The first bon dance of 2009 on Oahu
Hawaii’s Plantation Village, Waipahu

As the sun sets over the historic Waipahu sugar mill, the sound of drums and music fills the air.  The dancers don their hapi coats and kimonos as they wait in anticipation to take their places in the circle around the stage, their feet itching to start dancing.  After all, they’ve waited nine months for this day. Obon season is finally here.

The first bon dance of the season was held at Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu.  As expected, the bon dance was very well attended.  Being a bon dance regular, I saw many familiar faces.  And of course, the gathering of the bon dance posse is always a blast.

Baby Champuru (8 mo) enjoys the sights and the sounds
of her very first bon dance, carried by Jiji

This was Baby Champuru’s very first bon dance — outside the womb, that is.  Last year, I managed to continue bon dancing despite being in the last trimester of my pregnancy.  This year, I donned a Beco Baby Carrier and danced with baby safely strapped to my front.  One lap around the bon dance circle and Baby Champuru was fast asleep, in spite of the amplified music and drummers.  It makes me wonder if it reminded her of those days, sloshing and swishing away in the womb as mommy danced the nights away last summer.

Although my dance form suffered greatly at the expense of having baby strapped to me, I wanted to bring her into the circle to be exposed to the music, dancing, and culture.  It is my hope that she will grow to enjoy it as much as I have all my life.  I have my mother to thank for that and I hope to pass along that gift to Baby Champuru as well.

The friendly faces of the bon dance posse

Getting out, enjoying the fresh air, fellowship with friends, and the dancing was positively therapeutic.

I am unwilling to flex baby’s schedule too much, lest risk a major meltdown in public, so we left the bon dance early, just as darkness descended.  The lanterns glowed in the distance as we drove home.

Summer has begun.