HANAPEPE — Gerald Hirata is concerned that some of the five-centuries-old bon dances might be lost as they are not passed down subsequent generations.
“What worries me is how we are transmitting the traditions,” said Hirata, president of the Hanapepe Soto Zenshuji, hosts of this weekend’s first bon dances of the summer season.
“When bon dancing is taught today, it is not taught in the context of a deep, cultural foundation. We just seem to mimic the motions and prefer the songs with the samba beat because it’s more like line dancing and has a catchy tune,” he said following his attendance of a bon-dance forum on O‘ahu.
Still, the tradition continues.
Three live performances of “Fukushima Ondo,” “Iwakuni Ondo” and “Niigata Ondo” will be performed by dancers representing all parts of the island, Hirata said.
“Our focus is to feature the live dance performances and showcase them as they were taught and passed down to us,” he said.
“These dances came from areas of Japan where many island residents of Japanese ancestry trace their roots: Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Fukushima, Niigata and Okinawa.”
While the dances are all the same, each bon dance is different, said Shelley Gerardo in an e-mail to her co-workers and friends.
That is another of the points Hirata wants to convey to people about the upcoming bon season and the o-bon dances which start June 4 at the Hanapepe Soto Zenshuji.
Physically, the o-bon dances take place June 4 and June 5 with a short temple service preceding the dancing. Dancing starts at about 7:30 p.m., and Hirata said there are some special aspects to this o-bon dance because it is the first of the season.
Under the culinary supervision of Carla Sakai, Hirata said there will be 21 different offerings at the food booth including fried noodles, chicken-hekka plate, baked-mayonnaise chicken plate and smoked-meat plate. Some of the other unique offerings include gandule rice, kimpira, Goteborg cups, fried ice cream and fried mochi.
Another service being offered by the Hanapepe Soto Zenshuji is the running of three buses for kupuna, or for those who do not want to deal with driving at night or parking.
Hirata said the church is footing the bill for three Akita buses which will run from Kekaha Neighborhood Center to the church leaving at 6:20 p.m. That same bus will leave the Waimea Neighborhood Center at 6:30 p.m. and the Kaumakani Thrifty Mart at 6:40 p.m.
A Koloa-to-Hanapepe bus will leave the Koloa Jodo Mission at 6:20 p.m., the Lawa‘i Cannery store at 6:30 p.m. and the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center at 6:40 p.m.
A Kapa‘a-to-Hanapepe bus will leave the Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission at 6 p.m., the Coconut Marketplace at 6:10 p.m., the Big Save Value Center in Lihu‘e at 6:25 p.m., the Menehune Food Mart in Lawa‘i at 6:45 p.m. and the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center at 6:50 p.m.
Hirata said although seniors have preference, everyone is encouraged to hop on. The bus ride is free.
Gerardo, whose grandmother was a practitioner of Japanese dance, said the O-Bon season is a special time for the Japanese to remember their ancestors and celebrate with them through dance.
This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family-reunion holiday during which time people return to ancestral family places to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves, to honor the spirits of their ancestors on their revisit to the household altars. This custom has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and includes a dance known as “Bon Odori,” states a flier prepared by Hirata.
Bon services start at 6 p.m. each night with dances starting at 7:30 p.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
