hongwanji, 7:45 p.m. bon dance (245-6262)

June 20 & 21 (Fri./Sat.): Waimea Shingon Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (338-1854)

June 27 & 28 (Fri./Sat.): Kapaa Jodo Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance; o-bon service on June 22 at 10 a.m., toro nagashi on the Wailua River on July 13, 7:30 p.m. (822-4319)

July 4 & 5 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (338-1537)

July 11 & 12 (Fri./Sat.): Kapaa Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. bon dance; service to precede bon dance on Friday (822-4667)

July 18 & 19 (Fri./Sat.): Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, 7 p.m. service on Friday, 7:30 p.m. service on Saturday; 8 p.m. bon dance (338-1847)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): West Kauai Hongwanji Koloa Temple, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (338-1537)

Aug. 1 & 2 (Fri./Sat.): Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, 7 p.m. bon dance (335-3521)

Aug. 8 & 9 (Fri./Sat.): Koloa Jodo Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (Aug. 3 service at 10 a.m.; Aug. 17 toro nagashi at 7:30 p.m. at Kukui‘ula Boat Harbor) (742-6735)

MAUI/LANA‘I/MOLOKA‘I

June 7 (Sat.): Lahaina Shingon Mission, 6:30 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (661-0466)

June 14 (Sat.): Puunene Nichiren Mission, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (871-4831)

June 20 (Fri.): Wailuku Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (244-0066)

June 21 (Sat.): Wailuku Shingon Mission, 6:30 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (244-3800)

June 27 & 28 (Fri./Sat.): Lahaina Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (661-4600)

July 5 (Sat.): Lahaina Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. toro nagashi, followed by bon dance (661-4304)

July 11 & 12 (Fri./Sat.): Paia Mantokuji Soto Mission, 6 p.m. service; 7:15 p.m. performances by Mantokuji Taiko and Maui Taiko on Friday, Mantokuji Taiko and Denshin Daiko on Saturday; 8 p.m. bon dance (579-8051)

July 12 (Sat.): Guzeiji Soto Mission of Molokai, 5:30 p.m. performance by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko, 6:30 p.m. bon dance (553-5197)

July 12 (Sat.): Lanai Hongwanji, 7 p.m. bon dance (244-0406)

July 18 & 19 (Fri./Sat.): Kahului Hongwanji, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (871-4732)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): Makawao Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (572-7229)

Aug. 1 & 2 (Fri./Sat.): Wailuku Hongwanji, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (244-0406)

Aug. 8 & 9 (Fri./Sat.): Kahului Jodo Mission, 7 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (871-4911)

Aug. 16 (Sat.): Paia Rinzai Zen Mission, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (579-9921)

Aug. 23 (Sat.): Kula Shingon Mission Shofukuji, 6:30 service, 7:30 bon dance (878-1833)

O‘AHU

June 7 (Sat.): Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, 4 p.m. Buddhist service, 6 p.m. bon dance (677-0110)

June 21 (Sat.): Ewa Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (677-4221)

June 27 & 28 (Fri./Sat.): Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 6:30 p.m. bon dance (536-7044)

June 27 & 28 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. service (English on Friday, Japanese on Saturday), 7:30 p.m. bon dance both nights (622-4320)

July 4 & 5 (Fri./Sat.): Moiliili Hongwanji, 7:15 p.m. bon dance follows short o-bon service (949-1659)

July 5 (Sat.): Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 6:30 p.m. bon dance (247-2661)

July 11 & 12 (Fri./Sat.): Koboji Shingon Mission, 7 p.m. bon dance, (841-7033)

July 11 & 12 (Fri./Sat.): Waipahu Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. service on Friday, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (677-4221)

July 12 (Sat.): Tendai Hawaii Betsuin, 7 p.m. bon dance (595-2556)

July 18 & 19 (Fri./Sat.) Shinshu Kyokai Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (973-0156)

July 18 & 19 (Fri./Sat.): Haleiwa Shingon Mission, 6:30 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance (637-4423)

July 19 (Sat.): Kailua Hongwanji, 7 p.m. bon dance (262-4560)

July 19 (Sat.): Kahuku Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (622-4320)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): Jikoen Hongwanji, 6:30 p.m. bon dance (845-3422)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): Haleiwa Jodo Mission, both nights: 6:30 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance, 9 p.m. toro nagashi on Saturday (637-4382)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m. bon dance; 7 and 8:30 p.m. performances by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko; Saturday only: 9 p.m. Okinawan bon dance with Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai (622-1429)

July 25 & 26 (Fri./Sat.): Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 7 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (531-9088 )

July 26 (Sat.): Waianae Hongwanji, 7 p.m. bon dance (7 p.m. service on Friday) (677-4221)

Aug. 1 & 2 (Fri./Sat.): Palolo Hongwanji, 7 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (732-1491)

Aug. 1 & 2 (Fri./Sat.): Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji, both nights: 6:30 p.m. service, 8 p.m. bon dance; Friday: 9:15 p.m. performance by Hawaii Matsuri Taiko (671-3103)

Aug. 2 (Sat.): Waialua Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (625-0925)

Aug. 8 & 9 (Fri./Sat.): Shingon Shu Hawaii, 6:30 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (941-5663)

Aug. 8 & 9 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Aiea – Taiheiji, 7:30 p.m. bon dance; 7 p.m. taiko performance both days; Okinawan bon dance with Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai Saturday at 9 p.m. (488-6794)

Aug. 8 & 9 (Fri./Sat.): Pearl City Hongwanji, both nights: service at 6:15 p.m., bon dance at 7:30 p.m. (455-1680)

Aug. 15 & 16 (Fri./Sat.): Jodo Mission of Hawaii, 7 p.m. bon dance (949-3995)

Aug. 15 & 16 (Fri./Sat.): Soto Mission of Hawaii – Shoboji, 7 p.m. bon dance both days, o-bon service precedes Friday bon dance (537-9409)

Aug. 15 & 16 (Fri./Sat.): Mililani Hongwanji, 7:30 p.m. bon dance (625-0925)

Aug. 23 (Sat.): Aiea Hongwanji, 6 p.m. service, 7 p.m. bon dance (488-5685)

Aug. 30 (Sat.): Okinawan Festival, 5:30 p.m. bon dance at Kapi‘olani Park (676-5400)

Sept. 20 (Sat.): Autumn Dance Matsuri at Hawaii Okinawa Center, 5 p.m. (676-5400)

Photo courtesy of Alan Kubota/Lenscapes