Dancers at the Jikoen Hongwanji Mission in Kalihi, including 88-year-old Agnes Kameko Higa, practice for the upcoming bon dance festival season.
Spirit-filled
tradition
Starting next week, colorful lanterns will light the way, and reverberating drumbeats will usher in three months of the Buddhist celebration honoring the dead.
Why is the obon season so long, with weekly festivals of dance and music held from June through August?
There are so many bon dance clubs in Hawaii that they have to take turns every weekend at the various temples and mission houses.
There are many versions of how the Japanese bon dance tradition started.
Agnes Kameko Higa, 88, an Okinawan-style bon dance teacher for more than 50 years in Hawaii, said the bon dance is based on a tale of a "boy looking for his mother."
The boy's mother died when he was very young, and when his father remarried, the little boy was unhappy and wondered where his mother was. He left home "looking for his mother's grave. He sees an old man on the side of the road and asks him for help.
"He told the boy: On the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month until the 13th, you will see a glimpse of your mother under your sleeve," Higa said, lifting her arm in an oft-repeated motion in bon dancing.
So from July 7 to 13, the Japanese go to clean the grave sites and "make everything in the house spick and span, put fruit on the altar, to make it ready for their ancestors to come home to visit," she said. On the 13th these spirits leave their graves to visit their families, and return to them on the 15th, Higa added.
2005 Bon Dance Schedule
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OAHU |
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| Date | Time | Location | Practice |
| June 4 | 6 p.m. | Hawaii Plantation Village, 94-695 Waipahu St. |
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| June 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Ewa Hongwanji Mission, 91-1133 Renton Road |
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| June 18 | 6 p.m. | 50th State Fair*, Aloha Stadium |
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| June 24-25 | 6:30 p.m. | Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway |
June 20, 21 and 22, 7:30 p.m. |
| June 24-25 | 7:30 p.m. | Wahiawa Hongwanji, 1067-A California Ave. |
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| June 24-25 | 8 p.m. | Haleiwa Jodo-Shu, 66-279-A Haleiwa Road, 637-4382 |
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| July 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Kaneohe Higashi Hongwanji, 45-520 Keaahala Road |
June 29, 7 p.m. |
| July 1-2 | 7:30 p.m. | Moiliili Hongwanji, 902 University Ave. |
June 13 ,20, 7 p.m.; June 28-29, 7:30 p.m. |
| July 8-9 | 7 p.m. | Koboji Shingon Mission, 1223 B N. School St. |
July 6, 7 p.m. |
| July 8-9 | 7:30 p.m. | Waipahu Hongwanji, 94-821 Kahaulua St. |
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| July 9 | 7 p.m. | Tendai Mission of Hawaii, 23 Jack Lane |
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| July 15-16 | 7:30 p.m. | Shinshu Kyokai Mission, 1631 S. Beretania St. |
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| July 15-16 | 8 p.m. | Haleiwa Shingon Mission, 66-469 Paalaa Road |
July 5, 7 p.m. |
| July 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Waianae Hongwanji, 87-762 Old Government Road |
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| July 16 | 7 p.m. | Kailua Hongwanji, 30-D Maluniu St. |
July 14, 7 p.m. |
| July 22-23 | 6:30 p.m. | Rissho Kosei-Kai Hawaii Kyokai, 2280 Auhuhu St., Aiea |
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| July 22-23 | 7 p.m. | Higashi Hongwanji Betsuin of Hawaii, 1685 Alaneo St. |
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| July 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Waialua Hongwanji, 67-313 Kealohanui St. |
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| July 29-30 | 6:30 p.m. | Jikoen Hongwanji Mission, 1731 N. School St. |
July 20, 22 and 27, 7 p.m. |
| July 29-30 | 7 p.m. | Palolo Higashi Hongwanji, 1641 Palolo Ave. |
July 27, 7:30 p.m. |
| July 29-30 | 7:30 p.m. | Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission, 164 California Ave. |
July 27, 7 p.m. |
| July 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Kahuku Hongwanji Mission, call 622-4320 for directions. |
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| Aug. 5-6 | 5:30 p.m. | Koganji Temple, 2869 Oahu Ave. |
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| Aug. 5-6 | 8 p.m. | Waipahu Soto Zen Mission Taiyoji, 94-413 Waipahu St. |
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| Aug. 12-13 | 6:30 p.m. | Shingon Mission of Hawaii, 915 Sheridan St. |
Aug. 9, 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 12-13 | 7:30 p.m. | Pearl City Hongwanji, 858 2nd St. |
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| Aug. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Aiea Soto Mission Taiheiji, 99-045 Kauhale St. |
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| Aug. 19-20 | 7:30 p.m. | Mililani Hongwanji, 95-257 Kaloapau St. |
July 28, Aug. 4, 11, 15, 16, 17, 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 19-20 | 7:30 p.m. | Soto Mission of Hawaii, 1708 Nuuanu Ave. |
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| Aug. 19-20 | 6:30 p.m. | Jodo Mission of Hawaii, 1429 Makiki St. |
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| Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | Aiea Hongwanji Mission, 99-186 Puakala Road |
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| Sept. 3-4 | Okinawan Festival at Kapiolani Park |
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| Sept. 17 | Autumn Okinawan Dance Matsuri, Hawaii Okinawa Center |
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| * The bon dance will feature Yamada Dance Group, Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi and Hawaii Eisa Shinyukai. | |||
KAUAI |
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| Date | Time | Location | |
| June 10-11 | 8 p.m. | Kapaa Jodo Mission | |
| June 17-18 | 7:50 p.m. | Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji in Hanapepe |
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| June 24-25 | 7:30 p.m. | Kapaa Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 1 | 7:15 p.m. | Waimea Higashi Hongwanji | |
| July 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Waimea Higashi Hongwanji | |
| July 8-9 | 8 p.m. | West Kauai Hongwanji Koloa Temple | |
| July 15-16 | 8 p.m. | West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple | |
| July 22-23 | 8 p.m. | Koloa Jodo Mission | |
| July 29-30 | 8 p.m. | West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple | |
| Aug. 5-6 | 8 p.m. | Lihue Hongwanji Mission | |
| Aug. 12-13 | 7 p.m. | Waimea Shingon Mission | |
BIG ISLAND |
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| Date | Time | Location | |
| June 11 | 8 p.m. | Honomu Henjoji Mission | |
| June 18 | 7 p.m. | Papaikou Hongwanji Mission | |
| June 18 | 6 p.m. | Kona Regional Bon Dance, Keauhou Shopping Center |
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| June 25 | 8 p.m. | Honomu Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 1-2 | 8 p.m. | Puna Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 2 | 7 p.m. | Keei Hongwanji Fukyojo | |
| July 2 | 8 p.m. | Kohala Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 8-9 | 8 p.m. | Hilo Meishoin | |
| July 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission | |
| July 9 | 8 p.m. | Kohala Jodo Mission | |
| July 9 | 8 p.m. | Paauilo Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 15-16 | 8 p.m. | Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin | |
| July 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Honokaa Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 16 | 8 p.m. | Kurtistown Jodo Mission | |
| July 23 | 8 p.m. | Hilo Hooganji Mission | |
| July 23 | 7 p.m. | Kona Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 30 | 8 p.m. | Papaaloa Hongwanji Mission | |
| July 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Hilo Taishoji Soto Mission | |
| Aug. 6 | 8 p.m. | Hawi Jodo Mission | |
| Aug. 6 | 8 p.m. | Paauilo Kongoji Mission | |
| Aug. 13 | 8 p.m. | Hilo Higashi Hongwanji Mission | |
| Aug. 13 | 8 p.m. | Hamakua Jodo Mission | |
| Aug. 13 | 8 p.m. | Kona Koyasan Daishinji | |
| Aug. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Kamuela Hongwanji Mission | |
| Aug. 20 | 8 p.m. | Hakalau Jodo Mission | |
| Aug. 26 | 7 p.m. | Hilo Nichiren Mission | |
| Aug. 27 | 8 p.m. | Honohina Hongwanji Mission | |
MAUI |
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| Date | Time | Location | |
| June 11 | 8 p.m. | Puunene Nichiren Mission | |
| June 18 | 8 p.m. | Wailuku Shingon Mission | |
| June 24 | 8 p.m. | Wailuku Jodo Mission | |
| June 25 | 8 p.m. | Lahaina Shigon Mission | |
| July 2 | 8 p.m. | Lahaina Jodo Mission | |
| July 8-9 | 8 p.m. | Paia Mantokuji Soto Mission | |
| Aug. 12-13 | 8 p.m. | Kahului Jodo Mission | |
| Aug. 27 | 8 p.m. | Kula Shofuji Mission | |
| Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. | Puunene Nichiren Mission (Azeka Shopping Center) |
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MOLOKAI |
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| Date | Time | Location | |
| July 9 | 6 p.m. | Molokai Guzeiji Soto Mission | |
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