Make Kauai Bon Dance your summer tradition next year when you stay at our Kauai vacation rentals. This year the event goes virtual on August 22, from 5 to 6pm, Hawaiian Standard Time. The Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji in Hanapepe will be hosting a Bon Dance live on their Facebook page and YouTube live.
According to the Temple, this will be like a real Bon Dance with taiko drummers. The Rev. Kohtoku Hirao will be performing, and there will be some live dancers in the ring. Bon Dance is a celebration of life held during Obon season which is when ancestral spirits return to visit.
This year the customs and traditions have been stymied with COVID-19. Gerald Hirata, president of the Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, said “in order to continue honoring those values, we have to adapt accordingly, and find a way to continue these traditions.”
You can support the event by making a donation or purchasing a Bon Dance towel for $5 plus shipping. The towel is also called tenugui, and is an iconic image of obon celebrations. It can be used as a dress adornment, a decorative headband, or dance implement.
Hirata commented, “This is about the human spirit in difficult times. A Japanese proverb says, “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” Like the bamboo, we must bend and not break.”
Top Five Kauai Bon Dance Tips for 2021.
1. Attend this 500-year Japanese tradition that honors the spirits of ancestors. Under a tropical night sky, dancers wearing summer kimonos move in a circle to the beat of Taiko drums. The mood is joyous with people of all ages and backgrounds participating.
2. Dancing is not required or expected! You can watch from the sideline or join the circle.
3. Come hungry. During the Bon Dance the barbecue is fired up and plate dinners are served for a nominal fee. There is usually a rummage sale with homemade Japanese treats.
4. Bring the kids too. There are games for them to enjoy and Hawaii shave ice.
5. Take a short break from the crowds and can step inside the Buddhist temple hosting the event. You can admire the alter and perhaps see dancers preparing to join the circle. Before leaving, follow them back outside for this celebration of life.
This is a great way to spend a midsummer’s eve and meet locals. If you have been to a Bon Dance, please share your favorite experience.
17 Responses
We are in Kauai and would like to attend Obon at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji on the 19th. Please send the address.
Thank you
Nina
Aloha Nina, the address for the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Bon Dance is Kaumualii Hwy 9554; Waimea, Hawaii 96796. Have fun and enjoy!
Hi! We are staying in Princevile and are interested in attending the June 28-29, Waimea Shingon Mission dates. Where is that on the island? Are reservations needed? Thank you!
Hi Lauren, No reservations are needed for Bon Dance. We hope you’ll be able to go. It’s a great community event. Waimea is on the West Side of Kauai and a 90 minute drive from Princeville. The Waimea Shingon Mission is at 9770A Pule Rd. If you need help locating it, stop by our office in the Princeville Shopping Center and our guest concierge can help you. Have a great time on Kauai!
Aloha from JP and the Parrish Kauai team
Is the 2019 Bon Dance calendar available yet? Thanks!
Aloha Sheila, We usually post our updates to the calendar in May, so mark your calendar and check back here.
thanks for the information
This looks like a lot of fun! We won’t be on Kauai until the 11th, does this end August 3 & 4th?
We will be staying in Kauai next week and are interested in the June 10-11 show. Where is this in location to where we are staying? Which is the princeville/north shore area. Thanks!
Aloha Ruthy, We just updated the Bon Dance schedule for 2018. The event is held most Friday and Saturday nights into August. The first Bon Dance this year will be June 8-9 at the Kapaa Jodo Mission which is about a half-hour drive from Princeville. The next weekend (June 15-16) it will be in Hanapape at the West Kauai Hongwanji. That one is about 90 minutes from Princeville, but if you go Friday night you enjoy Hanapepe Art Night too. See you on Kauai soon! Aloha from Parrish Kauai
We are coming In may 2017 and leaving June 5th.
What does this cost. Like could we have dinner one night there
Hi Rhonda, There is no charge to attend Bon Dance but the season normally begins after June 5th. If you are interested in our Kauai vacation rentals, we invite you to call us at 1-800-325-5701 or visit our website at https://www.parrishkauai.com. Enjoy your stay! Aloha from Parrish Kauai
When are the Bon dances in June 2015?
Thanks,
Jacqueline
Aloha Jacqueline, Thanks for your question! The schedule for the 2015 Bon Dance has recently been announced. See our post for details. This June it starts the weekend of June 5-6 (Friday/Saturday) and continues every Friday and Saturday night in summer until August 8. There is no Bon Dance on July 3-4. Have a great stay on Kauai! Aloha from the Parrish Kauai Team.
Thanks for the reply. We are looking forward to our stay in Kauai. See you at the dance!
what times are the Bon Dances on 7/26 & 7/27?
Aloha Glenda…usually a good time to be there is around 7:30pm. Parking can be an issue, so give yourself time to find safe parking. Enjoy!!