Waipahu Cultural Gardens Bon Dance
More photos on my Flickr site

The bon dance at the Waipahu Cultural Gardens (a.k.a. “Hawaii’s Plantation Village”) marks the opening of the bon dance season in Hawaii. The 2006 bon dance season commenced on June 3rd this year.

As twilight descends over Waipahu, the historic sugar mill fades into the distance, and the sound of taiko drums and plunking sanshin fill the air. The breeze is light and the humidity hangs thick in the atmosphere, reminding me of summer nights in Okinawa and makes me wish I could go back for another visit.

I am not a Buddhist. I am, in fact, a Christian. I attend bon dances each year not for the religious aspect, but for the cultural experience. I feel closest to my culture when I am donning a hapi coat in the bon dance circle amongst friends, dancing to old familiar tunes that I have heard since my earliest days on mom’s phonograph, sans the popping and scratches of the needle on those old LP’s.

I am looking forward to a full calendar ahead, packed with weekends of dancing into the evening, eating BBQ sticks and spam musubi as we watch the sun set over the chochin (paper lanterns) and enjoy the fun and fellowship of this wonderful cultural tradition.

Daddy and Me
See the resemblance?

Thank you to Hubby, Joyce, Shari, and Pops for sharing this enjoyable evening with me. Hubs even danced the 20-minute “Fukushima Ondo” with me! Hubs is da bombdiggity.

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