Save the Date: Hatsubon (Memorial Service) and Bon Dance – Saturday, June 27, 2026

May 1, 2026  | Puna Hongwanji  | 1 Comment  | Community Events, In the Community, Other Activities, Services, Youth

Save the Date:  Puna Hongwanji Hatsubon (Memorial Service) and Bon Dance 2026

Please save the date and check back for updated information as we prepare for our Puna Hongwanji Hatsubon (Memorial Service) and Bon Dance for 2026.  Our date has been set for Saturday, June 27, 2026.

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Lantern Making by reservations.  See information below.

4:00 p.m. Hatsubon (Memorial Service) for those who have passed away since the last bon season (families and friends are invited to attend the service in person and online via Zoom.  Memorial Service theme is Still Hurting.  Still Loving.  Still Going On.

5:45 p.m. Memorial Parade – will be after the service.  Family and friends will meet at the base of the steps of the temple and we will have a short parade to honor our loved ones to the yagura (dance tower).  An invitation letter will be sent to the Hatsubon families.

6:00 p.m. Puna Taiko Performance

Bon Dance to follow Puna Taiko Performance until 10:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Puna Hongwanji Boutique will be open (across of the men’s restroom)
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Children’s Games in the social hall

We will have additional parking available at the Keaau Middle School Gym parking lot, HMSA parking lot, and the Kamehameha School parking lot across of the temple.  Please do not park in the Long’s Drugs parking lot and leave those stalls for their customers.

All family members, friends, and the wider community are warmly invited to attend.

2026 Bon Memorial Ribbon

Ribbon design by Eric Bihag

Memorial Ribbons will be available to honor your loved ones and decorate the lanterns around the bon dance stage area.  This refers to a significant connection within Amida Buddha’s embrace.  Complete the form online or by paper for your loved ones and submit a donation of $20 per ribbon.  Ribbon deadline is Saturday, June 13, 2026.

Payments should be made payable to Puna Hongwanji Mission and in the memo please indicate “Ribbon”.  You can mail your payment to our mailing address.  Please note we do not receive mail at our physical address.

Click below to fill out the form or fill out online.

Obon Memorial ribbon 2026 Puna

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGSNEC6rFPPnjBbaKdRPLuNg9ERBAnztVL_UQ1a8wizAGb_A/viewform

Mail payment to our mailing address at:
Puna Hongwanji Mission
ATTN:  Ribbon
PO Box 100
Keaau, HI 96749

Bon Dance Practice with Shinka Odorikai

Want to learn how to dance or brush up on your bon dance skills?  Practices are being held at Hilo Daijingu (10 Anela Street, Hilo) on Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Songs you learn will be played at the Puna Hongwanji Bon Dance.  Shinka Odorikai is an affiliate group of Puna Hongwanji.  Since there are so many other activities at Puna Hongwanji the group will continue to meet at Hilo Daijingu for practices.

Please note last minute cancellations may occur.

NOTE:  Wednesday, May 27, 2026 there will be no practice.

Bon Dance Donation for Concession

If you would like to help make a donation to the concession for the Bon Dance here is a list of items that is being requested.

• Rice
• Spam
• Shoyu (soy sauce)
• Sugar (white and brown)
• Flour
• Bottled water
• Regular and diet soda (Coke, Pepsi, 7-Up, Sprite)
• Monetary donation
• MANPOWER

Bon Dance Lantern Making

Would you like to make a lantern in honor of your loved one?  On Saturday, June 27, 2026 starting from 3:00 p.m. Lantern Making will be available.  Each session is available on the half hour with 5:00 p.m. being the last slot to sign up for.  Each slot can accommodate up to 10 people.  Please sign up if you are interested in making a lantern.

There is a total of five sessions that will be available starting at 3:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m.

https://forms.gle/9mBbguRio3pCsmWe6

With your completed lantern you can also participate in the Memorial Parade at 5:45 p.m.  Meet at the bottom of the temple stairway area.  You will follow Puna Taiko and Rev. Tomioka as he leads the group in the Memorial Parade for your loved ones.  You may have your lanterns placed on the poles that are in front of the Yagura (dance tower) and you may take them home before you leave.

Bon Dance Set-Up and Clean-Up

Bon Dance takes a lot of coordination and volunteers to help make the event a success.  Behind the scenes we have many volunteers that are helping to prepare for this big event.  We appreciate the assistance from everyone involved.

Friday, June 26, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Set-Up – tents, chairs, tables.  In the dance area the lights and chochins need to be hung.

Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. There will be no temple service.  That day will be clean up.  We will also need to clean the parking lot area at the Keaau Middle School Gym, HMSA, and Kamehameha School parking lots.

All hands coming together will make the work go faster and easier.

Updated:  May 26, 2026

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