This story was originally published in our SUMMER Digital issue, which you can view here.
Strings of glowing lanterns, thunderous taiko drums, lilting flutes and mouthwatering food are hallmarks of Obon festivals, along with the dancers who circle around a yagura, or tower, as music fills the warm summer air.
Obon, or bon, dances are a beloved tradition in Hawaiʻi, taking place at Buddhist temples across the Islands from June through Labor Day.
Obon is a centuries-old Japanese Buddhist tradition of honoring and remembering ancestors. It is believed that during Obon, the spirits of loved ones return to visit their families. Lanterns help guide them, and they’re celebrated with music and dancing before being sent on their way.
Generations ago, Japanese immigrants who came to work in Hawaiʻi’s sugarcane and pineapple fields brought the practice to the Islands. Today, Buddhist temples welcome people of all backgrounds to celebrate and take part in the festivities.
The evenings are filled with music, dancing and delicious local-style dishes. From fried noodles and teriyaki beef skewers to andagi (a kind of deep-fried Okinawan doughnut), manju and mochi, the food is just one of the many reasons locals look forward to bon dance season.
But the heart of the celebration is dancing, and the steps are simple and repetitive, making it easy for even the most reluctant dancers to join in.
You don’t need to wear a yukata (a lightweight kimono) to participate. Just come as you are.
Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.
