Put your dance shoes on

With the passing of Memorial Day comes the beginning of obon season in Hawaii.

In Hawaii, obon stretches from June through Labor Day weekend when the last bon dance of the season is held at the annual Okinawan Festival at Kapiolani Park. Although I am not a Buddhist, I look forward to attending bon dances throughout the summer months simply for the cultural and social aspect of the activity. It seems that the popularity of bon dances increases each year, drawing large, diverse crowds into the bon dance circle.

As bon dance season commences, you’ll see more entries about obon and why I participate each year. In the meantime, I’ll tell you about my first act of preparation for the upcoming season: buying a pair of “bon dance shoes.”

Sure, they’re not exactly a traditional pair of geta or zori slippers, but man, are they comfy — and that’s what matters to me these days. I usually don’t don a full kimono unless I’m helping my troupe lead the Okinawan bon dances in the inner circle, so traditional footwear is not required. My usual attire is a long hapi coat, a pair of jeans, and my comfy “bon dance shoes.”

I found this adorable pair of shoes tonight, complete with sakura (cherry blossom) patterns, at Skechers and I knew my search for this year’s bon dance shoes was over!

I’m still waiting for the 2007 bon dance schedule to be released in the newspaper before assembling the bon dance posse. Will you join us this year?