While the custom of obon nearly ended during the 1940’s due to attitudes stemming from World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the festival was revived in the 1950’s through the effort of Japanese-American veteran groups. In the early 19th century, Japanese immigrants introduced the traditions of their distant homelands when they arrived to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations. It is based on the story in Buddhist transcripts of a devout monk who happily danced with joy when releasing his deceased mother’s spirit from the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. The tradition of obon began in Japan over 500 years ago.
A bon dance, which is celebrated during the obon season, is a Buddhist ceremony performed by the Japanese culture to honor the spirit of one’s ancestors. To attend a bon dance on Kauai is a magical and spiritual experience. All will be on our website.Bon Dance Kauai: A Festival of Beauty and Remembrance Posted on: “We will focus on T-shirts, bon dance towels, note cards and more.
“No, we won’t be doing any food this year,” Hirata said. More than 400 chochin were strung around the temple during last year’s bon. Chochin, or lanterns, are among the iconic symbols of obon, lighting the way home for ancestral spirits who return to join inthe annual celebration of dance and joy. Obon toba may be dedicated to an individual, a family, family ancestors, or an individual who passed since the last obon, making this year a first obon, or hatsu-bon.įor a one-time donation of $25, the name of an honoree will be attached to a chochin, or paper lantern, and strung around the temple during this year’s obon festival, and for every year that follows. During the toba service, the names on toba are recited, honoring and remembering loved ones. Names of these departed spirits are written on a light wooden strip called a toba, and can be purchased for $7. “By lighting a candle and offering incense, we honor and extend our hospitality to our visiting ancestral spirits during bon.” “During obon, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our departed loved ones,” Hirata said. June 20 is reserved for the obon toba service that will be livestreamed, led by the Rev. The June 19 schedule includes fundraising that covers “A Virtual Tour of Who We Are and What We Do.” The June 18 schedule includes “Discover Our Temple’s Rich History” that tours the Hanapepe temple and includes segments on the Bodhi Tree, the World Peace Kannon Statue, the temple itself, and the historic bell tower that was moved from the temple’s original grounds in the Wahiawa camp. All video will be available online at, or through Facebook and YouTube. This is the second straight year bon dance will be presented on the virtual platform, and learning from last year’s airing, this year will feature an obon memorial service, or obon toba service, that will air on Sunday, June 20. Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji will be presenting online, a pre-recorded video that will be aired during the weekend of the temple’s Kaua‘i Buddhist Council scheduled date of this Friday and Saturday, June 18 and 19. “No temple will have a bon dance gathering on site, but will celebrate it in its own way on their scheduled weekend.” “As in 2020, by general consensus, the council again canceled its 2021 bon-dance season,” Hirata said. The Kaua‘i Buddhist Council traditionally schedules and coordinates the bon dance for the eight Kaua‘i Buddhist temples starting the second weekend in June through the first weekend in August. “Even if it is a pandemic year, it will not stop us from remembering our loved ones who have departed.” “Obon is a time to remember,” Hirata said. HANAPEPE - Bon dance will happen virtually again this year, said Gerald Hirata of the Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji.
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