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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Kameko Higa, 88, practiced for this year's bon dance season at the Jikoen Hongwanji in Kalihi last week.

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Summer is Hawaii’s
bon dance season

Colorful lanterns will cast a glow
over the dancers at the events

Summertime is bon dance season in Hawaii, with three months of celebrations in the Buddhist tradition of honoring the dead through ritual, music and dance.

Obon literally means "lantern festival" and the colorful hanging lights will cast a glow over dancers at each location. The tradition is to light the way for the spirits of ancestors, who are greeted with offerings of flowers, food and incense in temple rituals and on family altars.

Here is the schedule for the month of June:

Oahu

» Saturday: 6 p.m. Hawaii Plantation Village, 94-695 Waipahu St.
» June 18: 6 p.m. 50th State Fair at Aloha Stadium.
» June 18: 7:30 p.m., Ewa Hongwanji Mission, 91-1133 Renton Road.
» June 24-25: 6:30 p.m., Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway. Practice 7:30 p.m. June 20-22.
» June 24-25: 7:30 p.m., Wahiawa Hongwanji, 1067-A California Ave.
» June 24-25: 8 p.m., Haleiwa Jodo-Shu, 66-279A Haleiwa Road, 637-4382.

Big Island

» June 11: 8 p.m. Honomu Henjoji Mission
» June 18: 6 p.m. Kona Regional Bon Dance, Keauhou Shopping Center
» June 18: 7 p.m. Papaikou Hongwanji Mission
» June 25: 8 p.m. Honomu Hongwanji Mission

Kauai

» June 10-11: 8 p.m., Kapaa Jodo Mission
» June 17-18: 7:50 p.m., Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji in Hanapepe
» June 24-25: 7:30 p.m., Kapaa Hongwanji Mission
» July 1: 7:15 p.m., Waimea Higashi Hongwanji; repeats 7:30 p.m. July 2
» 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

Maui

» 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 Shingon Mission