Hawaiʻi’s Bon Dance Culture Unveiled in EP112

Astrid Jensen June 27, 2023 Culture

Bon Dances in Hawaiʻi: Exploring the Cultural Significance

070222 Moiliili Bon Dance 386 — Nate Gyotoku, center, wearing a grey shirt and purple headband, at the Mōʻiliʻili Summer Fest. Photo: Courtesy of JCCH

Understanding Obon Season in Hawaiʻi

Obon season has arrived in Hawaiʻi. Throughout the Islands’ summer months, bon dances occur on almost every weekend at different Buddhist temples around the state. These lively events feature great local food stalls, traditional obon songs, and energetic dancing around the yagura—a large wooden tower where taiko drummers perform. Hawaiʻi bon dances have become a favorite annual event to attend among locals and visitors alike.

However, there’s so much more to obon than just dancing and eating. On this episode of the Have Aloha Will Travel podcast, Nate Gyotoku, president and executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, joins Kevin to shed light on the cultural and historical significance behind obon.

Exploring the Cultural and Historical Significance of Obon

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