Hawaii Tribune-Herald Island Beat Thursday, June 15, 2017 9 These days, the live music — played in 12-minute sets three or four times a night — is mixed with pre-recorded tunes including K-pop, J-pop and even line dance songs such as “The Electric Slide” and “Cupid Shuffle” that are popular with the younger set. People come from the neighbor islands and out of state to attend Big Island bon dances each summer. “At some of the bigger bon dances like the events at Hilo Meishoin, Hilo Hongwanji Betsuin and Puna Hongwanji, there can be 250 people in the ring at one time,” Chow says. It will stretch out to six or seven rings of dancers. You can barely move.” On the Big Island, adds Chow, bon dances are more laid back. There is no strict dress code. “We want people to enjoy the festivities and the spirit of the obon,” Chow says. “We welcome the reunion of mortals and ancestors.” Joining the musicians as the lead dancers at each event in which the Hilo Bon Dance club performs are the dancers of Tsukikage Odorikai. “Many of the temples do not have dance leaders,” Chow says. “Over the past 10 years, many have passed away and there is no one to take over. So our club dancers provide instruction prior to the events and they attend the bon dance to serve as the lead dancers. Every temple plays different music. They each have their favorites.” It’s easy to tell which dancers are the lead dancers: They dance in the inside circle closest to the yagura dressed in a hapi coat, yukata or kimono. (If you are interested in finding out if a particular temple offers dance practice ahead of their obon event, call the temple or Tsukikage Odorikai.) 2017 Big Island Bon Dance Schedule The centuries-old tradition of obon began in Japan as a time to honor ancestors and loved ones who had passed away, but started to be practiced in Hawaii come the late 19th century with the influx of sugar cane plantation laborers. The Hilo Bon Dance Club is the busiest professional taiko club in town, Chow says. Not to be confused with Matsuri Daiko, the club performs different styles of drumming: Fukushima ondo and Iwakuni ondo. The centuries-old tradition of obon began in Japan as a time to honor ancestors and loved ones who had passed away, but started to be practiced in Hawaii come the late 19th century with the influx of sugar cane plantation laborers. Today, obon season is an upbeat family affair with men, women, keiki and kupuna participating in bon dances throughout the state. You need not be a member of that particular temple to attend any one of the events. Most bon dances follow the similar formats: concession with food items and tasty treats, live music and lots of dancing. Take your place in the revolving circle of dancers when the mood strikes you. The Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin bon dance at Sangha Hall, Friday July 14 and Saturday, July 15 (with hatsubon services from 6-7 p.m. both days followed by the dance from 7-10 p.m.) is one of the few bon dances that takes place indoors. “The hall is packed both nights,” says event chairperson Jon Tokuuke. “We also have chairs set up on the outside edges of the hall so people can sit down, and we play a good mix of both traditional and modern songs.” Also happening that same weekend is the Honokaa Hongwanji Mission bon dance and memorial service. The memorial service starts at 5:30 p.m. With the bon dance starting at 7 p.m. “We put a lot of emphasis on our memorial service which is a little different,” says Honokaa Hongwanji board of directors president Miles Okumura. “We’ve been doing it the past few years but a lot of people still don’t know about it.” Traditionally, the memorial service is to remember the congregation’s losses of the past year. “But in Honokaa, we open it to the community because we all understand what loss feels like,” Okumura says. “About five years ago it was the consensus within our temple to offer this event because those of us who have experienced it appreciate what it means to commune and be together and honor our loved ones. “We share in the sadness and grief, acknowledging that it touches everyone. I first experienced this service when my mother-in-law passed away. It really touched me. Now people of all faiths can come to honor their loved ones.” Names of those who have passed away in the past 12 months are taken up to the last minute, says Okumura, and then read aloud during the service as people go up to make incense offerings. (Names can be submitted in advance to Okumura by texting 640-4602 or by emailing misterokumura@yahoo. com.) “It’s hard to console someone when they’ve lost a loved one, but being among others who have also experienced it brings some solace,” he says. The bon dance, Okumura adds, is like the party after the funeral. “We can grieve together, but we can also experience joy together and acknowledge we are a community and life goes on,” he says. Every year, the bon dance is a reunion of people who haven’t gotten to connect in a long time, Okumura says. Between 400 and 500 people attend the Honokaa Hongwanji Mission bon dance, and approximately 250 attend the memorial service. “The bon dance is a great example of something that brings a community together,” he says. DANCE From page 7 Saturday Papaikou Hongwanji Mission Contact: 964-1640 Saturday, June 24 Honomu Hongwanji Mission Contact: 963-6032 Friday, June 30 Puna Hongwanji Mission Contact: 966-9981 Saturday, July 1 Kohala Hongwanji Mission Contact: 775-7232 Puna Hongwanji Mission Contact: 966-9981 Saturday, July 8 Daifukuji Soto Mission Contact: 322-3524 Hilo Meishoin Mission Contact: 935-6996 Paauilo Hongwanji Mission Contact: 776-1369 Friday, July 14 Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Contact: 961-6677 Saturday, July 15 Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Contact: 961-6677 Honokaa Hongwanji Mission Contact: 775-7232 Keei Buddhist Church & Cemetery Contact: 323-2993 Saturday, July 22 Taishoji Soto Mission Contact: 935-8407 Saturday, Aug. 6 Paauilo Kongoji Mission Contact: 776-1474 Saturday, Aug. 12 Hamakua Jodo Mission Contact: 775-0965 Higashi Hongwanji Mission Contact: 935-8968 Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission Contact: 324-1741 Kurtistown Jodo Mission Contact: 966-9777 Friday, Aug. 18 Life Care Center Contact: 959-9151 Saturday, Aug. 19 Hakalau Jodo Mission Contact: 963-6110 Kamuela Hongwanji Mission Contact: 885-4481 Sunday, Aug. 20 Pahala Hongwanji Mission Contact: 928-8254 Saturday, Aug. 26 Honohina Hongwanji Mission Contact: 963-6032 Pahoa YBA Kaikan Contact: 966-9981
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