Lights, music, Bon Dance! The festival season arrives
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
By Nik Streng Special to 3D Travel, Inc.
Summer brings the Bon Dance season, a series of popular festivals of Japanese Buddhist tradition that honors ancestors, featuring dancing, food and a healthy dose of community. Temples around the state, festooned with colorful lanterns strung from a center tower that light up the evening sky, will host hundreds of people dancing in unison to choreography passed down through generations — an amazing sight.
The Bon Odori, or the dance, anchors the celebration. During the Bon Odori, people dance around a center tower where musicians play. Anyone can (and you are encouraged to) join in. It might seem intimidating at first, but chances are that a Bon dance rookie can copy the moves of the person in front of him — the dances are generally uncomplicated, and you'll see plenty of people doing it. Bon Dance enthusiasts are always willing to teach people the dances and share their culture. If you've got two left feet, however, watching is still an experience in itself. (Photo: Bon Odori, Jodo Mission Hawaii in Makiki, 2009. Kyle Nishioka/Creative Commons.)
Though an honored cultural event, the modern and the traditional blend: Some will wear kimonos, others will be casually dressed in shorts and slippers. Hawaii's broad population of people of Japanese ancestry makes these events important cultural touchstones, but for many it's simply a chance to connect with friends and family, sharing stories and food all night.
Speaking of food: Bon Dances are a great place to snag a cheap dinner. Volunteers make dishes; the proceeds go to the temple hosting the dance. Some local favorites you're sure to find: Fried noodles with vegetables and chicken, mixed in soy sauce (shoyu) or oyster sauce; SPAM musubis (a slice of SPAM on rice wrapped in nori); and andagi, a doughy Okinawan doughnut, fried to perfection.
Devotees of the cultural mix that is Hawaii will gain much from attending. They are free and open to the public. To find any of these temples in 3DHawaii, just grab the temple name and address and use the left-hand search box.
2011 Hawaii Bon Dance Schedule
HONOLULU
June 24-25 — Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin: 1727 Pali Highway, 6:15 p.m.
July 1-2 — Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 902 University Avenue 7:15 p.m.
July 22-23 — Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1731 N School Street, 6 p.m.
OAHU
June 18 — Ewa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 91-1133 Renton Road, Ewa Beach, 7 p.m.
June 24-25 — Wahiawa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1067 California Avenue, Wahiawa, 7:30 p.m.
July 8-9 — Waipahu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 94-821 Kuhaulua Street, Waipahu, 7 p.m.
July 16 — Waianae Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 85-762 Old Government Road, Waianae, 7 p.m.
August 6 — Waialua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 67-313 Kealohanui Street, 7:30 p.m.
August 12-13 — Pearl City Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 858 2nd Street, Pearl City, 7:30 p.m.
August 19‐20 — Mililani Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 95-257 Kaloapau Street, Mililani, 7 p.m.
August 27 — Aiea Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 99-186 Puakala Street, Aiea, 7 p.m.
KAUAI
June 24-25 — West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple, 1-3860 Kamaulii Highway, Hanapepe, 7:30 p.m.
July 8-9 — Lihue Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 3-3556-A Kuhio Highway, Lihue, 7:30 p.m.
July 29-30 — West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple, 4675 Menehune Road, Waimea, 7:30 p.m.
August 5-6 — Kapaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1170 Kuhio Highway, 7:30 p.m.
MAUI
July 9 — Lanai Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1364 Fraser Avenue, Lanai, 7 p.m.
July 15-16 — Kahului Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 291 So. Puunene Avenue Kahului, 8 p.m.
July 22-23 — Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1074 Makawao Avenue, 7:30 p.m.
July 29-30 — Wailuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 1828 Vineyard Street, Wailuku, 8 p.m.
August 12-13 — Lahaina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 551 Wainee Street, Lahaina, 7:30 p.m.
The Bon Odori, or the dance, anchors the celebration. During the Bon Odori, people dance around a center tower where musicians play. Anyone can (and you are encouraged to) join in. It might seem intimidating at first, but chances are that a Bon dance rookie can copy the moves of the person in front of him — the dances are generally uncomplicated, and you'll see plenty of people doing it. Bon Dance enthusiasts are always willing to teach people the dances and share their culture. If you've got two left feet, however, watching is still an experience in itself. (Photo: Bon Odori, Jodo Mission Hawaii in Makiki, 2009. Kyle Nishioka/Creative Commons.)