Note: To include an announcement of your temple or organization’s obon-related events this summer, email thehawaiiherald@gmail.com and cc ida.hawaiiherald@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit your information for brevity before printing or posting it. We might put it on the Herald website if there are too many words overall for the print version of our paper. Mahalo for sharing your event information to announce to the community!
During this COVID-19 era, many temples and organizations are putting off, or changing, decisions about how to handle obon season. So the below information might not be current, but we are trying our best to provide it in a timely way.
Events Set to Run
Hawai’i Island
Hilo Taishoji Soto Mission (No In-Person Bon Dance)
Saturday, July 17: Toro Nagashi Deadline to Send in Request Forms for Lanterns (for the form, see p. 7 of taishoji.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/NEWSLTR-JUNE-2021-.pdf). Lanterns will not be sold at the Wailoa Boat Ramp.
Sunday, July 25, 9 a.m.: Obon & Toba Kuyo Services (Live Streamed by FaceBook / video posted to FB and YouTube later) with In-Person services limited to 25 people. Contact Rev. Hata (see below) if you wish to reserve a seat.
Sunday, July 25, 5:30 p.m.: Toro Nagashi release. This will be prerecorded and later posted to FaceBook and YouTube for those who purchase lanterns or who want to watch the release. Long-distance lantern assembly by Taishoji members on behalf of those requesting lanterns; due to the coronavirus, no individual lantern assembly will occur.
Sunday, July 25: Hatsu-Bon service in person (only immediate family); private, with no livestreaming or video-recording.
Monday, July 26: Videorecordings of the Virtual Obon, Toba Kuyo and Toronagashi released on FaceBook and YouTube (see below).
Contact info:
275 Kinoole St., (808) 935-8407
Rev. Shinsho Hata, hilodaishoji@gmail.com
Facebook.com/pages/category/Church/Taishoji- Soto-Mission-121688031174831/
Youtube.com/channel/UCSQ4EVugUml_rGhb1c-8RQQ
Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin
Sunday, July 18, 9 a.m.: Obon Sunday service – This will take place in the Sangha Hall or the temple as an in-person/online hybrid service via Zoom. (Public Obon Sunday service. Because of the current CDC guidelines, seating will be limited.)
Friday, July 16, 5 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.: Hatsu-Bon service – This will take place in the Sangha Hall as an in-person/online hybrid service via Zoom. (By RSVP only)
Saturday, July 17, 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.: Hatsu-Bon service – This will take place in the Sangha Hall in-person/online hybrid service via Zoom. (By RSVP only)
Contact info:
398 Kilauea Ave., (808) 961-6677
Rev. Joshin Kamuro, jkamuro@honpahi.org
O’ahu
Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Sunday, July 11, 9 a.m.: Hybrid Service feat. Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki, Buddhist Study Center –
In-Person: Face masks & social distancing required for this obon service.
Virtual via Zoom: Call temple (see below) for link.
Saturday, July 3, 7:00 pm.: Virtual Bon Dance (prerecorded). Theme: “Bon Dance memories.” Visit moiliilihongwanji.org for the link.
Saturday, July 3, 4-6:30 p.m.: Drive-by Pick-up “Bon Bento” of Grilled BBQ Beef Bento OR Vegetable Curry Bento ($15.00). Bagged Andagi also available (same day). Call temple office at 949-1659 to reserve bento.
Obon Items for Sale
- Chochin lantern “in memory of” tags: Donation of $20 or more
- Bon Dance towels: Donation of $10 or more
Email or call the temple to purchase
Contact Info:
902 University Ave., (808) 949-1659
Website: moiliilihongwanji.org
Email: mhm@moiliilihongwanji.org
Cancellations
These temples or organizations will not hold bon-dance in summer 2021, due to the coronavirus. However, check with individual temples about obon services and other private summer services they may hold.
Hawai‘i Island
- Hilo Dajingu
- Honomu Henjyoji Mission (obon and hatsu-bon service)
- Keei Buddhist Church
- Kona Hongwanji
- Obon Festival at Keauhou Shopping Center
- Papaikou Hongwanji Mission
Kaua’i
The Kaua’I Buddhist Council of the following eight temples is canceling bon dances for 2021:
- Kapa‘a Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
- Kapa‘a Jodo Mission
- Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple
- Lihue Hongwanji Mission
- Waimea Higashi Hongwanji
- Waimea Shingon Mission Temple
- West Kaua‘i Hanapepe Hongwanji Mission Church
- West Kaua‘i Waimea Hongwanji Mission Church
