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Bon dance season is here
  
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Buddhist tradition brings together family, friends
By Dennis Fujimoto - The Garden Island
HANAPEPE — For those who missed the fun and camaraderie last weekend in Hanapepe, the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission hosts its annual bon dance this Friday and Saturday.
The bon dance, hosted each year by the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council, is held weekly on Friday and Saturday nights at different Buddhist churches around the island.
Bon is a Buddhist tradition that is held in memory of family members who have passed away, said Ted Inouye, chair of the Lihu‘e Hongwanji bon dance.
“It is also to rejoice in awareness of being embraced by the Infinite Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha,” Inouye said.
Kaua‘i’s bon celebration started with the first bon dance of the season on June 5 at the Koloa Jodo Mission, the same night when all three of Kaua‘i’s public high schools celebrated the graduation of their senior classes.
Gary Ueunten, whose family is active at the weekly bon dances, said this year there won’t be a bon dance during the July 4th weekend. See sidebar for the complete 2009 schedule.
“I guess everyone has other things to do so attendance isn’t that great,” Ueunten said.
Arriving with the Japanese immigrants who were brought to Hawai‘i to work in the plantations, the bon dance tradition was quickly assimilated into the Hawai‘i lifestyle, the event serving as fundraisers for the hosting churches as well as offering the community a gathering place for socializing among its residents.
“Did you know there’s a new gentlemen’s club this year?” said Chris Faye, a Westside resident who makes it a point to attend both the Hanapepe and Waimea bon dances. “They wear the big red carp design on their happi coats.”
True to her word, as the music started at the West Kaua‘i Hongwanji Mission — Hanapepe Temple, a group of gentlemen dancers garbed in black happi coats entered the dance ring along with other dancers garbed in colorful kimono and yukata.
“There’s supposed to be about 20 guys,” one of the gentlemen said between conversing on his cell phone trying to locate other members of the group. “Only problem is no one knows when to get together so we never have everyone out at the same time.”
Inouye said the food booth and country store at the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission bon dance will open at 6 p.m. on both nights and encouraged people to come early for best selections.
The dancing will start at 7:45 p.m. on both nights, he said.
In commemoration of a special Honpa Hongwanji Mission anniversary, Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission will be offering a commemorative towel, an integral part of the bon dance regalia.
Ueunten noted that one of the improvements for this year’s event at Hanapepe was the quality of the andagi, or Okinawan doughnuts.
“It tastes even better if you eat them while they’re still warm,” he said.
In addition to the food and country store, Inouye said there will be lots of games for children, and entertainment as well.
2009 bon dance schedule
June 5-6: Koloa Jodo Mission
June 12-13: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Hanapepe
June 19-20: Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission (7:45 p.m.)
June 26-27: Waimea Shingon Mission (8 p.m.)
July 10-11: Kapa‘a Jodo Mission (7:30 p.m.)
July 17-18: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Waimea (7:30 p.m.)
July 24-25: Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission
July 31-Aug. 1: Waimea Higashi Hongwanji
Aug. 7-8: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Koloa
Aug. 14-15: Kaua‘i Soto Zenshuji (7:30 p.m.)
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
The bon dance, hosted each year by the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council, is held weekly on Friday and Saturday nights at different Buddhist churches around the island.
Bon is a Buddhist tradition that is held in memory of family members who have passed away, said Ted Inouye, chair of the Lihu‘e Hongwanji bon dance.
“It is also to rejoice in awareness of being embraced by the Infinite Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha,” Inouye said.
Kaua‘i’s bon celebration started with the first bon dance of the season on June 5 at the Koloa Jodo Mission, the same night when all three of Kaua‘i’s public high schools celebrated the graduation of their senior classes.
Gary Ueunten, whose family is active at the weekly bon dances, said this year there won’t be a bon dance during the July 4th weekend. See sidebar for the complete 2009 schedule.
“I guess everyone has other things to do so attendance isn’t that great,” Ueunten said.
Arriving with the Japanese immigrants who were brought to Hawai‘i to work in the plantations, the bon dance tradition was quickly assimilated into the Hawai‘i lifestyle, the event serving as fundraisers for the hosting churches as well as offering the community a gathering place for socializing among its residents.
“Did you know there’s a new gentlemen’s club this year?” said Chris Faye, a Westside resident who makes it a point to attend both the Hanapepe and Waimea bon dances. “They wear the big red carp design on their happi coats.”
True to her word, as the music started at the West Kaua‘i Hongwanji Mission — Hanapepe Temple, a group of gentlemen dancers garbed in black happi coats entered the dance ring along with other dancers garbed in colorful kimono and yukata.
“There’s supposed to be about 20 guys,” one of the gentlemen said between conversing on his cell phone trying to locate other members of the group. “Only problem is no one knows when to get together so we never have everyone out at the same time.”
Inouye said the food booth and country store at the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission bon dance will open at 6 p.m. on both nights and encouraged people to come early for best selections.
The dancing will start at 7:45 p.m. on both nights, he said.
In commemoration of a special Honpa Hongwanji Mission anniversary, Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission will be offering a commemorative towel, an integral part of the bon dance regalia.
Ueunten noted that one of the improvements for this year’s event at Hanapepe was the quality of the andagi, or Okinawan doughnuts.
“It tastes even better if you eat them while they’re still warm,” he said.
In addition to the food and country store, Inouye said there will be lots of games for children, and entertainment as well.
2009 bon dance schedule
June 5-6: Koloa Jodo Mission
June 12-13: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Hanapepe
June 19-20: Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission (7:45 p.m.)
June 26-27: Waimea Shingon Mission (8 p.m.)
July 10-11: Kapa‘a Jodo Mission (7:30 p.m.)
July 17-18: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Waimea (7:30 p.m.)
July 24-25: Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission
July 31-Aug. 1: Waimea Higashi Hongwanji
Aug. 7-8: West Kaua‘i Hongwanji - Koloa
Aug. 14-15: Kaua‘i Soto Zenshuji (7:30 p.m.)
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
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