HANAPEPE — The public is invited to learn more about the tradition and culture surrounding the bon dance on Friday and Saturday. “The bon dances have been a summer cultural event on Kauai, it seems, forever,” said Gerald Hirata of
HANAPEPE — The public is invited to learn more about the tradition and culture surrounding the bon dance on Friday and Saturday.
“The bon dances have been a summer cultural event on Kauai, it seems, forever,” said Gerald Hirata of the Kauai Soto Zen Temple, host of the bon dances this weekend. “Honoring and preserving the rich festival heritage is what temples on Kauai are striving to do. The Kauai Buddhist Council and its Bon Dance Committee play instrumental roles in seeing that the rich traditions are kept alive and live on.”
Hirata said he would be honored if visitors to the island stop by to learn more about the bon celebration and how it became a significant part of Hawaii’s culture.
“Obon is a time when people can dance in the ring with the spirits of ancestors and all of the loved ones who have departed,” Hirata said. “It is a happy time of rememberance and a good time to celebrate life itself.”
Doors to the food booth at the Kauai Soto Zen Temple in Hanapepe open at 6 p.m. on both nights, serving up a variety of food under the direction of Chef Carla Dusenberry and Sara Pai.
At the same time, the Kauai Soto Zen Temple will host special bon services honoring loved ones at the temple.
Hirata said the public is invited to join more than 100 people this year, who have kept memories of their loved ones alive by acquiring a special chochin, or lantern, which adorn the temple during the two days of bon celebration.
Now in its sixth year, the Kauai Soto Zen Temple displays pink chochin to remember and honor someone we love, Hirata said.
“The chochin project supports the temple and ensures that people we love are always remembered, especially during this special time of the year,” he said. “The goal of the project is to light up the temple with as many of these colorful lanterns as possible, in turn, filling our hearts with rememberances.”
Hirata said anyone can be honored, not just the deceased. A person can be also honored more than once.
Donation for a chochin is $25. Hirata said last year, more than 100 lanterns were strung up over the temple grounds.
He said the lanterns are perpetual and will be displayed each year during the bon.
The traditional bon dancing starts at 7:30 each night with an entertainment-filled intermission scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m.
Somei Taiko of Aiea, Oahu, under the direction of Rev. Shuji and Jaymie Komagata, is one of the groups scheduled to perform for bon dance guests, joining Taiko Kauai with flute, shakuhachi and taiko, and the Kauai Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai with Okinawa song and dance.
Adding flavor to the plateful offering, the Kauai Soto Zen Temple will also be hosting a variety of games, the food booth, and country store.
Chris Faye, curator of the Kauai Museum, said this is the final church on Kauai where people can visit “The Buddhist Temples of Hawaii” exhibit sponsored by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
Authored by George and Willa Tanabe, the exhibit visits temples, including many from Kauai, and through the use of photographs, the authors discuss the symbolism represented in the temple’s architecture, construction features, and overall appearance.
Joining the exhibit, Faye and Roy Miyake will have its Japanese American Internees Identification Project.
Faye said Miyake only recently acquired some photographs of Hawaii residents in a Mainland internment camp during World War II.
“Roy believes there were more than 60 people in the photographs who are believed to have been Kauai residents,” Faye said. “We need the help of people to help identify those people we cannot. After being to several bon dances this year, Roy said about 30 of the people have been tentatively identified.”
Hirata assures the public there will be ample parking available at the adjacent Hanapepe Ball Park. Additionally, special parking is available or the handicapped, seniors, and vendors.
People on the Eastside who do not want to bother with driving, or parking, can take advantage of free buses to the bon dance.
Leaving the Kapaa Hongwanji at 6 p.m., the bus makes stops at the former Lihue Big Save parking lot at 6:20 p.m., the Koloa Jodo Mission at 6:40 p.m. and arrives in Hanapepe at 7:15 p.m.
Call 346-4650 for more information.
