With more than 30 bon dances on Oʻahu alone, Hawaiʻi shows its love for the annual Japanese Buddhist tradition. The summer Obon festival honors the spirits of ancestors with families and friends gathering, sharing food and dancing around the yagura, a central tower or stage where the musicians perform.
Photo Essay: It’s Bon Dance Season!
With more than 30 bon dances on Oʻahu alone, Hawaiʻi shows its love for the annual Japanese Buddhist tradition. The summer Obon festival honors the spirits of ancestors with families and friends gathering, sharing food and dancing around the yagura, a central tower or stage where the musicians perform.
The sun begins to set as the first bon dance of the season ramps up Saturday at Hawaii’s Plantation Village, an outdoor cultural museum in Waipahu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
“Dancing makes me so happy and I’m happy it’s back!”
—Lisa Nakata, attendee
Lisa Nakata smiles during the first bon dance of the season. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club drummers perform Saturday at Hawaii’s Plantation Village. The summer Obon season is a Japanese Buddhist tradition to entertain and honor ancestors. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Bon dance attendants take pictures and video of Ewa Fukushima Bon Dance Club drummers. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)A teru teru bozu doll hangs in the yagura. The teru teru bozu is said to ward off bad weather, especially rain. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Oʻahu District Bon Dance Club’s Austen Andrade, left, and Gail Takeuchi lead revelers around the yagura. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Oʻahu District Bon Dance Club was formed so some Hongwanji temples outside of Honolulu could have experienced dancers lead their Obon. It was one of a dozen bon dance clubs that took to the center for the first bon dance of the season.
The first bon dance of the season circles the yagura Saturday night in Waipahu. Musicians sometimes perform on the yagura. But the smaller area at Hawaii’s Plantation Village requires a smaller yagura. It is, however, wrapped in traditional red and white fabric for good luck and has a teru teru bozu. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Hawaii Eisa Shinyuu Kai’s Scot Izuka plays the sanshin during the first bon dance of the season. Hawaii Eisa Shiny Kai performs Okinawan music. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)An Oʻahu District Bon Dance Club member claps during the first bon dance of the season. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)A dancer wears zori, traditional Japanese sandals, and tabi socks for the first Bon Dance of the season. Other footwear included slippers, Birkenstocks, Crocs and shoes for all occasions. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke takes part in the first bon dance of the season Saturday. She is an avid bon dance enthusiast. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Kristen Inoue, from left, Renee Morioka and Sandy Miyasato break out the fans during the first bon dance of the season Saturday at Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu. They were also prepared with red and white flags for good luck. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
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