#The bon dance how to#

A vaccine against COVID-19 had not yet rolled out. In 2020, Maui’s Buddhist temples halted their bon dance festivals as outdoor gatherings were limited to 100 people and social distancing rules were in place. They said they want to hold the events, but safety is the priority. Lahaina Jodo Mission recently decided not to hold festivities this year as COVID-19 cases are climbing on Maui and the state, temple officials said Monday evening. The temple said it will provide more details as the event date draws closer. 20, though this is “dependent on the COVID situation at that time,” its website said. The Paia Mantokuji Mission will only have a service this year and hopes to have dancing and other festivities next year, temple officials said.Īt the Rinzai Zen Mission in Paia, the temple is “tentatively planning” to hold its obon festival on Aug. Last year the duo didn’t do an online bon dance, but instead performed for a few temples that had online festivities.Īs most temples gear up for obon, some are still holding scaled-back events, planning tentatively or deciding to forgo festivities another year. In 2020, the first year bon dance was canceled, Loo and fellow dance group member Jonah Valois-Nishimura started up a virtual bon dance livestreamed on Facebook, which attracted hundreds of participants locally and from around the world. “If we play it safe, mask up, don’t get into hugging and kissing, we can have a safe, fun festival and it’ll be an awesome return from our two-year hiatus,” he added. “But I think people really need the human-to-human connection and that’s the very heart of the festival,” said Loo, who normally dances in the inner ring with other members of the group during the festivals to serve as examples for other dancers to follow. Shannon Loo, president of the Maui Minyo Kai dance group, said he is “super excited” to have bon dance back, but knows it could be canceled if cases get too high. Some temples also have games for children and sell crafts. This includes the kimono and happi coat-clad dancers under the night sky and a variety of foods for sale. Murakami said the church will try to keep things “the same” as they were pre-COVID. “It’s great, nice for all of us,” he said on Monday of the revived festivities at his church, which is also known for its chow fun.

Shinkai Murakami of Wailuku Hongwanji Mission is also looking forward to the bon dance season, which begins in June. This includes the sales of what Kiyohara described as Makawao Hongwanji’s “world-famous chow fun” that always attracts a long line. “Our hope is that we can do this in person, just like we did … like the last one two years ago,” Kiyohara said on Monday. Obon festivals are traditionally a time to remember ancestors who have passed. It is a very significant religious event.” … But for us as a temple, it is an important community event. “But our feeling was that we reached the point where nobody is saying we can’t do it and obviously there are risks. Kerry Kiyohara of Makawao Hongwanji Mission.

#The bon dance how to#

We have no idea how to predict where COVID-19 wants to play the next time around,” said the Rev. However, they do understand that things could change quickly and will need to adjust if necessary. Reverends of some of the largest Buddhist temples on Maui say they are planning their events as they were pre-pandemic, including a service, dancing with live drums and food sales. The Maui News / MELISA TANJI photoĪfter a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the local summertime tradition of bon dance is seeking to make a comeback at most Buddhist temples on Maui this year. Some Maui Buddhist temples are aiming to bring back the popular events this year, which include bon dancing and food sales. Kula Shofukuji Mission holds a bon dance in 2019, prior to the two-year hiatus of Obon due to COVID-19.