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My parents used to take my siblings and I to bon dances all the time in Hilo. I looked forward to it every summer. My mom and dad would buy musubi from one of the vendors, eating it while standing off to the side, watching us kids dance around the yagura stage. We didn't know any of the moves, we'd just copy the older Japanese ladies in happi coats who were dancing in the innermost circle. I have such great memories of those times.

Feeling nostalgic, I asked my kids if they wanted to go to a bon dance this summer. When they said yes, I looked at Oahu's Bon Dance Schedule, and out of the many temples organizing one I picked out Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii (HHMH).

Bon Dance

I'm so happy we went to HHMH's bon dance. The people were welcoming and friendly, there was lots of parking, it wasn't packed with crowds like the Mo'ili'ili Summer Fest (which we went to once), and they offered some delicious food choices. Like Shimazu Shave Ice, which I treated the kids to after a night of dancing.

Bon Dance
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