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Getting your bon dance on

By Catherine Toth Fox • July 22, 2011 • #CatTravels

Summer, to me, means a few things.

Longer days spent at the beach, less traffic on the highway during rush hours, and the annual bon dances at temples around the state.

This annual Japanese Buddhist tradition — held between June and August — honors the spirits of family members who have passed away. According to tradition, it is believed the summer months are when ancestral spirits return to visit family and friends.

But that’s not why I go.

Like most local folks, I hit bon dances for the food. Teri beef skewers, cone sushi, fried noodles, andagi, saimin, grilled corn — this is easily my favorite part of any bon dance.

Truth be told, I’ve been going to bon dances since I was a kid, learning how to properly dance from my mom, who taught us odori for obon favorites like “Tanko Bushi” in our living room.

And since I grew up in Kalihi, we would often attend the lively bon dance at the Okinawan Jikoen Hongwanji Mission on the corner of Likelike Highway and School Street. It’s one of those bon dances where live musicians still play in the yagura (high wooden scaffold around which the dancers circle). No taped music here!

I go back to Jikoen every July — its bon dance is held this weekend — as part of my own summer tradition. My mom may not be there, but I take her moves with me. And her appetite.

Like mother, like daughter.

It's bon dance time!

It's bon dance time!
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One of my favorite things to do in the summer months in Hawaii is hit a bon dance at a Japanese temple. It's more than just a cultural experience; it's got great food, too.

This weekend’s bon dance schedule:

Jikeon Hongwanji Mission, 6 p.m., (808) 845-3422
Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 7:30 p.m., (808) 622-1429
Haleiwa Jodo Mission, 8 p.m., (808) 637-4382

For a complete list of bon dances this summer, visit Let’s Bon Dance.

bon dancefestivalHawaiiJikoen Hongwanji Missionobonsummer
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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13 Comments

  • Reply oldshoes July 22, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    very nice. oreo rice krispies –Yum! i wonder why the spirits decided on the summer months for a return visit?

    • Reply Catherine Toth July 23, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      It’s the best time of the year! That’s when I’d visit!

  • Reply MaxMaxMax July 23, 2011 at 1:12 am

    I’m still trying to figure out the “less traffic on the freeway during rush hour” part… which island were you referring to again? LOL!

    • Reply Catherine Toth July 23, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      You don’t think there’s less traffic…? Maybe coming from East Honolulu only…

      • Reply MaxMaxMax July 23, 2011 at 9:07 pm

        Well, having had a home office since 2007, I never needed to go into town from HiKai during rush hours. As for traffic in general, I never noticed a seasonal change. What would you attribute less traffic during summer months to?

        • Reply Catherine Toth July 24, 2011 at 6:03 pm

          I think it’s more UH isn’t in session… Those are the extra cars on the road.

  • Reply midori July 23, 2011 at 7:28 am

    Happy shot = happy memories for me. As a child, going to a bon dance was the thing to do on summer weekends. I’d tag along with my older sisters. I have fond memories of the dances in Palama and on Sheridan street…packed crowds. I also remember going to a bon dance way out in Waimanalo (I think) in what appeared to be a cow field. We used to collect and treasure the bon odori signature towels that they gave out. Good times.

    • Reply Catherine Toth July 23, 2011 at 4:58 pm

      Thanks for sharing! I wonder if there’s still a bon dance in Waimanalo… I’ll check the schedule. Would be a cool bon dance to go to!

  • Reply DIO July 23, 2011 at 11:30 am

    MaxMaxMax: I think she was referring to Kahoolawe. 😆 Sorry, but to me, “less traffic” means actually being able to drive at highway speeds. 🙂

    • Reply Catherine Toth July 23, 2011 at 4:58 pm

      LOL, Kahoolawe. Too funny!

    • Reply MaxMaxMax July 23, 2011 at 9:08 pm

      Zinggggggg! Nice one Dio!

  • Reply Donna July 23, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    So nice to meet you last night! Thanks for the photo feature and the link up to BonDance.com. 🙂 Hope to see you again – next time in the bon dance circle! <3

    • Reply Catherine Toth July 23, 2011 at 4:59 pm

      Is that your site??? Cool beans! Nice to meet you IRL!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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